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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. When Richard went to NASA to learn about the shuttle, the first briefer told him about the whole shuttle except for what part?

2. What day of the week was the report released to the public?

3. Whose idea was it to put a teacher into space?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Richard decide it would be a good idea to fly to Washington on Tuesday even though he wasn't needed for the first meeting with the commission until Wednesday?

2. 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?

3. 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?

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

5. What did the JPL engineers tell Richard that some of the people that worked on the engines always did on each flight?

6. When Richard left the meeting with engineers discussing the shuttle engines, what was the definite impression that he had about their situation?

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

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

9. How did General Kutyna describe the "check six" rule to Richard?

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

Interpret Richard's bad feelings about Washington D.C. Why do you think Richard was so animate about not being in that city? Do you think his feelings changed by the end of the book or were they worse? Expound on these thoughts by using specific information from the book.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Richard visited many different places around the world. Explain why Richard still treated the world as if it was a scientific experiment and discovery ready to happen. Give details of events in the book that show how Richard loves to learn and discover?

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This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample