"Challenges for Space Exploration"

Which is not an arguable claim made by the author?

• It’s a huge, dangerous, maybe impossible project.

• I could tell you that we shouldn’t keep all our eggs in this increasingly fragile basket—one good meteor strike and we all join the non-avian dinosaurs.

• And have you noticed the weather lately?

• Humanity was born on Earth. Are we going to stay here? I suspect—I hope—the answer is no.

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CCSS.RI.7.8

Read the sentence from paragraph 2.

Because it’s something human beings do.

Which rhetorical device is the author using in this sentence?

• Loaded language

• Direct address

• Rhetorical question

• Sweeping generalization

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CCSS.L.7.5D

Which two examples of rhetorical devices does the author use to support her argument?

• Asking two questions right after one another: What’s up there? Could we go there?

• Use of hyphenation: . . . cutting-edge technology of their time.

• Repetition of the phrase: I could tell you . . .

• Using exaggerated phrases such as: . . . if humanity is lucky enough to survive the next 5.5 billion years.

• Making blanket statements such as: Humanity was born on Earth.

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CCSS.RI.7.1

In paragraph 3, the word infinitely comes from the Latin root -finite, which means —.

• finest

• finished

• definition

• infirm

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CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.RI.7.4

Which sentence best describes the author’s viewpoint on space exploration?

• The author feels that space exploration would be entertaining.

• The author argues against space exploration because it is dangerous.

• The author tries to convince the reader of the importance of space exploration.

• The author thinks that people need to be persuaded to shove off from the shore.

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CCSS.RI.7.6

Read the following sentence from paragraph 3.

Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea; escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.

How could this sentence be changed while retaining the author’s original idea?

• Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea, escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.

• Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea. Escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.

• Space is, of course infinitely more hostile, to human life than the surface of the sea; escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.

• Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea; escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense, than shoving off from the shore.

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CCSS.L.7.4A

CCSS.RI.7.4

The author uses the word hostile in paragraph 3. How does this word choice affect the tone of the piece?

• The author feels that space exploration is dangerous.

• The author feels that spinoff technologies are very large.

• The author feels that boats are still cutting-edge technology.

• The author feels that shoving off from the shore is expensive.

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CCSS.L.7.5C

CCSS.RI.7.4

Read the excerpt from paragraph 4.

I could tell you about spinoff technologies, ranging from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.

Which way could the sentence be rewritten without changing the original meaning of the sentence?

• I could tell you about spinoff technologies; ranging from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.

• I could tell you about spinoff technologies, ranging from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured?

• I could tell you about a wide range of spinoff technologies—from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.

• I could tell you about spinoff technologies. A wide range, from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.

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CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.7.3A

In paragraph 5, the word fragile comes from the Latin root word frangere, which means to —.

• break

• weave

• collide

• die

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CCSS.L.7.4A

CCSS.L.7.4B

The author points out that our ancestors sailed great distances to unknown places in order to —.

• express that it is important to go to new places

• suggest that it is human nature to be explorers

• warn about the risks of going to unknown places

• describe what might have happened to our ancestors

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CCSS.RI.7.6