Case #2 - "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts."

Read the passage "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts."

What impact did Katherine Johnson's father have on her life?

• Her father helped her realize that she was equal to others.

• Her father encouraged her to work hard in order to skip grades in school.

• Her father persuaded her to become a research mathematician.

• Her father bought her many textbooks about geometry.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Which two quotations provide key details that support the main idea that Katherine Johnson was trusted during her time at NASA?

• "We had to go back to geometry and figure all of this stuff out. Since I was in at the beginning, I was one of those lucky people." (paragraph 15)

• "It was only natural that she calculate the trajectory of Alan Shepherd's 1961 trip into space, America's first," (paragraph 16)

• "The early trajectory was a parabola, and it was easy to predict where it would be at any point," Johnson says." (paragraph 17)

• "But when they went to computers, they called over and said, "tell her to check and see if the computer trajectory they had calculated was correct." So I checked it and it was correct." (paragraph 19)

• "She is still involved in math, tutoring youngsters, and she remembers where NASA's space program was, even as she watchers where it is now on television." (paragraph 24)

Part A

What point does the author make about Katherine Johnson's job at NASA?

• Katherine Johnson thought that her job at NASA was easy.

• Katherine Johnson missed her job at NASA after she retired and wanted to go back.

• Katherine Johnson truly enjoyed her job at NASA for many years.

• Katherine Johnson always dreamed of getting a job a NASA and worked hard for it.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

Part B

Which quotations from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

• "I said, "let me do it. You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I'll do it backwards and tell you when to take off. "That was my forte," (paragraph 17)

• "And in 1969 she gathered with others around a small television set to see Neil Armstrong land on the moon and take the first step by a human there." (paragraph 20)

• "She is still involved in math, tutoring youngsters, and she remembers where NASA's space program was, even as she watches where it is now on television." (paragraph 24)

• "This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33 years happy. Never did I get up and say I don't want to go to work." (paragraph 25)

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

What does the author mean by the phrase "she was not stranger to geometry" in paragraph 16?

• Katherine Johnson was knowledgeable about geometry.

• Katherine Johnson enjoyed meeting other people who liked geometry.

• Katherine Johnson was interested in learning more about geometry.

• Katherine Johnson shared her research on geometry.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

What can the reader infer based on paragraph 19?

• People did not believe using electronic computers would save time at first.

• People did not trust the calculations made by electronic computers at first.

• People used electronic computers to make sure that their calculators were correct.

• People thought that it was simple to learn how to use electronic computers.

Tags

CCSS.RF.5.4C

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Read "Led by Her Smarts"

How does the additional passage add to the information in "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts"?

• The additional passage describes how Katherine Johnson used her math and computer skills to create new formulas for engineers at NASA.

• The additional passage gives specific reasons for why Katherine Johnson wanted to work at NASA and use math to map space flights.

• The additional passage tells why Katherine Johnson wanted women to be part of research groups at NASA to check the math done by computers.

• The additional passage provides examples of Katherine Johnson overcoming the idea that women could not do what men did at NASA.

How does the text structure used in " She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts" compare to the text structure used in the additional passage?

• Both passages use cause an effect to explain the results of Katherine Johnson having a strong background in geometry.

• Both passages use chronological order to describe the experiences Katherine Johnson had before and during her career at NASA.

• Both passages use compare and contrast to explain the similarities and differences between Katherine Johnson and her coworkers a NASA.

• Both passages use problem and solution to describe how Katherine Johnson fought for equality to both her job and her personal life.

Which choice best explains how the passage "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts" and the additional passage differ in the points of view they represent?

• "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts" provides information about he values Katherine Johnson's father instilled in her as a young child, but the additional passage provided limited information about Katherine Johnson's childhood.

• "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts" provides information about Katherine Johnson's entire career at NASA, but he additional passage provides information about Katherine Johnson's experience planning one particular space flight.

• "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts" provides Katherine Johnson's thoughts about why she wanted to become a mathematician as a child, but the additional passage provides details about Katherine Johnson's experiences working at NASA>

• "She Was a Computer When Computers Wore Skirts" provides details about the people who helped encourage Katherine Johnson's career choices, but the additional passage provides personal statements from important people in Katherine Johnson's life.