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Houston, We Have Liftoff — Reading Comprehension — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 4th Grade reading comprehension comprehension exercise.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet4th Grade · English · Reading Comprehension

Houston, We Have Liftoff — Reading Comprehension — Answers

Part A: Find the facts

1.In which city is NASA's Johnson Space Center?[1 mark]

Answer: Houston, Texas.

2.Who is the Johnson Space Center named after?[1 mark]

Answer: Lyndon B. Johnson, a president of the United States from Texas.

3.Where do NASA's big rockets usually launch from?[1 mark]
  1. ATexas
  2. BFlorida
  3. Cthe Moon
  4. DHouston

Answer: Florida

The text says they “usually launch from Florida, not Texas.”

4.Name the three astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission.[1 mark]

Answer: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

5.What was the name of the lunar lander?[1 mark]
  1. ATranquility
  2. BHouston
  3. Cthe Eagle
  4. DApollo

Answer: the Eagle

“a small lunar lander called the Eagle.”

Part B: Think about it

6.Michael Collins walked on the Moon with Neil Armstrong.

Answer: False

Collins “stayed in orbit above”; Armstrong and Aldrin landed.

7.Astronauts train at the Johnson Space Center.

Answer: True

Paragraph 2 says it “is where astronauts train for their missions.”

8.Why do astronauts often begin a radio message with the word “Houston”?[1 mark]

Answer: Because they are talking to Mission Control, which is in Houston.

9.Why do you think each flight controller watches only one part of the mission?[2 marks]

Answer: A mission has many parts, so one person could not watch everything closely. Each person can become an expert on one part and spot problems quickly.

10.How do you think the people in Mission Control felt before and after they heard “The Eagle has landed”? Use words from the text.[2 marks]

Answer: Before: nervous (the landing was “tense” and they “listened anxiously”). After: excited and relieved (“The room burst into cheers”).

Part C: Words in the text

11.“while Michael Collins stayed in orbit above.” Orbit means...[1 mark]
  1. Athe path a spacecraft takes as it circles around the Moon or a planet
  2. Ba kind of rocket fuel
  3. Ca landing place
  4. Da radio message

Answer: the path a spacecraft takes as it circles around the Moon or a planet

Collins stayed “above,” circling the Moon while the others landed.

12.“Mission Control in Houston still works around the clock.” This means it works...[1 mark]
  1. Aonly in the morning
  2. Bat all hours, day and night
  3. Cin a room with a big clock
  4. Donly on weekends

Answer: at all hours, day and night

“Around the clock” means through all 24 hours of the day.

Part D: Write about it

13.Would you rather be an astronaut or a flight controller in Mission Control? Write a paragraph explaining your choice. Use at least two details from the text.[4 marks]

Model answer: I would rather be a flight controller in Mission Control. Flight controllers sit at computer screens and each one watches an important part of the mission, like the air the crew breathes. If something goes wrong, they work together to solve the problem. I like solving problems as a team, and I would be proud to help astronauts like the crew on the International Space Station stay safe.

Success criteria:

  • Clearly states a choice
  • Gives reasons for the choice
  • Uses at least two accurate details from the text
  • Organized as one clear paragraph
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Marking tips

  • Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
  • For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
  • Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.

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