Life Story: Katherine Johnson – Comprehension Questions

1. What did Katherine Johnson earn a degree in from West Virginia State?

• A. aerospace engineering

• B. Farsi and Malay

• C. computer science

• D. French and math

2. The United States was eager to create aircraft for national defense because it was in a cold war with Russia. How did that affect Katherine’s career as a Black woman living in segregated times?

• A. Katherine had the rare opportunity to become a computer for NACA, where she worked for decades to follow.

• B. Katherine became a well-known journalist for a journal that would report on NACA’s accomplishments.

• C. Katherine translated aircraft instruction manuals from French to English to help NACA engineers.

• D. Katherine was hired by NACA for many years as the only Black female to develop mechanical computers.

3.Katherine broke social norms and barriers for women and, specifically, Black women. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion?

• A. “In 1958, Katherine met a man named Jim Johnson. Jim respected Katherine’s work and enjoyed spending time with her daughters. They married in 1959.”

• B. “She played cards and talked about aviation magazines with her white male colleagues during breaks. She even successfully demanded that she be allowed to attend high-level briefings.” 

• C. “She and Jimmie soon had three daughters, born in 1940, 1943, and 1944. And by 1947, Katherine returned to teaching with Jimmie. In 1951, Katherine and Jimmie moved their family to Virginia.”

• D. “Two years later, astronaut John Glenn was preparing to be the first American to orbit the planet. NASA used a series of mechanical computers to calculate his path. But these new computers were not always reliable.” 

4.The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to people who have contributed to the United States in exceptional ways. How did Katherine’s work earn her a Presidential Medal of Freedom? 

• A. She became the first Black woman to go to space when she orbited the Earth with John Glenn and is an inspiration to all Americans.

• B. She contributed to NASA’s work over decades, including sending the first American to orbit Earth and landing on the moon.

• C. She was a film producer who produced many important movies, like Hidden Figures, about leaders during the civil rights movement.

• D. She translated countless important French military documents to English, which helped the U.S. defeat Russia in the Cold War.

5.What is the main idea of this text?

• A. Katherine Johnson was born in West Virginia, had three siblings, and was successful because her parents were determined that she would attend college and work at NACA.

• B. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NACA, changed its name to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, once Russia launched two satellites into orbit.

• C. Katherine Johnson was a Black female mathematician who made significant contributions to U.S. accomplishments in space throughout her career as a computer for NASA.

• D. Katherine Johnson first married Jimmie Goble in 1939 and had three daughters with him but, after he passed away from a brain tumor in 1956, she met and married Jim Johnson. 

6.Read the following sentences from the text.

“By speaking up and demonstrating her exceptional analytical skills, Katherine had proven her value to the engineers. Most computers were moved from project to project. Because the engineers did not want to lose her, Katherine remained a part of their team.”

As used in this excerpt, what does the phrase “proven her value” most closely mean? 

• A. used her listening skills to resolve an argument

• B. created an impressive engineering presentation

• C. shown that she was talented and good at her job

• D. stayed reserved and quiet to be respectful

7.Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

Katherine was dedicated to NASA’s goals, _______ working all day and night.

• A. often

• B. although

• C. instead

• D. second

WHAT DOES INTEGRATE MEAN?

• A. practicing or characterized by segregation, especially racial or ethnic segregation.

• B. a spacecraft that is sent into orbit around a planet or other heavenly body to gather or

  send back information.

• C. to remove cultural and racial restrictions from; implement use of or membership in by all

  types of people regardless of race or color.

WHAT DOES SEGREGATED MEAN?

• A. to remove cultural and racial restrictions from; implement use of or membership in by all

  types of people regardless of race or color.

• B. practicing or characterized by segregation, especially racial or ethnic segregation.

• C. a spacecraft that is sent into orbit around a planet or other heavenly body to gather or

  send back information.

WHAT DOES SATELLITE MEAN?

• A. a spacecraft that is sent into orbit around a planet or other heavenly body to gather or

  send back information.

• B. to remove cultural and racial restrictions from; implement use of or membership in by all

  types of people regardless of race or color

• C. practicing or characterized by segregation, especially racial or ethnic segregation.

  segregated schools