JFK's Race to Space Speech

1. Why does Kennedy refer to the staff at the Medical Center as “pioneers”?

• A They are preparing to travel into space.

• B They are exploring new areas of medical research.

• C They are making headlines with their discoveries.

• D They work in the city where so many famous pilots trained.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

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2. Kennedy mentions Charles Lindbergh and Claire Chennault because they

• A were in San Antonio listening to the speech.

• B worked at a training field in San Antonio.

• C were air pioneers who trained in San Antonio.

• D flew missions across the Atlantic Ocean.

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3. What is one mistake that Kennedy says many Americans make?

• A thinking that we need larger spaceships.

• B wanting to go to space too quickly.

• C assuming that space research will be too difficult and dangerous.

• D assuming that space research has little value on earth.

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4. Kennedy uses the words first, second, and third in his speech to

• A organize his ideas.

• B be more convincing.

• C connect to ordinary Americans.

• D respond to his opponents.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

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5. What objection does Kennedy try to refute with his three examples?

• A Space research is a partisan issue.

• B The benefits of space research will take too long to realize.

• C The important discoveries in space have already been made.

• D Space research competes for resources that are needed here on earth.

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6. Kennedy says that America should. . . .

• A focus solely on medical space research.

• B divide the work among other nations.

• C take the lead in space exploration.

• D partner with other superpowers.

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7. What is Kennedy’s tone? Circle the THREE that apply.

• A optimistic

• B insecure

• C ambitious

• D concerned

• E paranoid

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8. Why does President Kennedy mention Frank O’Connor?

• A. Kennedy is congratulating him for being a pioneer.

• B. Kennedy is saluting him for his outstanding work at the Aerospace Medical Center.

• C. Kennedy is introducing him at Brooks Air Force Base.

• D. Kennedy is using a literary allusion to inspire people to accept the new challenge of space.

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9. What is the central idea of Kennedy’s speech?

• A Medical space research may open up new understanding of man’s relation to his environment.

• B Medical space research is the key to benefiting people’s lives here on Earth.

• C Medical space research may revolutionize the technology and the techniques of modern medicine.

• D Medical space research may lead to new safeguards against hazards common to many environments.

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10. Read the sentence and use context clues to help you infer the meaning of the bold faced word. “And third, medical space research may lead to new safeguards against hazards common to many environment.”

• A harm

• B protection

• C endangerment

• D injury

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