A Massive Mission

What was the purpose of Endeavour’s final journey?

• To be launched into space one last time

• To be transferred to the Smithsonian Museum

• To be placed on display at the California Science Center

• To test a new transportation method

What does the word "daunting" in paragraph 1 mean?

• Exciting

• Difficult

• Unnecessary

• Dangerous

What was the biggest challenge in moving Endeavour through Los Angeles?

• Finding a large enough vehicle to carry it

• Avoiding large crowds of people

• Making space for the shuttle to pass through city streets

• Flying the shuttle across the country

How did engineers protect the city’s infrastructure during the shuttle’s move?

• They built new roads for the shuttle to travel on

• They used steel plates to prevent damage to underground pipes

• They shut down all traffic in Los Angeles

• They used helicopters to lift the shuttle over obstacles

Based on paragraph 4, how did the public react to Endeavour’s journey?

• They protested against the cost of moving the shuttle

• They lined the streets to celebrate and watch the event

• They ignored the event because it was too slow

• They were frustrated because it blocked traffic

Why did the author mention that Endeavour’s top speed was two miles per hour?

• To show how much time it took to move the shuttle

• To compare it to the speed of a regular car

• To highlight the shuttle’s advanced technology

• To explain why the move was dangerous

Which statement best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

• Moving a space shuttle through a city requires careful planning and effort

• Endeavour was one of the most successful space shuttles in history

• NASA struggled to find a permanent home for Endeavour

• Flying Endeavour to California was the most challenging part of the journey

Why does the author include specific details about Endeavour’s size?

• To emphasize the difficulty of moving it through a city

• To compare it to other NASA shuttles

• To explain how the shuttle was built

• To show that it was the largest spacecraft ever made

The passage can best be described as—

• A fictional story about space travel

• A scientific report on space shuttles

• A historical account of Endeavour’s last mission

• An opinion piece about NASA’s funding

What is the meaning of the word “usher” in paragraph 3?

• To force something into place

• To guide or lead something carefully

• To block a path

• To remove obstacles