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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. At the end of the book, what major political change occurs?
(a) The Vietnam War begins.
(b) Iraq acquires nuclear capabilities.
(c) The Korean Conflict ends.
(d) The US and the Soviets stop competing in space.

2. Based on the magazine article that is run on Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard, what do these three become known as?
(a) The First Three.
(b) The Golden Boys.
(c) The Chosen.
(d) The Lucky Ones.

3. What does the Air Force award to their pilots who fly at altitudes over fifty miles?
(a) A Medal of Honor.
(b) A Courageous Accomplishment Medal.
(c) Air Force Astronaut Wings.
(d) A Distinguished Service Award.

4. Who does Annie Glenn refuse to let into her house because the press storm around the launch is so excruciating to her?
(a) President Kennedy.
(b) Vice President Johnson.
(c) Alan Shepard.
(d) Jackie Kennedy.

5. What is the concern that controllers have when preparing to bring Glenn back in through the atmosphere?
(a) That the capsule will overshoot the planned splash zone.
(b) That the parachute will not deploy.
(c) That the heat shields are loose.
(d) That the blood pressure monitor is malfunctioning.

6. Which one of the astronauts is selected for the first Mercury flight?
(a) Alan Shepard.
(b) Wally Schirra.
(c) John Glenn.
(d) Gus Grissom.

7. What is the pervading feeling as the launch approaches?
(a) We can do this.
(b) The Russians already beat us. Why bother?
(c) This time it will work.
(d) Our boys always botch it.

8. How does the author both begin and end the Epilogue?
(a) To everything there is a season.
(b) The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.
(c) Every race has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
(d) To dream at all is to dream big.

9. Shepard is strapped so tightly into the capsule that he can't feel the weightlessness he knows he is experiencing. What item floats in front of him in the capsule?
(a) An oxygen hose.
(b) A replacement battery.
(c) A washer.
(d) A rivet.

10. When the chimpanzee's rocket is launched, the rocket climbs at a slight higher angle that it is supposed to climb. What is the result?
(a) The capsule experiences more friction than expected and burns up on re-entry.
(b) The capsule splashes down 132 miles away from the intended splash area.
(c) The higher angles causes such an increase in g forces that the chimpanzee does not survive.
(d) The rocket self-corrects and re-establishes the proper climbing angle.

11. Which of the astronauts place a sign inside the capsule reading "No handball playing in this area" to help keep Shepard relaxed and loose?
(a) Gordon Cooper.
(b) Gus Grissom.
(c) Deke Slayton.
(d) John Glenn.

12. What plane is being developed for the ARPS?
(a) X-20.
(b) X-15C.
(c) NF-104.
(d) B-1.

13. When the capsule splashes down and Shepard is detaching all of the hoses so that he can leave the capsule, what sound does he hear?
(a) Water seeping into the capsule.
(b) Electrical circuits popping.
(c) The President's voice.
(d) Cheers over his radio.

14. After the Russian flight, NASA scrubbed the remainder of the planned Mercury flights using Redstone rockets. What is the next flight to attempt?
(a) Orbital flight.
(b) A rocket launch with a plane landing.
(c) A moon landing.
(d) Dropping bombs from space.

15. What are Gordon Cooper's and Deke Slayton's roles during the launch?
(a) They are the look-outs for trouble on the launch pad.
(b) They are the technical trouble-shooters.
(c) They are the capsule communicators.
(d) They are NASA's press representatives.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens in Washington at about the same time as Yeager is taxiing down the runway for his test flight?

2. On John Glenn's 40th birthday, who comes to Glenn's birthday dinner?

3. Why does Joe Walker decide not to apply for the astronaut-training program?

4. How many days before the planned Mercury launch do the Russians put a man into space?

5. What is significant about Cooper's flight?

(see the answer keys)

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