Moon Landing

Read the passage:

1. July 20, 1969. After years of preparing for it, and centuries of dreaming about it, human beings made it to the moon today.

2. At just before 11 p.m. EST this evening, the Commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong, became the first human to step onto the lunar surface. “That’s one small step for man,” he stated, his crackling voice broadcast in radios across Earth, “one giant leap for mankind.”

3. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin soon joined him, adding his own voice to the excited chorus: “Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, magnificent desolation.”

4. Armstrong and Aldrin spent a little over two hours together on the surface of the moon, leaving long-lasting footprints both on the lunar surface and in the hearts of the humans on Earth who stared breathlessly at their television screens, awaiting NASA’supdates.

5. Meanwhile, the third Apollo 11 astronaut, Michael Collins, orbited the moon in the command Module, awaiting good news from Armstrong and Aldrin. Had they made it? Would they return?

6. Two hours on the moon was plenty of time for Armstrong and Aldrin to collect more lunar data than Earth’s scientists have ever had. They took photos that may resolve many mysteries of the moon’s geology. They collected an astounding fifty pounds of moon rocks and soil, which scientists can use to track the history of the solar scientists. They began experiments whose results will one day reveal whether the moon’s core is more like Earth’s or more like a meteorite’s.

7. When the astronauts planted the stem of the American flag into the moon’s soil, it was in a celebration of the nation’s innovation and commitment to knowledge.

8. Upon their return to the lunar module, Armstrong and Aldrin received a call from 240,000 miles away: President Nixon wished to congratulate them on their success.

9. But the journey is not yet over. After spending the night in the lunar module on the moon’s surface, the astronauts must reconnect tomorrow with Collins and the command Module and begin their descent. Assuming everything goes according to plan, the Apollo 11 team will reach Earth's surface next Thursday afternoon. Despite their preparation, the astronauts know that a successful return is no guarantee. In outer space, there are no guarantees.

10. July 20, 1969. A profound day in the history of humanity. Ancient astronomers, mathematicians, artists, and poets have long turned their heads to the sky, searching for answers that seemed lightyears beyond reach. Today, with the work and courage of the Apollo 11 astronauts, those answers are, for the first time, underfoot.

What is the author’s point of view toward the Apollo 11 astronauts and mission in this article?

• awe and admiration

• doubt and uncertainty

• impressed but concerned

Which words or phrases from the excerpt best help to convey that point of view from question #1.

• "A profound day in the history of humanity." [paragraph 10]

• "Astronaut Buzz Aldrin soon joined him" [paragraph 3]

• "When the astronauts planted the stem of the American flag into the moon’s soil" [paragraph 7]

What is the author’s point of view toward outer space in this article?

• unpredictable but has great value

• dangerous and not worth the risk

• unimportant but exciting

Which quote from the passage does not convey the point of view from question #3?

• After years of preparing for it, and centuries of dreaming about it, human beings made it to the moon today. [paragraph 1]

• "Astronaut Buzz Aldrin soon joined him, adding his own voice to the excited chorus: “Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, a magnificent desolation.” [paragraph 3]

• Upon their return to the lunar module, Armstrong and Aldrin received a call. [paragraph 8]

Choose the words from the sentence that least impact the meaning being conveyed. In the most unimaginable accomplishment in human history, these men easily established Earth’s first extension in the universe, sending back a stunning panorama of views to millions of fascinated TV viewers.

• extension in the universe

• most unimaginable accomplishment

• a stunning panorama

How do the connotations of the bolded words in each sentence impact the meaning being conveyed? In the most absurd incident in human history, these men recklessly established Earth’s first fortress in the universe, sending back a shocking panorama of views to millions of alarmed TV viewers.

• The bolded words possess negative connotations, and together they work to convey the idea that this was a ridiculous and needless event, one that was distressing and frightening to the country.

• The bolded words possess positive connotations, and together they work to convey the idea that this was a positive and exciting moment in our history, one that is significant and is to be celebrated.

• The bolded words possess neutral connotations, and together they work to convey the idea that this was a scientific moment in our history, one that is significant and is to be studied.

How do the connotations of the bolded words in each sentence impact the meaning being conveyed? In the most unimaginable accomplishment in human history, these men easily established Earth’s first extension in the universe, sending back a stunning panorama of views to millions of fascinated TV viewers.

• The bolded words possess negative connotations, and together they work to convey the idea that this was a ridiculous and needless event, one that was distressing and frightening to the country.

• The bolded words possess positive connotations, and together they work to convey the idea that this was a positive and exciting moment in our history, one that is significant and is to be celebrated.

• The bolded words possess neutral connotations, and together they work to convey the idea that this was a scientific moment in our history, one that is significant and is to be studied.

Which sentence most closely matches the point of view conveyed by “An Account of the Moon Landing”?

• In the most absurd incident in human history, these men recklessly established Earth’s first fortress in the universe, sending back a shocking panorama of views to millions of alarmed TV viewers.

• In the most unimaginable accomplishment in human history, these men easily established Earth’s first extension in the universe, sending back a stunning panorama of views to millions of fascinated TV viewers.

• These men established Earth's first outpost in the universe, sending back a panoramic view to millions of TV viewers.

Which of these strategies are used by the author to support and develop the idea that this was "a profound day in the history of humanity"?

• facts and statistics

• quotes and descriptions

• words with strong connotations

• All of these answers are correct.

Which two of the following best describe the author's purpose for writing “An Account of the Moon Landing”?

• I. to inform the reader about the historic achievement of the Apollo 11 mission

• II. to explain the significance of humanity's first moon landing

• III. to persuade the reader to work for NASA