PreSkill 2 Hidden Figures EOG

How did Katherine Johnson’s early education help shape her future success at NASA?

• A. She was inspired by her teachers to become an astronaut.

• B. Her advanced education at a young age allowed her to enter the workforce early and develop her skills.

• C. She moved frequently, so she never received a strong education.

• D. She struggled in school but overcame it by learning on the job.

Answer explanation

Katherine started school early and finished college at 18. That helped her get ahead and be ready for big math jobs later at NASA.

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What helped Dorothy Vaughan become NASA’s first Black supervisor?

• She was elected by her coworkers to represent them.

• Her work as a teacher impressed NASA officials.

• Her leadership and technical skills made her the obvious choice despite segregation.

• She created the first mechanical computer.

Answer explanation

Dorothy led her team well even before she got the title. She proved she was a strong leader, even though things were unfair at the time.

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What challenge did Mary Jackson face in becoming an engineer?

• She failed the required engineering exam several times.

• She needed special permission to attend segregated classes at night.

• She was told women were not allowed to work at NASA.

• She refused to work with white engineers.

Answer explanation

Mary had to ask for special permission to go to a school that was only for white students, just to take the classes she needed.

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What do the stories of Johnson, Vaughan, and Jackson have in common?

• They all protested NASA's policies publicly.

• They each had advanced degrees in engineering when they were hired.

• They overcame both racial and gender discrimination to succeed in STEM fields.

• They were famous during their lifetimes and often appeared in the media.

Answer explanation

All three women had to deal with racism and sexism, but they still succeeded in science jobs.

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How did the introduction of computing machines affect Dorothy Vaughan’s career?

• It forced her to retire early.

• She ignored the machines and kept doing calculations by hand.

• She learned programming and taught others how to use the machines.

• She created her own version of the machine.

Answer explanation

Dorothy learned how to use the new computers and even helped teach others, which kept her important at NASA.

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Why did Mary Jackson switch careers later in her life?

• A. She wanted to become an astronaut instead of an engineer.

• B. She was no longer interested in science.

• C. She wanted to help more women and minorities get hired and promoted at NASA.

• D. She was forced to leave engineering due to health reasons.

Answer explanation

Mary chose to change jobs so she could help more women and people of color get hired and promoted at NASA.

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What was the connection between John Glenn’s mission and Katherine Johnson’s work?

• A. She helped him train as a pilot.

• B. She calculated the trajectory after the mission ended.

• C. Glenn asked her to double-check the computer’s calculations before launch.

• D. She launched the rocket herself.

Answer explanation

John Glenn asked Katherine to check the computer’s math before his launch because he trusted her more than the machine.

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How did discrimination affect Vaughan’s early years at NASA?

• A. She was never allowed to work with white engineers.

• B. She had to lead her team without recognition or proper pay.

• C. She was promoted quickly despite her race.

• D. She worked alone and refused to be part of a team.

Answer explanation

Dorothy did the work of a supervisor before getting the title or the pay, because of discrimination.

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