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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the astronauts commands the least star power?
(a) Deke Slayton.
(b) Scott Carpenter.
(c) John Glenn.
(d) Alan Shepard.

2. What record does Bob White set during one of his X-15 flights?
(a) The new distance record.
(b) The new speed record.
(c) The new longest flight duration record.
(d) The new altitude record.

3. What does every fighter jock also think of himself as?
(a) An indestructible force.
(b) A being just beneath God.
(c) An ace driver.
(d) A ladies' man.

4. Who is in charge of testing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base?
(a) The Secretary of the Navy.
(b) NASA engineers.
(c) General Schwickenberg.
(d) Psychiatrists.

5. What state is Chuck Yeager from?
(a) Kentucky.
(b) Florida.
(c) Minnesota.
(d) West Virginia.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the subject of the first press conference question?

2. What is Gus Grissom awarded for his actions during combat in Korea?

3. When asked by a reporter how many of the astronauts expect to return from space, how many of them raise their hands?

4. What does the author compare the career path of a fighter pilot to?

5. When Gus Grissom's wife gives birth to their first child, where is Gus?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Jane Conrad's nightmares and hallucinations?

2. What does Chuck Yeager become convinced of as he pilots the X-1 at near-Mach I speeds?

3. As the number of killed pilots rises, how does that affect the mood of Pete Conrad?

4. Why does the Army fire Slick Goodlin and give the X-1 piloting assignment to Yeager?

5. NASA originally needs six astronauts for the Mercury program, but is going to take twelve astronauts. Why?

6. The training program for the chimpanzees is based on operant conditioning. Describe what that means for the chimpanzees.

7. Why does Gus Grissom feel that the reporter's question regarding whether or not the pilots feel they would come back from space is a stupid question?

8. Why does Gus Grissom find the selection of Scott Carpenter as an astronaut odd?

9. Why do so many fighter pilots accept the Mercury mission?

10. What are John Glenn and Alan Shepard in serious disagreement about?

(see the answer keys)

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