← Solar System

⚫ Mercury

Lesson 8 — Reading English with Minimal Support

ภาษาไทย 12% · English 88%

The smallest planet — closest to the Sun

📖 Vocabulary

crater
/ˈkreɪ.tər/
หลุมอุกกาบาต
orbit
/ˈɔːr.bɪt/
โคจร
extreme
/ɪkˈstriːm/
สุดขีด
rapidly
/ˈræp.ɪd.li/
อย่างรวดเร็ว
dense
/dens/
หนาแน่น
iron core
/ˈaɪ.ərn kɔːr/
แกนเหล็ก

📚 Reading — The Swift Messenger

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun. Despite being so close to the Sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet — that title belongs to Venus, because Mercury has no atmosphere to trap heat.

Mercury has extreme temperature changes. During the day, the surface temperature can reach 430°C. At night, it drops to -180°C. This dramatic difference is because there is no atmosphere to regulate the temperature.

Mercury orbits the Sun faster than any other planet — it completes one orbit in just 88 Earth days. This is why it was named after Mercury, the Roman messenger god who was known for his speed.

The surface of Mercury is covered with craters, similar to our Moon. Mercury has a large iron core that makes up about 85% of the planet's radius. This makes Mercury one of the densest planets in the solar system.

📝 Grammar — Complex Sentences

Notice how these sentences use connecting words to join ideas:

Despite being close to the Sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet.
despite = แม้ว่า — used to show contrast
This is because Mercury has no atmosphere.
because = เพราะว่า — gives a reason
Mercury orbits the Sun faster than any other planet.
faster than = เร็วกว่า — comparative with adverb
This is why it was named after Mercury.
this is why = นี่คือสาเหตุที่ — explains reasoning

✏️ Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with the correct word:

1. Mercury is the planet in the solar system.
2. Mercury has no to trap heat.
3. Mercury orbits the Sun in just 88 Earth .
4. The surface of Mercury is covered with .

🎯 Comprehension

1. Why is Mercury not the hottest planet even though it is closest to the Sun?

Because it has no atmosphere to trap heat
Because it is too small
Because it moves too fast

2. Why was this planet named "Mercury"?

Because it is silver in color
Because it orbits fast, like the Roman messenger god
Because it was discovered by a man named Mercury

3. What makes Mercury one of the densest planets?

Its thick atmosphere
Its many moons
Its large iron core