Challenges for Space Exploration Selection Test

Which sentence from the text is not an arguable claim made by the author?

• 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. (paragraph 5)

• And have you noticed the weather lately? (paragraph 5)

• It's a huge, dangerous, maybe impossible project. (paragraph 9)

• Humanity was born on Earth. Are we going to stay here? I suspect—I hope—the answer is no. (paragraph 10)

Read the sentence from paragraph 2. "What's up there? Could we go there? Maybe we could go there?" What is the effect of the repetition of the word there in this sentence?

• It explains how big space is.

• It suggests space isn't special.

• It highlights what we don't know about space.

• It emphasizes the idea of going to space.

Which of the following is an example of a rhetorical device the author uses to present her argument?

• Use of hyphenation: cutting-edge technology of their time (paragraph 3)

• Repetition of a phrase: I could tell you . . . (paragraphs 4-8)

• Using exaggerated phrases: if humanity is lucky enough to survive the next 5.5 billion years (paragraph 7)

• Making blanket statements: Humanity was born on Earth. (paragraph 10)

In paragraph 3, the word infinitely comes from the Latin root finitus, which means —

• fine

• limited

• understood

• infirm

What tone of voice does the author use to make her argument persuasive?

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

• She feels that space exploration would be entertaining.

• She cautions that exploring space could be very dangerous.

• She argues that space exploration is important for human beings.

• She thinks that people need to be encouraged to explore unknown spaces.

Choose the phrase that correctly punctuates the underlined section in the sentence below. "Of course Earth is the only planet that we know of that is inhabited by human life."

• Of course Earth is, the only planet that we know of

• Of course Earth is the only planet, that we know of

• Of course, Earth is the only planet that we know of

• correct as is

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

• It conveys her understanding that space exploration is dangerous.

• It emphasizes her opinion that sea travel today is without risk.

• It hints that she is not sure space exploration is worth the cost.

• It shows that she would feel scared getting into a spacecraft.

Choose the phrase that correctly punctuates the underlined section in the sentence below. An award-winning author Anne Leckie is best known for her science fiction novel.

• An award-winning author Anne Leckie,

• An award-winning author, Anne Leckie

• An award-winning, author Anne Leckie

• correct as is

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

• break

• weave

• collide

• die