View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 9, "The Vote".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What political event leads to Project Mercury being thought of, for the first time, as potentially expendable?
(a) The launch of another Sputnik satellite.
(b) The establishment of political special interest groups.
(c) The public relations nightmare created by the Edwards' pilots.
(d) The election of John F. Kennedy as the country's new President.

2. In the eyes of the engineers, what are the astronauts?
(a) Essential to the success of the program.
(b) Partners in a great mission.
(c) National heroes.
(d) Test subjects in an experiment.

3. When a pilot is in the air and looking down at the ground, what does he most often feel?
(a) Like it's time to get back to base.
(b) Airsick.
(c) Superior to the people below.
(d) Grateful he has the opportunity to fly.

4. Complete this flying theorem: "There are no accidents and no fatal flaws in the machines..."
(a) just untimely tragedies.
(b) there are only pilots with the wrong stuff.
(c) if you follow the manuals, you will be fine.
(d) there are, however, dumb mistakes.

5. What feature makes Pete Conrad different from a lot of other pilots?
(a) He can't stand being trifled with.
(b) He is older than average.
(c) He is taller than average.
(d) He speaks both English and Spanish.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are the pilots known by at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base?

2. What recent invention makes Program Mercury possible at all?

3. Why do the pilots report to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base?

4. Who is James Webb?

5. Why do fighter pilots have an intense dislike for flight surgeons?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 345 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample