CHAPTER 1 - Are You an Ophiuchus?

Reading Comprehension - Check Your Understanding

A. Choose the correct answers for the following questions.

1. The zodiac was first invented to ______
A) predict the future
B) study the stars
C) keep track of time

2. Some people believe a person's zodiac sign can tell us about his or her ______
A) personality
B) birth date
C) family background

3. The zodiac is determined by the position of the ______ to the ______
A) constellations, moon
B) constellations, sun
C) Earth, sun

4. If Ophiuchus is made a star sign, many people will ______
A) have a different birthday
B) have a different star sign
C) stop believing in the zodiac

B. Read the sentences below. Choose true (T) or false (F).

C. Discuss the following questions with your partner.

1. Why do you think people still believe in the zodiac?
   Answer

   the zodiac has existed for over a thousand years, so some continue to feel that it is worth believing in.

2. What other connections do you think people might make between their lives and the Earth or sky?
   Answer

   The sky often gives us a good indication of what kind of weather to expect, and understanding the position of the sun lets us know what time of day it is, both of which are practical knowledge for everyday life. For others, the sky, especially the night sky, is a vast and mysterious thing, which can make a person on Earth feel at the same time both very small and very connected to the universe and everything in it.

Are You an Ophiuchus?

Thousands of years ago, the ancient people of Babylon and Egypt studied the stars in the sky. From their research, they came up with the zodiac, a map of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. It was first used to keep track of time.

These ancient astrologers studied the constellations¹ and their positions in the sky. They wanted to know when each constellation was closest to the sun. They used this information to determine where each group of stars belongs in the zodiac. The word zodiac actually means 11Circle of little animals11 in Latin, and refers to how the constellations are shaped.

Today, some people believe that the zodiac can be used to describe a person's personality. some also believe that by studying the zodiac, they can predict what will happen in the future. According to these beliefs, a person's zodiac sign is connected to his or her birth date.

The zodiac has remained the same for over a thousand years. It is broken up into 12 equal parts, each associated with a star sign. However, some astrologers are suggesting a change-they think a thirteenth sign should be added to the zodiac calendar. This is because the way the Earth rotates has changed slightly over the centuries, which has also changed its path around the sun. This possible thirteenth sign is a constellation called Ophiuchus (pronounced of-ee-yoo-kuhs), which means holder of the snake. Ophiuchus is close to the sun from November 29 to December 17.

If the dates of the other 12 signs were adjusted to make Ophiuchus a sign, many people would have a different star sign. As this new sign falls between Scorpio and Sagittarius, some people with those star signs would have to switch to being Orphiuchus. And this would have an effect on dates of the other star signs as well. This would add a whole new answer to thJe question, "What's your sign?