Are Humans Really Headed to Mars... Vocab & Questions

Something that is able to be believed; something that is believable is said to be...

• false
• credible
• unveiled
• believed

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

To show or announce something publicly for the first time is to...

• unveil 
• release
• veil
• predict

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

To say or estimate that (a specific thing) will happen in the future is to...

• imagine
• unveil
• be credible
• predict

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

A dictionary is a much more _______ source to find the definition of a word than a fellow student.

• credit
• predictable
• credible
• unveiling

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

A synonym for the word unveiled is...

• revealed
• repeated
• hidden
• removed

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

A synonym for the word credible is...

• false
• believable
• impossible
• guessing

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

PART A: Which of the following statements best identifies a central idea of the article?

• A. The media attention on Mars enthusiasts has caused space exploration to become one of the most important issues facing Americans today.

• B. While some private agencies are working on sending humans to Mars, many experts believe that the barriers to such a voyage still remain high.

• C. Despite the publicity surrounding private space missions, NASA remains optimistic that it will be the first agency in the U.S. to send humans to Mars.

• D. Private space agencies have no plans beyond landing on Mars, as opposed to the people of NASA, who genuinely want to colonize Mars and explore space.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

PART B: Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A in Question 9.

• A. “With recent news headlines...it might seem like a trip to this alien world might finally be close at hand.” (Paragraph 1)

• B. “Most people just don’t get how hard this would be....‘the complexities that are involved in going and staying there are really enormous’” (Paragraph 3)

• C. “The Mars One plan calls for first sending out a small robotic lander in 2018.Lansdorp says he can do this more cheaply than NASA.” (Paragraph 13)

• D. “‘There is no program,’ he says. ‘There isn’t even a plan. There’s just chatter.’” (Paragraph 24)

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.10

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RI.9-10.10

How does Zubrin’s description of NASA’s Mars program as “‘all sizzle and no steak’” (Paragraph 23) impact the meaning of the article?

• A. It suggests that NASA does not have substantial plans for Mars, as opposed to the more purposeful plans of private space companies.

• B. It suggests that NASA has the funding for a successfully manned mission to Mars but is using the funding improperly.

• C. It suggests that NASA’s announcement of its program to Mars was only meant to attract media attention for the space agency.

• D. It suggests that NASA’s program, while not likely to launch, will inspire other missions as a model program on how to get to Mars.

Which statement best describes how Zubrin might respond to the idea that sending humans to Mars is impossible?

• A. He would disagree and point out that if NASA had the funding available today, the agency would be able to create human settlements on Mars by the 2030s.

• B. He would agree and note that many public and private initiatives to send humans to Mars have already failed to succeed and will continue to fail.

• C. He would disagree and acknowledge that while the project would be incredibly difficult, companies like SpaceX have already made considerable progress.

• D. He would agree and add that none of these “programs” have any plans beyond how to get to Mars or any desire to live on it.