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Space Exploration - unit 4

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The author points out that our ancestors sailed great distances to unknown places in order to -

a)

express that it is important to go to new places

b)

suggest that it is human nature to be explorers

c)

warn about the risks of going to unknown places

d)

describe what might have happened to our ancestors

2.

In paragraph 5, the author states that we shouldn’t keep our eggs in this increasingly fragile basket. What does she mean?

a)

We need to create a safer environment on Earth.

b)

We must focus on the threat of meteor strikes.

c)

We must increase food production on Earth.

d)

We need to find other suitable planets to live on.

3.

Which sentence best describes the author’s viewpoint on space exploration?

a)

The author feels that space exploration would be entertaining.

b)

The author argues against space exploration because it is dangerous.

c)

The author tries to convince the reader of the importance of space exploration.

d)

The author thinks that people need to be persuaded to shove off from the shore.

4.

The author uses the word hostile in paragraph 3. How does this word choice affect the tone of the piece?

a)

The author feels that space exploration is dangerous.

b)

The author feels that spinoff technologies are very large.

c)

The author feels that boats are still cutting-edge technology.

d)

The author feels that shoving off from the shore is expensive.

5.

Read the excerpt from paragraph 4.


I could tell you about spinoff technologies, ranging from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.


Which way could the sentence be rewritten without changing the original meaning of the sentence?

a)

I could tell you about spinoff technologies; ranging from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.

b)

I could tell you about spinoff technologies, ranging from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured?

c)

I could tell you about a wide range of spinoff technologies—from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.

d)

I could tell you about spinoff technologies. A wide range, from small products of convenience to discoveries that might feed millions or prevent deadly accidents or save the lives of the sick and injured.

6.

Read the following sentence from paragraph 3.


Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea; escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.


How could this sentence be changed while retaining the author’s original idea?

a)

Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea, escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.

b)

Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea. Escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.

c)

Space is, of course infinitely more hostile, to human life than the surface of the sea; escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense than shoving off from the shore.

d)

Space is, of course, infinitely more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea; escaping Earth’s gravity entails a good deal more work and expense, than shoving off from the shore.

7.

A synonym of INFINITELY is...

a)

Definite

b)

Final

c)

Limitless

8.

What does fragile mean?

a)

hard

b)

breakable

c)

challenging

9.

The author of this text believes

a)

people SHOULD go to space and find new habitable planets

b)

people SHOULD NOT go to space and find new habitable planets

10.

"we shouldn't keep all of our eggs in this increasingly fragile basket." What does she mean by that?

a)

space is dangerous

b)

earth is dangerous to live on

c)

we need to have more options for place to live

11.

Why does the author use repetition in her article?

a)

to get her point across in a stronger way

b)

to annoy those who do not want to read about space

c)

to show people she can argue effectively

12.

The author opens the text with questions most likely to --

a)

introduce the topics that she will cover in the selection

b)

suggest that her essay will attempt to answer the questions

c)

note that science fiction fuels our interest in science

d)

remind readers that there is much we still don't know

13.

In paragraph 2, the author brings up the example of the International Space Station to make the point that space exploration —

a)

has come a long way since the 1960s

b)

encourages cooperation among scientists

c)

has led to a permanent human outpost

d)

requires a great deal of human investment

14.

The author mostly supports her ideas with —

a)

expert opinions

b)

interesting anecdotes

c)

scientific evidence

d)

references to other texts

15.

The author of “Space Exploration Should Be More Science Than Fiction” most likely wrote this selection for —

a)

an audience interested in stopping the efforts to further space exploration

b)

people who might be convinced that space exploration should continue

c)

readers who wanted to know the history of the space exploration program

d)

individuals who can demonstrate why past space exploration plans failed

16.

Which sentence tells how most people remember Sally Ride?

a)

Sally was the first woman in space.

b)

Sally studied hard and trained with other astronauts.

c)

After she finished her work in space, Sally became a teacher at a

college.

d)

Sally later said that she never knew how beautiful Earth was until she

saw it from space.

17.
What is the writer's position on an issue or problem called?
a)
claim
b)
evidence
c)
counterargument
d)
setting
18.
What do you call any material that serves to prove a claim?
a)
support
b)
claim
c)
counterargument
d)
rebuttal
19.
Which one is an example of a counterargument?
a)
My parents say I don't need more allowance, but they don't realize what my expenses are.
b)
I need a larger allowance.
20.
Which one is an example of a claim?
a)
I need a larger allowance.
b)
I need a larger allowance because I don't have enough money for lunch or transportation.
21.
Making a claim and supporting it using logic is:
a)
persuasion
b)
claim
c)
argument
d)
evidence
22.
Making a claim and supporting it using feelings and emotions is called....
a)
evidence
b)
argument
c)
persuasion
23.
information used to back up and support your answer
a)
bridge
b)
persuasion
c)
argument
d)
evidence
24.
The people that will be affected by this topic or read your essay
a)
evidence
b)
your teacher
c)
audience
25.
True or False:
Evidence is facts that support your claim. 
a)
True
b)
False
26.
What is the ISS?
a)
International Student Services
b)
Inside Sun Secrets
c)
International Space Station
d)
Iraq Space Services
27.
Which of these items is not needed to sustain life in space?
a)
oxygen
b)
food
c)
water
d)
tools
28.
Which of these is a place where humans live and study space?
a)
Moon probe
b)
Mars Rover
c)
Space Shuttle
d)
International Space Station
29.
Which of the following is the strongest reason for Earth being habitable?
a)
The Earth is close enough to the Sun to have a night and day.
b)
The atmosphere of Earth has a favorable ratio of gases.
c)
The Earth is far enough from the Sun to be protected from radiation.
d)
The atmosphere is thin enough to allow energy to pass through it.
30.

In an informational text, what do you call the point an author is trying to make about a topic?

a)

author's attitude

b)

supporting detail

c)

main idea

d)

text structure

31.

What is the organization of this passage? "The best time to visit the Rocky Mountains is early fall because the weather is cooler in the fall than in the summer and you will see fewer people."

a)

classification

b)

problem/solution

c)

description

d)

compare/contrast

32.

What is the organization of this passage? "Because the city doesn't have enough life guards to staff its pools, they will train retired people to fill the positions."

a)

concept/definition

b)

problem/solution

c)

sequence

d)

classification

33.

What is the organization of this passage? "Should students be required to wear uniforms? I believe they should not because clothing helps students express their identify."

a)

concept/definition

b)

cause/effect

c)

question/answer

d)

compare/contrast

34.

What is the organization of this passage? "At first, the rain was light. During the night, it became heavier. Several hours later, the roads were flooded."

a)

concept/definition

b)

problem/solution

c)

classification

d)

sequence

35.

What is the organization of this passage? "The life cycle of the butterfly includes the caterpillar stage, pupa stage, and adult butterfly stage."

a)

classification

b)

cause/effect

c)

problem/solution

d)

description