View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Richard went to a local hardware store, what does he buy besides some pliers and a small C-clamp?
(a) Two screwdrivers.
(b) Some safety glasses.
(c) A hammer.
(d) Some wire.

2. Whose idea was it to put a teacher into space?
(a) Thiokol.
(b) NASA.
(c) Caltech.
(d) The president of the United States.

3. Who was the leader of the accident analysis group of the commission?
(a) Mr. Acheson.
(b) General Kutyna.
(c) Mr. Sutter.
(d) Dr. Ride.

4. What was the name of the man who took the temperature readings the morning of the launch?
(a) Richard Rogers.
(b) William Burns.
(c) Charlie Stevenson.
(d) B.K. Davis.

5. Who in Richard's group was extremely good at writing?
(a) General Kutyna.
(b) Neil Armstrong.
(c) Sally Ride.
(d) Richard, himself.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the probability of failure figure that NASA told Mr. Ullian?

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

3. Besides a bull in a china shop, what animal does Richard say suited him more?

4. The instruction manual to the device the ice crew used for measuring the temperatures said that the instrument must be out in the environment for at least how many minutes before using?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What did Mr. Rogers say to members of the commission about being careful with "these people, whose careers depend on us"?

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

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

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. In the beginning of Check Six, how does Richard explain how he felt about the press?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 896 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample