Quiz: “Future of Space Exploration Could See Humans on Mars”

As explained in the text, who is Mae Jemison?

• a scientist working on new technologies for exploring the moon

• a fundraiser trying to obtain money to fund NASA's programs

• the head of the 100-Year Starship project

• an astronaut training to travel in the first expedition to Mars

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What are one of the main purposes of the 100-Year Starship project?

• to encourage public enthusiasm for travel beyond our solar system

• to help humanity overcome its problems with political instability

• to enable human beings to establish colonies on Mars

• to generate support for NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft

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Which piece of text evidence supports Mae Jemison's justify funding space programs when so many problems on Earth need support? Mae Jemison believes that research for space programs often results in inventions that improve everyday life.

• "It has to be an inclusive journey," she said.

• "I can't really think of a country that's been stable for 1,000 years."

• "I believe that pursuing an extraordinary tomorrow will create a better world today," she said.

• "The public did not leave space," she said while discussing the reduced enthusiasm. "The public was left out of space."

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How does Mae Jemison justify funding space programs when so many problems on Earth need support?

• By supporting space programs, governments can gain important public support.

• Creating a goal shared by many nations will result in global political stability.

• Research for space programs often results in inventions that improve everyday life.

• Funding a space program will provide jobs that will support economic growth.

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According to this paragraph, what is most likely to happen to space exploration if political instability continues?

Without the development of a method to warp or shrink space-time, or a new propulsion system—both ideas that the 100-Year Starship program is exploring—humanity would need to find a way to overcome some of its instability problems.

• Lengthy journeys through space will be threatened by a lack of cooperation.

• There will be no lasting economic benefits from space travel.

• New technologies for space travel will not be developed.

• Nations that colonize other planets will merely move their political problems there.

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Which phrase from the text supports the answer that inclusive means "all embracing"?

• seeks to increase public enthusiasm for space

• The 100-Year Starship program

• also artists and science fiction writers

• the project, which Jemison heads

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What is the meaning of inclusive in the following sentence?

As a result, the project, which Jemison heads, seeks to increase public enthusiasm for space as well. The 100-Year Starship program not only includes engineers and astrophysicists, but also artists and science fiction writers.“It has to be an inclusive journey,” she said.

• short-term

• attention-grabbing

• all-embracing

• thought-provoking

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Based on its context, which meaning of stable does the author use in this sentence?

Speaking to the long time frames of space travel, Steltzner said, “I can’t really think of a country that’s been stable for 1,000 years.”

• not easily upset

• not changing

• a collection of people

• a building where animals are kept

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Though many people object to funding the space program when there are humanitarian needs that have to be met on Earth, Jemison points out that such exploration often leads to innovation and unexpected technology that make an impact on Earth-based programs.

What is the most likely meaning of innovation in this sentence?

• interest

• strength

• participation

• advancement

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Which of the following specific ideas is the 100-Year Starship program looking at closely?

• ways to enable spaceships to travel more rapidly

• ways to lower the cost of space travel

• ways to solve political and economic problems that hamper space travel

• ways to improve the human body to help it endure long space trips

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