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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who in Richard's group was extremely good at writing?

2. Where was Richard's cousin working when Richard started working for the investigation committee?

3. What color of cover did the report the commission actually have?

4. In Fantastic Figures, what was the name of the Thiokol manager who testified at a meeting of the commission?

5. How many computers does the shuttle have on board?

Short Essay Questions

1. The shuttle's computers don't have enough memory to hold all the programs for the whole flight, so what has to happen?

2. After Richard was done speaking to General Kutyna at the Pentagon, what did he do for the rest of the day?

3. What does Richard say about seeing a congressman give his opinion on something?

4. When the astronauts know where they're supposed to land, they have to push one of three buttons. What are these buttons for?

5. Where did Richard go when he excused himself from the rest of the guided tour of the Kennedy Space Center?

6. What was Richard's impression about what was going to happen with the commission getting together at one point?

7. What was the rumor as to why NASA tried to make the shuttle fly in spite of the cold?

8. Who does Richard describe in Meet The Press as working "like demons" and why were they working "like demons"?

9. What did one of the reporters from the MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour say to Richard that provided an "out" for the situation he put himself in by mistakenly providing the reporters with a copy of his report?

10. What was the main thing Richard said he learned during the first official meeting of the commission?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe one of your favorite individuals in the book. Expound on their characteristics and values that you find intriguing. Describe what their importance in the book was.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Richard's quest to test his internal clock while counting. How do you think this single experiment influenced RIchard for the rest of his life? Do you think this simple test of numbers influence those around Richard in some way? Describe what Richard's friends thought about this research.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the events of the O-ring ice water demonstration that Richard performs at one of the meetings of the commission. What objects did Richard need to complete this demonstration and why did he need those particular objects?

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