Main Idea: Sputnik

What was the main idea of this story?

• a. Sputnik was proof that the Soviet Union was technologically superior.

• b. Sputnik proved that it was possible to launch artificial satellites into space.

• c. Sputnik symbolized the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

What heightened Cold War paranoia in the U.S.?

• a. a successful moon landing

• b. successful launches of two artificial satellites

• c. the International Space Station project

What does collaborate mean in this story?

• a. to work together

• b. to start a war

• c. to launch satellites

Why did the launch of Sputnik II exacerbate America's anxiety?

• a. It showed that the United States was losing the space race.

• b. It showed that the International Council of Scientific Unions was right.

• c. It showed that animals could be brought into space.

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Match the following

• heighten

• optimal

• unhappy

• ecstatic

• natural

• anxiety

• worst

• artificial

• calmness

• subside

Sputnik was the first artificial satellite to leave Earth's​ (a)   . The satellite's ​ (b)   orbit took about 96 minutes. Sputnik was also symbolic of the tension between the capitalist U.S. and the Soviet Union, which had a ​ (c)   government. For many Americans, the anxiety didn't ​ (d)   until 1969, when the U.S. put a person on the moon. In time, the U.S. and Russia were able to ​ (e)   in space exploration.

• atmosphere
• elliptical
• subside
• communist
• collaborate
• strived
• optimal

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Number 1, 2, & 3

Write 3 facts from the story that support this statement:

The United States and the Soviet Union did not coexist peacefully during the time of the space race.