Space Race Text

What was the main reason the Space Race began?

• The United States and the Soviet Union wanted to prove their military power.

• The Cold War caused tensions, and both countries wanted to achieve space exploration first.

• Russia wanted to explore new planets before the United States.

• The United States wanted to compete with European nations.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

How did the United States respond after the launch of Sputnik 1?

• They immediately sent a man to the Moon.

• They worked on developing NASA.

• They decided to stop space exploration.

• They created a peace treaty with the Soviet Union.

Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

• The Space Race was an important part of the Cold War, and both the United States and the Soviet Union worked hard to achieve space exploration first.

• The Cold War led to the creation of NASA, which eventually helped the United States win the Space Race.

• The Soviet Union was the first to launch a satellite, but the United States successfully put a man on the Moon.

• President Kennedy’s speech encouraged the United States to explore space, leading to many discoveries.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that space exploration was difficult?

• “At first, Russia appeared to be winning the space race when it launched Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957.”

• “If Russia could launch objects into Earth’s orbit, then that meant it might also be capable of firing a bomb across the ocean!”

• “No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”

• “The U.S. government created an agency for space exploration in 1958.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What does the word “assassinated” mean as used in paragraph 5?

• Killed for political reasons

• Removed from power

• Forced to resign

• Kidnapped

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

What is the meaning of the word “satellite” as used in paragraph 2?

• A type of star

• A natural object that orbits a planet

• A man-made object placed in orbit around Earth

• A telescope used to view space

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4