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The Martian by Andy Weir

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Author Andy Weir describes Acidalia Planitia as _ when it's actually _ in real life.

a)

cold; hot

b)

part of Ares 3's site; part of Ares 4's site

c)

smooth; rough

2.

The average distance in kilometers between Earth and Mars is _

a)

225 million km (kilometers)

b)

140 million mi (miles)

c)

522 million km

d)

4 light minutes

3.

The "Rich Purnell Maneuver" was sent to the Hermes crew by

a)

Rich Purnell -the JPL astrodynamicist

b)

Teddy Sanders - the NASA administrator

c)

Mindy Park - the Orbital Engineer

d)

Mitch Henderson - the Hermes Flight Director

4.

Approximately how long does it take for a message to be sent to Mars from Earth or vice versa?

a)

1 hour

b)

24 hours

c)

11 minutes

d)

22 minutes

5.

What percentage of Mars' atmosphere is CO2?

a)

59

b)

5

c)

95

6.

Because of its thin atmosphere (making it lack a "thermal blanket") and distance from the Sun, Mars' average temperature is

a)

minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit

b)

80 degrees Fahrenheit

c)

minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit

7.

While you don't have to be wearing "Space Jam" Jordans, to do an EVA you actually need

a)

luck

b)
c)
d)
8.

If you don't wear a space suit on Mars, which of the following will happen? More than one answer applies.

a)

go blind

b)

blood boils or freezes

c)

organs rupture

d)

suffocate due to lack of O2

9.

Who discovers that Watney is still alive?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
10.

Which character reads the "Rich Purnell Maneuver" in an e-mail attachment?

a)
b)
c)
d)
11.

Pathfinder lander stops talking to Earth because

a)

Watney's power drill hit the metal workbench thus frying the lander's electronics

b)

an unknown critical failure

c)

heat shield malfunction

12.

The plutonium in this generates heat and electricity. Watney uses it as a heat source. What is it?

a)
b)
c)
13.

Ingress means

a)

in line

b)

moving from darkness into light

c)

entering or moving in

14.

Egress means

a)

going into a place

b)

moving slowly

c)

going out of a place

15.

Mark Watney is from

a)
b)
c)
16.

Why did the seams in the Hab airlock breach?

a)

too much atmospheric pressure

b)

too much ingress and egress

c)

they couldn't withstand the dust storm

17.

The geographic location where the story begins on Mars is

a)

Gale Crater

b)

Arabia Terra

c)

Acidalia Planitia

d)

Mars Vallis

e)

Schiaparelli

18.

The story action on Mars ends at

a)

Phobos

b)

Deimos

c)

Schiaparelli

d)

Deneb

19.

Watney's "critical components" (or "Big Three") to take in his journey to the Ares 4 site are the _

a)

lucky drill, solar panels, and fuzzy dice

b)

RTG, water reclaimer, and oxygenator

c)

oxygenator, water reclaimer, and atmospheric regulator

20.

While in reality only reaching top speeds of 60 mph, this type of storm wreaked havoc on Mars for Watney and his crew:

a)

tornado

b)

cyclone

c)

typhoon

d)

wind

e)

dust

21.

Vogel's role in helping rescue Watney includes

a)

Updating Earth on the latest developments about Watney's recovery from the MAV

b)

Remotely piloting the MAV

c)

building a bomb and pulling Beck and Watney back to the Hermes by a tether cord

22.

At the end of the book, what does Watney say is the real reason why so many people cooperated to save his life?

a)

It was their duty as they are paid employees.

b)

The appeal largely was due to greed as involvement meant fame.

c)

It is basic human instinct to help others.

23.

The average distance between the Earth and Mars in miles is

a)

410 million mi

b)

188 million mi

c)

140 million mi

24.

With current technology, travel to Mars takes about

a)

6-9 months

b)

2 years

c)

3 months

25.
What food does Watney grow to survie
a)
Carrots
b)
Turnips
c)
Broccoli
d)
Spuds
26.
What happens when Watney tried to make water
a)
He gets wet
b)
It explodes
c)
Nothing
d)
A rainbow appears
27.
What country helps NASA try and get food to Watney
a)
Japan
b)
Korea
c)
China
d)
Poland
28.
What happens to the crops when the airlock explodes
a)
They freeze and die
b)
Nothing
c)
They multiply
d)
They are french fried
29.
Mars counts as "international water". Watney is going to commandeer the Ares 4 lander which makes him a
a)
sailor
b)
commander
c)
pirate
d)
pilot
30.
What struck Mark during the sandstorm (in the beginning)?
a)
The oxygenator
b)
The Sorjourner
c)
The RTG
d)
an antenna
31.
What does Watney plan to make by burning  oxygen and hydrogen?
a)
Water
b)
Fertilizer
c)
An explosive
d)
Fuel
32.
Watney's first name is
a)
Mathew
b)
Mark
c)
Luke
d)
John
33.

Would you recommend reading "The Martian" to a friend?

a)

yes

b)

no

c)

maybe

34.

The 2020 Mission to Mars that NASA is planning includes which GOALS?

a)

Looking for evidence of Life on Mars

b)

Examining the Climate of Mars

c)

Saving Mark Whatney

d)

Learning about the geology of Mars

e)

Determining if it would be possible for humans to survive in a habitat on Mars.

35.

Now that you've read "The Martian", which other book would you most likely choose to read.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)