Reading-Living in Space

Living in Space

A science laboratory 240 miles from Earth? A preparation for a flight to Mars? The International Space Station, or ISS, is both of these.

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At this very moment, the ISS (orbit) Earth at a distance of 240 miles or 360 km. It (fly) at 17,000 m/hr or 28,000 km/hr. It (go) around Earth 16 times a day. It took more than $100 billion and 14 years to develop. It is the most expensive thing ever built.

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Fill in the Blank

Put the verb in parentheses in the correct tense. : At this very moment, the ISS (orbit) Earth at a distance of 240 miles.

Fill in the Blank

Put the verb in parentheses in the correct tense. : It (fly) at 17,000 m/hr.

Fill in the Blank

Put the verb in parentheses in the correct tense. : It (go) around the Earth 16 times a day.

The Station

The first part of the station when into space in 1998. Astronauts started to live on it in November 2000. There are usually three astronauts on board, and they stay for about six months at a time. Over the years there have been over 200 visitors from 15 different countries. Supply ships arrive about eight times a year.

Multiple Choice

What does the number 6 refer to?

• number of astronauts on board

• number of months the astronauts stay on board

• number of times supply ships come to the ISS each year

• number of countries that have sent visitors to the ISS

Multiple Choice

What does the number 200 refer to?

• the year the ISS was completed

• the amount of money it cost to build

• the number of supply ships that come to the ISS each year

• the number of visitors to the ISS since it opened

Multiple Choice

What does the number 1998 refer to?

• the year the first part of the ISS went into space

• the year astronauts started living on the ISS

• the speed of its orbit

• the number of visitors to the ISS since it opened

Multiple Choice

What does the number 15 refer to?

• the number of years it took to develop

• the number of supply ships that come to the ISS each year

• the number of countries that have sent visitors to the ISS

• the number of visitors to the ISS since it opened

Multiple Choice

What does the number 8 refer to?

• the number of years it took to develop

• the number of supply ships that come to the ISS each year

• the number of astronauts on board

• the number of countries that have sent visitors to the ISS

Goals

Space agencies in the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe are __ together. They are __ the zero gravity of space to do experiments in biology, physics, and astronomy. They are __ about living in space over a long time and the effects of this on the human body. The astronauts are __ plants to make oxygen. They are __ Earth's weather and geography. And they are __ at planets and stars to understand the origin of the universe.  

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb. : They are __ the zero gravity of space to do experiments.

• growing

• looking

• using

• learning

• studying

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb. : Space agencies in the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe are __ together.

• being

• talking

• working

• seeing

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb. : They are __ about living in space over a long time and the effects of this on the human body.

• growing

• looking

• using

• learning

• studying

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb. : The astronauts are __ plants to make oxygen.

• growing

• looking

• using

• learning

• studying

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb. : They are __ Earth's weather and geography.

• working

• looking

• using

• learning

• studying

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb. : They are __ at planets and stars to understand the origin of the universe.

• working

• looking

• using

• learning

• studying

True or False?

Multiple Choice

New supplies arrive once a month.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The Americans are competing against Russians and Europeans.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

They are doing a lot of scientific experiments.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

They are learning about Earth and its history.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

They are looking for life on other planets.

• true

• false