Robonaut

"What is a Robonaut?"

The word dexterous is used several times in the passage. What is the meaning of dexterous as used in the passage?

• skillful

• experienced

• intelligent

• quick

Select three details from paragraphs 1-5 that support the answer to the previous question

• "...ability to use one's hand..." (Paragraph 1)

• "...ability to use the same workspace and tools..." (paragraph 2)

• "...accelerate development of the next generation of robots..." (paragraph 5)

• "...capable of speeds more than four times faster than R1." (paragraph 5)

• “…capable of handling a wide range of EVA tools and interfaces…” (paragraph 5)

Paragraph 3 contains an allusion to American astronaut Neil Armstrong's statement when, as the first person to ever walk on the Moon, he said: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." 
What is the author implying by the allusion to Armstrong's statement in paragraph 3?

• Like Armstrong's Moon landing, the launch of the first Robonaut aboard the Discovery represents a historic breakthrough in space exploration.
• The use of R2 aboard the International Space Station will make space exploration safer for astronauts in the future.
• In the future, human astronauts like Neil Armstrong will unfortunately be replaced with humanoid robots like R2.
• Compared to the launch of R2 aboard the space shuttle Discovery, Neil Armstrong's Moon landing was only a minor achievement.

Which piece of evidence from the passage best supports the answer to the previous question?

• "...our challenge has been to build machines with dexterity that exceeds that of a suited astronaut." (paragraph 1)
• "...not only does this improve efficiency in the types of tools, but also removes the need for specialized robotic connectors." (paragraph 2)
• "Next steps include a leg for climbing through corridors of the Space Station..." (paragraph 4)
• "Robonaut can take over simple, repetitive, or especially dangerous tasks..." (paragraph 6)

Why does the author explain Robonauts' abilities in detail?

• to outline the history of Robonauts' development
• to demonstrate the benefits of using Robonauts in space
• to explain how Robonauts might be useful in everyday life
• to persuade readers that Robonauts' skills have applications for other types of work beyond space exploration

Which detail from the passage supports the answer to the previous question?

• "Robonauts are essential to NASA's future..." (paragraph 2)
• "But that was just one small step for a robot..." (paragraph 3)
• "...Centaur 2 is being evaluated...as an example of these future lower bodies..." (paragraph 4)
• "...for use in the automotive and aerospace industries." (paragraph 5)

How does paragraph 4 contribute to the topic of the passage?

• It explains some improvements planned for the R2 to make it more useful.
• It adds details about the R2 that was launched on the space shuttle.
• It provides a comparison between the R2 and previous models.
• It states conclusions about the value of having the R2 on space missions.

Which additional paragraph contributes to the development of the topic in a similar way? 

• paragraph 2
• paragraph 3
• paragraph 5
• paragraph 6

Which statement from the passage is a reasoned judgment?

• "The value of a humanoid over other designs is the ability to use the same workspace and tools..." (paragraph 2)
• "...it is the first dexterous humanoid robot in space..." (paragraph 3)
• "NASA and General Motors are working together with assistance from Oceaneering Space Systems engineers..." (paragraph 5)
• "Another way this might be beneficial is during a robotic precursor mission." (paragraph 7)

Which additional statement from the passage is also a reasoned judgment?

• "There are currently four Robonauts, with others in development." (paragraph 2)
• "...R2 is a significant advancement over its predecessor." (paragraph 5)
• "...Robonaut can take over simple, repetitive, or especially dangerous tasks on places such as the International Space Station." (paragraph 6)
• "R2 would bring one set of tools for the precursor mission, such as setup and geologic investigation." (paragraph 7)