View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. During what month did Richard travel to give the report to the president of the United States?

2. After Richard got off the red-eye flight to Washington, what hotel did he check in to?

3. What color of cover did the commission vote on to have on the report?

4. Who was the head of the investigation commission of the Challenger accident?

5. What happens when a shuttle reaches 4,000 feet before landing?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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. What was Richard's reaction when the reporters told him that he could just say, "not for attribution"?

6. 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?

7. What was Richard's reaction when someone on the staff brought him something to sign saying that his expenses were over the $75 a day?

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

9. What was the commission originally going to do when they first arrived in Florida, and why was it changed?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe who Frances and Chuck were and what influence they had on Richard. Why was it beneficial to Richard to know and be in contact with Frances? Are there any negative results of Richard being related to someone in the press? If so, why? Expound on these answers and use specific information from the book to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think the section, Photos and Drawings was included in the book? What significance do they have to the rest of the book that Richard has written? Describe how seeing the photos and letters help the reader to connect with the stories.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 934 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample