Understanding the Passage and Blank 4

The passage describes the Sun, its importance, and its characteristics compared to Earth. We need to fill in blank number 4 to complete the sentence:

"It is about a hundred times as wide (4) ______ the Earth."

This sentence is making a comparison about the width of the Sun relative to the Earth. The structure "as wide ______ the Earth" suggests a comparative construction.

Analyzing the Options for Blank 4

Let's look at the provided options for blank number 4:

• Option 1: about
• Option 2: as
• Option 3: like
• Option 4: than

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word

The sentence uses the phrase "as wide". In English grammar, when comparing two things using an adjective of equality (saying they are equally or a certain factor times as much/little of something), the structure typically follows "as + adjective/adverb + as". For example:

• She is as tall as her brother.
• He runs as fast as a cheetah.
• The Sun is about a hundred times as wide as the Earth.

Looking at the options:

• "about" is an adverb meaning approximately or concerning, and it doesn't fit grammatically in the comparative structure "as wide about".
• "as" perfectly completes the comparative structure "as wide as", which is used to indicate the extent of the Sun's width relative to the Earth's width.
• "like" can be used for comparison, but usually in the structure "like + noun/pronoun" (e.g., "The Sun is like a giant ball"). It doesn't fit naturally or grammatically in the "as + adjective + ______" structure intended for comparing the degree of the adjective (width).
• "than" is used with comparative adjectives (ending in -er or with "more"), such as "wider". For example, "The Sun is much wider than the Earth." However, the sentence uses "as wide", not "wider".

Therefore, based on the grammatical structure required for comparison using "as wide", the word "as" is the only correct option.

The sentence correctly completed is: "It is about a hundred times as wide as the Earth."

Revision Table: Key Grammar Points

Additional Information: The Sun's Importance

The passage highlights the critical role of the Sun:

• It is the center of our Solar System.
• It provides warmth, making Earth habitable.
• It provides light, allowing us to see.
• It is the primary energy source for life, enabling processes like photosynthesis which produces oxygen necessary for life's existence.

Understanding the Sun's properties, like its size compared to Earth, helps us appreciate its scale and impact on our planet.