Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on NASA Anniversary. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live here on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to counter the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race that saw some of the greatest achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was launched in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted off in 1981. Other milestones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.
NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is to find out as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new plan for astronauts to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and beyond. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are presently on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of all”.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
the National Aeronautics and
a.
at the universe
2
the USA’s space exploration
b.
blasted off in 1981
3.
the way we look
c.
Hubble Telescope
4.
the greatest achievements
d.
and Space Administration
5.
the first reusable Space Shuttle
e.
in human history
6.
Other milestones include the
f.
programme
Paragraph 2
1.
NASA will never
a.
and search for life
2
find out as much as it can
b.
and beyond
3.
To explore the universe
c.
of explorers
4.
inspire the next generation
d.
stop exploring
5.
future missions to Mars
e.
“For the benefit of all”
6.
As NASA’s motto says, this is
f.
about our universe
LISTENING GAP FILL
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It ____________________ USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has ____________________ live here on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower _____________________ the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race ____________________ greatest achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab ____________________ 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted off in 1981. Other ____________________ the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.
NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is ____________________ as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To ____________________ and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush ____________________ for astronauts to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and beyond. In 2007, NASA stated ____________________ on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft ____________________ way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “____________________”.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was ____________ on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has ____________ the way we live here on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to ____________ the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became ____________ in the Space Race that saw some of the ____________ achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was ____________ in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first ____________ Space Shuttle blasted off in 1981. Other ____________ include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.
greatest counter established reusable milestones involved changed launched
NASA will never stop exploring. Its ____________ is to find out as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To ____________ the universe and search for life; to ____________ the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new ____________ for astronauts to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for ____________ missions to Mars and beyond. In 2007, NASA stated it ____________ to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are ____________ on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the ____________ of all”.
inspire aimed explore future benefit presently mission plan
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established / establishing on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible from / for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live here / there on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to count / counter the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race that saw / seen some of the greatest achievements in human / humans history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was launched in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted up / off in 1981. Other milestones / gemstones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.
NASA will never stop explores / exploring. Its mission is to find out as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for lives / life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announcement / announced a new plan for astronauts to return to the Moon by / until 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and beyond / before. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on / in Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are current / presently on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of some / all”.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible (1) ____ the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live (2) ____ on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to (3) ____ the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became (4) ____ in the Space Race that saw some of the greatest achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was (5) ____ in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted (6) ____ in 1981. Other milestones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.
NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is to find (7) ____ as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for (8) ____; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new plan for astronauts to return to the Moon (9) ____ 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and (10) ____. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are (11) ____ on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of (12) ____”.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
from
(b)
for
(c)
of
(d)
by
2.
(a)
there
(b)
down
(c)
up
(d)
here
3.
(a)
counter
(b)
counting
(c)
counts
(d)
count
4.
(a)
involved
(b)
involves
(c)
involving
(d)
involved
5.
(a)
lunched
(b)
launcher
(c)
launched
(d)
launching
6.
(a)
on
(b)
up
(c)
down
(d)
off
7.
(a)
in
(b)
out
(c)
up
(d)
of
8.
(a)
life
(b)
living
(c)
lives
(d)
live
9.
(a)
until
(b)
since
(c)
by
(d)
at
10.
(a)
behind
(b)
beyond
(c)
before
(d)
begin
11.
(a)
present
(b)
presence
(c)
presently
(d)
presenter
12.
(a)
some
(b)
few
(c)
half
(d)
all
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
aNlinoat Aeronautics and Space Administration
2.
look at the evuneisr
3.
uorntce the Soviet Union’s space programme
4.
some of the gratstee achievements
5.
Skylab was ceduhlna in 1973
6.
milestones enldiuc the Hubble Telescope
Paragraph 2
7.
NASA will never stop prnxogile
8.
erinisp the next generation
9.
George W. Bush ancoeundn a new plan
10.
future isimossn to Mars
11.
spacecraft are petsnlrey on their way
12.
“For the fiebtne of all”
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new plan for astronauts
( )
launched in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted
( )
achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was
( )
to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and
( 1 )
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible
( )
NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is to find out as much as it can about our
( )
off in 1981. Other milestones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.
( )
at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to counter the Soviet Union’s space
( )
programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race that saw some of the greatest
( )
over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of all”.
( )
beyond. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore
( )
universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next
( )
Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are presently on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover
( )
for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live here on Earth, and the way we look
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
for responsible was It exploration space USA’s the
2.
has way here NASA the live Earth changed we on
3.
in achievements greatest the of Some history human
4.
Shuttle off first Space blasted The reusable
5.
Hubble the include milestones Other Telescope
6.
find out as much as it can Its mission is to
7.
next of To the generation explorers inspire
8.
astronauts to A for return Moon plan to the new
9.
to man NASA aimed a Mars it put on stated
10.
Planned system solar the half over cover missions
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about NASA’s Anniversary. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about NASA’s Anniversary. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about NASA’s Anniversary. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
