Comprehension - Intermediate [ 8 ]

[ 8 ] Comprehension . 

[  8  ] Intermediate

Read the following , then answer the questions below :

              By 1984 , NASA , the United States space program had carried out many successful flights of the space shuttle . In fact , Americans were beginning to take the whole NASA program for granted . Then , the president announced that the next shuttle would carry a school teacher into space . Hundreds of teachers from all parts of the country applied for the job . They all wanted to be “ the first teacher in space”. During the next year , these adventurous educators were tested , examined and trained . At last , the choice was announced . A teacher from New Hampshire , Christa MacAuliffe , would be the first teacher – astronaut .

             Many months of preparation and training followed the announcement.

First , Christa went through intensive physical training . She had to be in top condition for the flight . Then , she learned how to operate some of the delicate instruments on the Challenger space shuttle .Christa planned special lessons which she would teach from space . Finally , she trained with the other astronauts , so they could work as a team in space .

            Everyone knows what happened on the terrible day in January , 1986 . Early in the morning , the Challenger crew had a good breakfast and discussed their plans . They made sure they understood all of the work they would be doing during the flight . Later , they boarded a special van which carried them to the shuttle . The weather was rather cold , and some NASA officials wondered if they should put off the flight . After some discussion , they decided to go ahead . The Challenger too over the Atlantic Ocean in Florida . Minutes later , it exploded in the air . All of the crew members died in the crash .

A-] Answer the following questions :

1-] What happened when Christa was chosen ?

……………………………………………………………………………………….

2-] Why did the Challenger explode ?

……………………………………………………………………………………….

3-] Who do you think NASA  officials decided to go ahead ?

………………………………………………………………………………………

4-] What did Christa intend to do ?

………………………………………………………………………………………

B-] Choose the correct answer :

1-] The teacher-astronaut who was announced was

A-] lucky        B-] unlucky     C-] untrained        D-] delicate

2-] Delicate means

A-] gentle         B-] fine         C-] sophisticated          D-] special

3-] Christa was trained with other astronauts , so

A-] she would teach from space . B-] they could work as a team .

C-] she could board on a special van .  D-] she could operate the Challenger .