Katherine Johnson Powercheck (RI 4.1)

In paragraph 1, the author says that Katherine Johnson's work was important. Which two quotes support this statement?

• She entered college when she was only 15!

• As Johnson worked on math problems, she would ask questions.

• Johnson wanted to go to these meetings to learn more about the projects.

• ...her calculations helped put the first American into orbit around the Earth

• With the information she provided, astronauts walked on the moon for the first time.

Read the sentence from paragraph 4.

Her professor even created a class bout the geometry of outer space, especially for her.

What can the reader infer about Katherine's professor?

• He believed she needed some extra help in her geometry class.

• He thought it would be difficult for her to get a job when she graduated.

• He believed that she was smarter than all of the other students in the class.

• He thought she would be able to hold an important job in mathematics one day.

In September 1962, President John F. Kennedy challenged the country to send a man to the moon. The math calculations for sending a man to the moon were similar to those for putting a man into orbit. However, many more calculations were involved.

Why were more calculations needed to send a man to the moon than to send a man into orbit?

• because scientists did not know how far away the moon was

• because scientists were going to send more astronauts to the moon

• because astronauts would be traveling at a different time of year

• because astronauts needed to travel much farther to get to the moon

Which two quotations from the passage describe the difficulties Katherine Johnson faced as she pursued her career?

• Her professor even created a class about the geometry of outer space, especially for her.

• At that time, the only professional job available to Johnson was teaching.

• When Johnson was 34 years old, she applied for a job at NACA, the government agency that later became NASA.

• Women were not allowed to attend meetings with the male engineers and scientists.

• The men increasingly relied on her to have the answers they needed.

Which quote shows that the workers at NASA learned to trust Katherine's work?

• As Johnson worked on math problems, she would ask questions.

• Women were not allowed to attend meetings with the male engineers and scientists.

• The men increasingly relied on her to have the answers they needed.

• She began calculating the flight path for the path for the rocket to put the first American into space in 1961.

Read the sentences from paragraph 7.

The author states that Katherine Johnson started high school when she was only 10 and graduated from college when she was 18.

What did this show about Katherine?

• She was very intelligent.

• She needed to get a job.

• She wanted to learn about space travel.

• She had a family who wanted her to leave.

Select two phrases from paragraph 6 which show why it is unlikely for Katherine to get a high-level job in math or science.

• Johnson graduated from college

• African Americans were rarely able to have jobs in mathematics

• very unusual for women of any race to have degrees in mathematics

• taught school for a number of years but stopped

• She started teaching again to support her family

Read the sentence from paragraph 10.

The tricky part was to calculate when and where the rocket would have to launch.

What does the word launch mean as it is used in the sentence?

• to throw something forcefully

• to send a craft on its course or into orbit

• to put in motion by pushing a craft into the water

• to introduce a new product to the public for the first time

Read the sentence from paragraph 12.

Her calculations were critical to NASA's success.

What is the meaning of critical as it is used in this sentence?

• disapproving

• important

• judegemental

• risky