Hidden Figures: Key Concepts and Characters

The transcript discusses the prologue of 'Hidden Figures,' set in Hampton, Virginia, in 2010. It introduces Margo Shuttley, her family, and her motivation to write the book. The prologue recounts Margo's visit to her parents, meeting a retired NASA mathematician, and her memories of NASA's Langley Research Center. Margo's upbringing among professionals in science and engineering, despite her father's experience with segregation, inspired her to document the contributions of black female mathematicians at NASA. The transcript highlights the hidden history of these women and their significant yet unrecognized contributions to NASA's success.

Where is the setting of the prologue in 'Hidden Figures'?

• Hampton, Virginia

• Chicago, Illinois

• New York, USA

• Los Angeles, California

Who did Margo meet that inspired her interest in NASA's history?

• Christine Darden

• Dorothy Vaughan

• Kathleen Land

• Mary Jackson

What profession did Margo's father pursue during segregation?

• Medicine

• Postal work

• Engineering

• Teaching

What sparked Margo's curiosity about NASA as a child?

• School projects

• Television programs

• Annual NASA events

• Her father's stories

What was Margo's main motivation for writing 'Hidden Figures'?

• To discuss space exploration

• To document her father's career

• To tell the story of black women mathematicians

• To highlight NASA's achievements

How many black women mathematicians did Margo initially have data on?

• 60

• 30

• 50

• 40

What does the term 'computers' refer to in the context of NASA?

• Engineers

• Electronic devices

• Women who performed calculations

• Astronauts

What was the role of NACA before it became NASA?

• Military operations

• Aeronautical research

• Weather forecasting

• Space exploration

What historical period does 'segregation' refer to in the prologue?

• 1800-1850

• 1900-1939

• 1950-1960

• 1970-1980

When did NASA officially start its operations?

• 1945

• 1958

• 1975

• 1969