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.

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.

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.”

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

• Killed for political reasons

• Removed from power

• Forced to resign

• Kidnapped

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