Unit 2 Celebration of Knowledge

1. Which event in "Dark They Were and Golden-Eyed" is the most important in preventing the family's return to earth?

• The family is happy living on a farm in the new settlement.
• The return ticket to Earth costs more than the family has.
• A rocket that Harry builds does not function
• An atomic world war breaks out on Earth.

2. Which sentence best describes the Bittering family members at the conclusion of "Dark They Were and Golden-Eyed"?

• They are completely changed into Martians and have no memory of their past selves.
• They are resigned to living on Mars but are unhappy with their lives there.
• They are different physically but still think and act like Earth people.
• They are eager to return to Earth now that the atomic war is over.

3. Which of the following best states a major theme in "Dark They Were and Golden Eyed"?

• Since we have limited resources on Earth, governments should look to other planets to meet our needs.
• Humans are generally open-minded and peaceful in their encounters with the unknown
• Though people often fear and resist it, change is unavoidable in the end.
• Far-off worlds can be anything people imagine them to be.

4. In "Dark They Were and Golden Eyed", what does the constant wind on Mars most likely represent?

• The power of the environment to completely change the Earth people
• The sadness that Mr. Bittering feels when he cannot return to Earth
• The very hot weather on Mars that disturbs the Earth people
• The destruction of the Earth people's settlements on Mars

5. According to "Danger!" why are astronauts living on the slopes of a volcano as part of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation project?

• They are testing a variety of rockets and engines to determine which will perform best in space.
• They are researching the health risks of living at altitudes similar to those of a space station.
• They are building equipment in a hostile environment that is supposed to be like Mars.
• They are studying how people react to spending large amounts of time in space.

6. What makes the trip to Mars especially challenging for astronauts as explain in "Danger!"?

• Powering the spacecraft requires advanced technology
• The trip takes more than eight months each way.
• Getting supplies to the astronauts is not easy
• Deep space is too cold to be comfortable.

7. Which answer best supports the statement "Most living things seek out sensory stimulation - new smells, tastes, sights, sounds, or experiences"?

• The brain wants something to do
• The body loses physical functions
• Astronauts lose interest in the mission
• Astronauts become argumentative and uncooperative

8. What is the best reason for classifying "Danger!" as informative writing?

• It is written by a journalist
• It provides facts and details about a topic
• It addresses an important event in history
• It examines the benefits and disadvantages of a topic

9. As explained in "Future of Space Exploration" who is Mae Jemison?

• The head of the 100-Year Starship project
• An astronaut training to travel in the first expedition to Mars
• A fundraiser trying to obtain money to fund NASA's programs
• A scientist working on new technologies for exploring the moon

10. According to "Future of Space Exploration" which answer best describes the main purpose of the 100-Year Starship project?

• To generate support for NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft
• To enable human beings to establish colonies on Mars
• To help humanity overcome its problems with political instability
• To encourage public enthusiasm for travel beyond our solar system
• To develop the new technology needed to travel beyond our solar system