| The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. |
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| Earth |
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| The planet on which we live—the third planet from the sun. | 1 |
| ‡ The Earth was formed at the same time as the sun, about 4.6 billion years ago. | 2 |
| ‡ It consists of an inner core made of iron and nickel, an outer core of liquid metal, a mantle, and, on the outside, a crust. | 3 |
| ‡ The surface of the solid Earth is in a state of constant change as the rock is moved around by the processes of plate tectonics. | 4 |
| ‡ On the Earth’s surface, the oceans and the continents form the stage on which the evolution of life takes place. The atmosphere above the surface circulates, producing the daily weather. | 5 |
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| | | The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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