First Lunar Landing

Which best states the writer's claim in the selection?

• The United States won the space race.

• The mission to the moon was a significant human achievement.

• It was vitally important for the United States to win the space race.

• Technological advances today are not as meaningful as the mission to the moon.

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first and then Part B will follow.

Which best expresses the writer's perspective regarding the moon landing?

• It should be understood in terms of its meaning for humanity.

• It should be understood in terms of its benefits for science.

• It should be evaluated in terms of the risks it posed.

• It should be evaluated in terms of the money it cost.

Part B: Which statement from the selection uses diction that best conveys the perspective identified in Part A?

• "The United States was embarrassed that it was losing the 'space race.'" (paragraph 2)

• "Some scientists argued that the rushed effort to get to space was costing us not only dollars but also scientific advancement in other areas." (paragraph 3)

• "Such criticisms assume that we can measure the value of a project solely in terms of dollars spent or knowledge gained." (Paragraph 4)

• "The United States won the space race, and in the process it did more to unite humankind than anyone could ever have imagined." (paragraph 5)

What counterclaim does the writer address and rebut in the selection?

• The Soviet Union led in the space race.

• The United States was losing the space race.

• The moon mission did not lead to other scientific advances.

• The first lunar landing involved an unwise use of research dollars.

Which sentence from the article provides factual evidence to support the writer's claim about the moon landing's benefits?

• "The budget of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was increased dramatically." (Paragraph 3)

• "Approximately 530 million people around the world watched the first lunar landing on television." (Paragraph 4)

• "The three Apollo 11 astronauts embarked on a world tour when they returned." (Paragraph 4)

• "The U.S didn't just come out on top - it took the whole world with it." (Paragraph 5)

Read these sentences from paragraph 4.

"Astronaut Mike Collins described the enthusiastic reactions they received: 'The thing that really surprised me was that everywhere we went, people didn't say "Well you Americans finally did it." They said, "We did it. All of us together, we did it."

Which term best describes the type of evidence presented in these sentences?

• Fact

• Expert Opinion

• Example

• Anecdote

The following question has two parts: Part A and Part B

Part A: Who is most likely the intended audience for this article?

• Current scientists involved in the space program.

• Historians with a specialized interest in space programs.

• NASA officials seeking funding for space programs.

• Any reader who knows a little about the early days of the space program.

Part B: What text element supports the answer to Part A?

• The writing includes casual, friendly language.

• The writing provides little general background about the topic.

• The writing uses formal language and technical vocabulary.

• The writing assumes readers have specialized knowledge of the topic.

Read the following senteces from the selection.

"But is there a price we can put on the human spirit and its affirmations? Is there a scale big enough to weigh humanity's collective triumphs?" (Paragraph 4)

Which best describes the significance of the sentences?

• They are rhetorical questions, intended to add drama.

• They use varied syntax, intended to aid understanding.

• They use simple diction, intended to appeal to a younger audience.

• They feature an idiom, "a scale big enough," intended to add humor.