Life Story of Katherine Johnson

Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

Born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Johnson’s love for mathematics was inherent, an impulse she had from birth.

Based on the context of the sentence, which words mean the same as inherent ?

• natural; deep-rooted; involuntary

• impressive; skilled; awe-inspiring

• detailed; intricate; complicated

• abundant; overpowering; plentiful

Which statement reflects the central idea of the passage?

• Katherine Johnson was born with an unusual talent for science and mathematics; she became a teacher after college.

• Katherine Johnson was NASA’s first female scientist; she led a team of women working as “computers.”

• Katherine Johnson devoted her life to science and mathematics; she played an important role in NASA’s early development.

• Katherine Johnson spent her early years studying science; she cultivated her academic skills with the help of her college professors.

Choose TWO quotations from the passage that support question 2.

REMINDER: (Central Idea of Passage = Katherine Johnson devoted her life to science and mathematics; she played an important role in NASA’s early development.)

• “‘I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed...anything that could be counted, I did.’”

  (paragraph 1)

• “And so it was, through part threat and part joke, Johnson steered her way into what was already her first love: mathematics.” (paragraph 2)

• “Johnson ended up teaching after college; at that time, teaching was the only option for her in her community.” (paragraph 4)

• “She started as one of the women who worked on problems assigned from the engineers in what was then the Guidance and Control Branch.” (paragraph 5)

• “It was this inquisitive nature that made her a valuable resource to the team and the only woman at the time to ever be pulled from the computing pool to work on other programs.” (paragraph 5)

What is the meaning of the word immersed in paragraph 3?

• absorbed; deeply involved

• charged; extremely excited

• distracted; easily side tracked

• obsessed; overly concerned

How does the author elaborate on the idea that Katherine Johnson was gifted in mathematics?

• by describing the academic activities in which she participated

• by providing anecdotes from coworkers explaining her expertise

• by listing her awards and honors throughout every stage of her life

• by detailing her accomplishments and leadership roles in both school and career

Read the sentence from paragraph 5:

"Her work in the agency was a day-to-day progression."

How does the sentence fit into the overall text structure of paragraph 5? (How does it help you identify the text structure of this paragraph)

• by introducing the chronological structure of the paragraph

• by emphasizing the descriptive structure of the paragraph

• by providing the contrast for the compare and contrast structure of the paragraph

• by highlighting the cause for the cause and effect structure of the paragraph

How does the author’s use of direct quotations and anecdotes contribute to the passage?

• by elaborating on Katherine Johnson’s struggles to succeed in a male-dominated field

• by providing insight into what Katherine Johnson was thinking during each stage of her life

• by introducing key mentors who helped Katherine Johnson become a successful mathematician

• by developing Katherine Johnson’s personal journey toward acceptance of her talents

What is the author’s purpose for writing the passage?

• to reflect on female participation in NASA’s early stages of development

• to entertain with a delightful story of a female mathematician

• to persuade the reader to begin a career in NASA’s space program

• to inform the reader about the life of a successful female mathematician

Which claim does the author support with reasons and evidence?

• Katherine Johnson always dreamed of working for NASA.

• Katherine Johnson worked hard for a career in her desired field.

• Katherine Johnson was successful despite the lack of help she was provided.

• Katherine Johnson was a wise woman who set an example for female mathematicians.