8.3 & 8.4 Quiz

How did President John Kennedy respond to the Soviets' launch of Sputnik?

• He started the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

• He ordered a missile launch.

• He planned the Apollo 11 moon landing.

• He passed the National Defense Education Act.

What new project did NASA begin in the 1970s?

• the space shuttle program

• missile defense shield

• the first moon landing

• International Space Station

Which technology from the NASA program resulted in a “spinoff” technology used in today’s cell phones and notebook computers?

• computer chips

• LED lights

• plastics

• space blankets

"Military and political leaders feared the consequences of falling behind the Soviets." Based on this statement, which factor contributed to U.S. involvement in the “Space Race”?

• profits

• patriotism

• national security

• scientific curiosity

“The United States' desire to travel into space...was a result of a Cold War competition with the Soviet Union...If one side seemed to be getting ahead, the other would respond with new programs.” Which set of statements accurately represents this scenario?

• a Soviet cosmonaut becomes first person to orbit the earth; a U.S. astronaut becomes the first American to orbit earth

• the U.S. created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; the Soviet Union launched Sputnik

• NASA sent the first American astronaut into space; the Soviet Union launched a human into space

• the Soviet Union launched Sputnik; the U.S. passed the National Defense Education Act

How did Texas’s role in the “Space Race” grow out of its contributions in World War II?

• Texas had made satellites so the U.S. could spy on the Axis powers.

• Texas had a booming oil industry during the war.

• Texas had built aircraft and trained pilots for the war.

• Texas had provided the most soldiers of any state to fight for the Allies.

What goal did Texas resident Walter Cunningham's mission on Apollo 7 help NASA reach?

• a missile defense system

• a moon landing

• an international space station

• an aerospace medicine program

What caused the petrochemical industry to experience a boom in Texas after World War II?

• high taxes

• large supplies of oil & gas

• stricter rules on environmental pollution

• increase in demand for computers

How did OPEC's oil embargo in the 1970's have an immediate effect on Texas?

• The majority of oil firms went out of business

• The price of oil per barrel dropped by 50 percent

• oil revenue increased

• oil drilling increased

What was a direct result of the increasing number of petrochemical plants in Texas in the mid-1960's?

• thousands of jobs for petrochemical companies went bankrupt

• most petrochemical companies went bankrupt

• the center of the industry moved out of Texas

• prices for ethylene & benzene increased