The Space Race Collection Reading Assessment Part 1

First Name:

Last Name:

Class Period

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 5
• 6

1. Which of the following statements accurately explains how paragraph 2 connects to the passage as a whole?

• a. It establishes Aldrin’s background in aviation.
• b. It communicates Aldrin’s feelings as he looks back on his experiences as an astronaut.
• c. It introduces an event that will be described in more detail later in the passage.

2. Which sentence from paragraph 4 BEST shows that Buzz Aldrin was humble.

• a. "I can't see the moon from my bedroom window."
• b. "But I do like to go onto my patio to watch it rise majestically over Los Angeles."
• c. "When I see the moon up there, I don't say to myself, 'Hey, I walked on your face,' or 'Thanks for disrupting my life.'"
• d. "I just feel grateful it let us land safely in 1969 and let us take off."

3. In paragraph 9, Aldrin claims to feel safe because __________.

• a. this was his third mission to the moon, so he knew how to prepare
• b. the Eagle was engineered correctly and had plenty of supplies
• c. the lunar module was named Eagle and an eagle insignia was on his arm patch
• d. he believed Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins were the best trained astronauts in the country

4. Imagine the author wanted to add something to help the reader visualize the scene Aldrin describes in paragraphs 13–14. Which of the following details would offer the BEST support for this description?

• a. He could explain how pictures are taken on the moon.
• b. He could include the picture that Aldrin describes.
• c. He could have an expert support Aldrin's description.
• d. He could show a picture of a spacesuit for context.

5. What does paragraph 18 reveal about Buzz Aldrin?

• a. He used jokes to lighten the mood.
• b. He didn't trust the guidance of the team in Houston.
• c. He believed the mission was a serious one.
• d. He wanted to be the lead pilot of the lunar module.

6. Which detail from the passage explains the unique connection that Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Mike Collins had?

• a. “Landing on the moon—with all of the risks—sounds scary.” (8)
• b. “The strangest feeling was standing on the surface and looking back home at Earth—where every other human being was except the three of us.” (13)
• c. “One of the most famous pictures from the mission was taken by Neil of my gold helmet visor—with Neil and the Eagle reflected in it.” (13)
• d. “The Eagle was like home on the moon—only we didn’t have two wives telling us to clean up.” (19)

7. This question had two parts. Part 1: Which of the following is a central idea of the passage?

• a. Aldrin experienced emotional highs and lows throughout his journey to reach the moon.
• b. The astronauts used their critical thinking skills, which led to the mission’s success.
• c. The power struggle between Houston’s command center and Aldrin endangered the mission.
• d. Aldrin’s relationship with his parents was reflected in his experiences traveling to the moon.