Space Race Test Review

What does paragraph 18 reveal about Buzz Aldrin?

18   Once Houston concluded the problem was fixed, relief replaced concern. I felt we might make it home instead of perishing there. A short time later, Houston gave us the go-ahead: “Apollo 11 at Tranquility Base, you’re cleared for liftoff.” I responded, “Roger, Houston. We’re No. 1 on the runway.” Those were two absurdities, of course. There was no runway and no one else was behind us. A little space humor.

• He used jokes to lighten the mood.

• He didn’t trust the guidance of the team in Houston.

• He believed the mission was a serious one.

• He wanted to be the lead pilot of the lunar module.

Which detail from the passage: “Buzz Aldrin on His Lunar Home, the Eagle” from The Wall Street Journal, 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)

Which paragraph from the passage would BEST be supported by the image of the commemorative button?

• Paragraph 4: 4   I can’t see the moon from my bedroom window. But I do like to go onto my patio to watch it rise majestically over Los Angeles. 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.” I just feel grateful it let us land safely in 1969 and let us take off.

• Paragraph 6: 6   After Apollo 11 lifted off in Florida [on July 16, 1969], the three of us—me, Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins—traveled in space for three days to reach the moon’s orbit.

• Paragraph 12; 12   Four hours after we touched down, Neil went out of the craft first to set up a TV camera pointed at Earth and take photos. I followed 20 minutes later. When I stepped onto the moon’s surface, it felt cushiony, not gravelly—thanks to all the dust. There was no crunchy sound under my boot.

• Paragraph 15: 15   Returning to the Eagle about two hours later, we had a problem. I noticed the engine arm’s circuit breaker on my side had detached. It had to be engaged somehow if the ascent engine was to fire and lift us off the surface.

In paragraph 3, how does Vladimir Suvorov’s (the man filming the launch) description of the ignition moment contrast with what Gagarin experiences at ignition?

3   “Now the powerful engines come to life, the rocket is trembling and the white frost wraps it in a thin haze. There are reflections of the flame of the engines on the rocket body. At last after the final jerk it starts moving as if awakened from a long sleep.” Inside the spacecraft, Gagarin found it hard to identify the exact moment when the rocket left the ground. He had felt the rocket sway slightly a minute before launch as the valves began to operate, but the difference in the rocket’s shaking and noise at launch had been too subtle to pinpoint. In fact, the rocket seemed relatively slow and quiet as he began his mission, to the point where he did not feel like he was moving at all. Over the faint roar he heard Korolev wish him a good flight as he ascended, and he responded with a cheery “Poyekhali!” (Off we go!).

• Suvorov describes a powerful moment from the outside of the rocket, while Gagarin experiences a quieter moment from inside the rocket.

• Suvorov writes about how he lost his hearing because he was so close, while Gagarin has a more peaceful moment during takeoff.

• Gagarin experiences fear and excitement at the moment of ignition, while Suvorov experiences joy and pride.

• Gagarin watches the quiet takeoff from the window, while Suvorov watches the loud takeoff from the ground.

How does paragraph 5 show the emotional impact the mission had on Gagarin?

5   As his spacecraft slowly rotated, Gagarin looked at the Earth below him. His first view was of a mountain area with rivers, forests, and ravines, which he later believed to be the Ob or Irtush River area. As he continued to look at the revolving scene, he was struck by the beauty of it—a curved horizon above an Earth of surprisingly intense blue, the deep black of space, and a sun too bright to look at. It was not lost on him that he was seeing the Earth as spherical, with his own eyes—the first time any human had been able to do so. The horizon looked particularly beautiful to him, and he was entranced by the smooth change from the brilliance of Earth to the darkness of space, a myriad of colors filling the thin, filmlike layer that separated the two. He had never seen a blackness as deep as the infinity of space he stared into.

• He began to cry as he witnessed the beauty of Earth from space for the very first time.

• He was amazed by the beauty of Earth from space as he realized the significance of what he was seeing.

• He was so excited to see new things about Earth that he began to write about his encounter.

• He was suddenly frightened by how dark, vast, and empty space seemed.

What advantage would an image of Japan provide for the reader if it was included with paragraph 7?

7   Over land, he observed the squares of fields, and could easily distinguish meadows from ploughed areas. Through gaps in the cloud, he saw the forested islands of Japan. For the first time in his life, whether on the ground or in space, he was looking at a foreign country. At times the view reminded him of the vista from a high-altitude jet, but there was so much more to it.

• It would reveal to the reader why Japan was an ally of Russia.

• It would demonstrate why Gagarin wanted to visit Japan.

• It would provide the reader with a better idea of Japan’s weather patterns.

• It would help the reader visualize what Gagarin saw as he looked out his window.

Which of the following statements best describes why Gagarin’s mother is weeping as he is launching into space in paragraph 8?

8   Back in Gzhatsk, his mother wept as she listened to the breaking news over the radio. “What has he gone and done?” she kept repeating, as if still talking about the mischievous childhood Yuri.

• a. She was upset that he didn’t say goodbye.

• b. She was worried about his safety

• c. She was happy that he was making history.

• d. She was proud of her country sending a man into space.

In paragraph 10, Gagarin describes the contrast between __________.

10   Half an orbit after launch, over the vast Pacific Ocean, Vostok glided serenely into the shadowed side of the planet following a beautiful sunset. Gagarin was surprised by how quickly darkness came on, a huge difference from the blindingly bright sunlight. He looked down at the Earth’s surface but could see no lights, so surmised he must be traveling over water. As he looked to the horizon, more stars appeared than he had ever seen before, brighter and sharper than when observed from Earth. “Of all the nights I had seen in my lifetime,” Gagarin recounted, “none was remotely comparable to night in space. I have never forgotten it. The sky was blacker than it ever appears from the Earth, with the real, slate-blackness of space.” It would be the shortest night of his life, however. All too soon, Gagarin saw a vivid orange curve on the horizon, “a very beautiful sort of halo,” which gradually changed to a multitude of colors, then blue as the blinding sun rose again, faster than he had imagined it would.

• how slowly daylight changes compared to on Earth

• the sunrise on Earth and while in orbit

• the night sky on Earth and while in orbit

• how vivid the colors are in space compared to on Earth

Does the evidence from the passage support the claim that the Soviets were the first people in space?
“Gagarin kept his thoughts concentrated on the flight program; he wanted to carry out his assignments to the best of his abilities.” (9)

• Supports

• Does not support

What is an advantage to including the image '1963: Hail the Soviet People— the Pioneers of Space!' with the text 'First to Fly' from Into That Silent Sea?

• It reveals the Soviets’ true agenda about the space race.

• It allows the Soviets to show their artistic side in the space race.

• It helps the Soviets get ahead of the Americans in the space race.

• It communicates the Soviets’ attitude toward their space race program.