Astronauts and Cosmonauts
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(1) When astronauts and cosmonauts first began circling the globe, they faced a unique problem: how to keep track of all their stuff. On the ground, if you wanted to stow your car keys, for example, you simply left them on the night table. They could be found in the morning right where you left them, perhaps after a bit of last-minute searching on the way out the door, but at least they stayed put.
(2) Space travelers faced a different problem. Objects had a habit of just floating off. A pencil, a wrench, would just hang around drifting weightlessly wherever a tiny shove or air current would take it.
(3) Keeping tabs on a capsule full of flotsam was a job in itself, a full-time job because if a tiny piece lodged itself into the hardware, it could short-circuit who-knows-what. The fact that orbital living quarters would make a phone booth look spacious only compounded the problem of keeping things neat and orderly.
(4) How could one make sure things stayed put?
(5) The answer came in a system of hooks and loops that when pressed together tightly stick to one another but when pried apart easily separate. Velcro, derived from velvet and crochet?was first made in France. Each Velcro tape was made by hand and took almost forever to produce.
(6) Even today, no better substitute has been found. When getting ready to leave orbit, space shuttle astronauts literally spend a full day in space collecting all of the material Velcro-ed to the walls.
(7) In addition, Velcro has been improved over the years. It has become impervious to water, chemicals, and corrosive ultraviolet light. Extra-strong Velcro can be made out of stainless steel and synthetic fibers that withstand temperatures upwards of 800 degrees F and do not catch fire.
(2) Space travelers faced a different problem. Objects had a habit of just floating off. A pencil, a wrench, would just hang around drifting weightlessly wherever a tiny shove or air current would take it.
(3) Keeping tabs on a capsule full of flotsam was a job in itself, a full-time job because if a tiny piece lodged itself into the hardware, it could short-circuit who-knows-what. The fact that orbital living quarters would make a phone booth look spacious only compounded the problem of keeping things neat and orderly.
(4) How could one make sure things stayed put?
(5) The answer came in a system of hooks and loops that when pressed together tightly stick to one another but when pried apart easily separate. Velcro, derived from velvet and crochet?was first made in France. Each Velcro tape was made by hand and took almost forever to produce.
(6) Even today, no better substitute has been found. When getting ready to leave orbit, space shuttle astronauts literally spend a full day in space collecting all of the material Velcro-ed to the walls.
(7) In addition, Velcro has been improved over the years. It has become impervious to water, chemicals, and corrosive ultraviolet light. Extra-strong Velcro can be made out of stainless steel and synthetic fibers that withstand temperatures upwards of 800 degrees F and do not catch fire.
A.
The word impervious used in paragraph 7 means?
- unaffected.
- fireproof
- synthetic
- attracted
B.
What is the main idea of this passage?
- How astronauts survive in space
- How astronauts keep track of items in space
- How astronauts use velcro in space
- How astronauts helped velcro become popular
C.
What caused astronauts to discover Velcro?
- Having items flying all around in the space shuttle.
- Air currents in the space shuttle
- Velcro was made in France
- Extra-strong velcro was created to withstand high temperatures.
D.
How does the author organize this passage?
- Cause and Effect
- Compare and Contrast
- Problem and Solution
- Question and Answer
E.
Based on the passage, what is a cosmonaut?
- Someone who builds spaceships
- Another name for an astronaut
- A special type of inventor
- Someone who studies the cosmos
F.
What is the purpose of paragraph one?
- To contrast an astronaut's problem with an everyday problem
- To show how the problem is universal
- To explain how things work in space
- To describe the different ways people keep track of things
G.
Why does the author include paragraph 3?
- To provide a solution to the astronauts' problem
- To explain the astronauts' problem in greater detail
- To help entertain the reader for a bit longer
- To compare an astronauts' living quarters in space and on Earth
I.
Does the author think Velcro is an ideal solution for astronauts?
- Yes, the author sees no problems with Velcro.
- Yes, the author Velcro is the best option, but admits it's not perfect.
- No, the author thinks the problems with Velcro make it less than ideal.
- No, the author thinks other products exist that are better.
J.
What type of media would enhance this passage the most?
- A picture of Velcro
- An image of Velcro in a space shuttle
- A video of a space shuttle without Velcro and with Velcro
- An audio recording of astronauts talking about Velcro