Dining in Space
Besides the obvious aeronautical engineering problems to work out, scientists who worked with manned space exploration also had to figure out how to feed the astronauts. Students will read a passage about how -- and what -- astronauts eat in outer space, then answer questions about details, comparing and contrasting, and drawing a conclusion.
Reading Comprehension Passage
Dining in Space
Reading Comprehension Questions
Vocabulary List
Vocabulary List
Each of the vocabulary words below are used in the reading passage. As you read the passage, pay attention to context clues that suggest the word’s meaning.
- weightlessness
- jam
- manned
- nutritious
- delicacies
- indefinitely
- footholds
- ensure
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1. "Weightlessness raises a special set of concerns"
a. thinness b. without merit c. no weight, unaffected by gravity d. disinterested
2. "making sure that crumbs don't float off and jam the equipment."
a. melt b. fruit spread, jelly c. clog, block d. bury, submerge
3. "Project Mercury, the United States’ first manned space program"
a. principle, main b. crewed by humans c. successful d. experimental
4. "He and his co-astronauts feasted on bite-sized cubes, freeze-dried powders, and nutritious goo squeezed from aluminum tubes."
a. tasty, sweet b. disgusting, awful c. scientifically made d. healthy, nourishing
5. "Gemini’s astronauts could choose from such delicacies as shrimp cocktail"
a. treats, special dishes b. easily prepared meals c. fast foods d. menus
6. "Special pouches were introduced that kept food warm indefinitely."
a. in space b. unspecified time, endlessly c. momentarily d. in theory
7. "Their orbiting home had a small dining room with footholds to keep the crew members in place"
a. backwards seats b. rope tethers c. placemats d. places to secure feet, foot anchors
8. Not only would that ensure a steady supply of healthy food
a. make certain, guarantee b. prevent or disturb c. reduce d. increase