G6 Tri. 2 The Night Sky Patrol W.6.8 practice

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

The Night Sky Patrol by Raina

Every clear summer night, a small team of volunteers gathers on the hill above Mapleton. They call themselves the Night Sky Patrol. Their goal is simple: to watch the sky and record any unusual lights or sounds so scientists can learn more about nighttime wildlife and weather patterns.

The volunteers arrive just before dusk and set up blankets, notebooks, and a few binoculars. Some bring thermometers and small sound recorders. They divide the hill into observation zones so that each area is watched closely. When someone notices a bright flash, a strange humming, or an odd pattern of lights, they write down the time, describe what they saw, and note the weather. If possible, they also mark the direction on a compass and take a quick sketch.

Over the past three years, the Night Sky Patrol has made many helpful notes. Once, members recorded a steady series of red lights moving slowly across the western sky for nearly ten minutes. On another night, recordings caught a repeating high-pitched sound that matched the call pattern of a migrating bat species. Their careful notes have been shared with local scientists, who used the observations to study migration routes and to figure out how streetlights affect nocturnal animals.

The volunteers come from different backgrounds: high school students, retired engineers, nurses, and gardeners. They enjoy learning from one another while helping professionals who cannot be in the field every night. Though their work is small, the Night Sky Patrol shows how simple, careful observations by community members can contribute to real scientific understanding.

Suppose you need to write a short report about “The Night Sky Patrol” as an example of citizen science. Take notes from this passage by paraphrasing at least five pieces of information in your own words.