In a recent survey, American children aged 9 to 12 were asked what they want to be when they grow up. The most common answers were doctor, teacher, scientist, and astronaut¹. These four professions have taken the top places in many similar surveys over the past fifty years, and astronaut has been the most popular of all. That is not surprising: studies show that children all over the world often dream of going to space.

What does the writer explain in paragraph I?

Around thirty years ago, 10-year-old Kate Rubins had the same dream. The walls of her bedroom were covered with photos of stars and planets, and she informed everyone of her plan to be an astronaut when she grew up. However, by the time she left highschool she realized that she would need to think of a more realistic² option.After all, very few people have actually become astronauts — only around 500 throughout the world.

Why does the writer describe Rubins' bedroom? (paragraph II)

COMPLETE THE ANSWER.

To show that she ..............................

Around thirty years ago, 10-year-old Kate Rubins had the same dream. The walls of her bedroom were covered with photos of stars and planets, and she informed everyone of her plan to be an astronaut when she grew up. However, by the time she left highschool she realized that she would need to think of a more realistic² option.After all, very few people have actually become astronauts — only around 500 throughout the world.

According to lines 11-12, Rubins chose a profession that was different from her childhood dream. Why did she do that? Base your answer on paragraph II.

Rubins decided to study biology instead, and specialized³ in medical research. She became head of a team of scientists, and her childhood⁴ dream was forgotten. Then one day a friend showed her an advertisement from NASA, the American space organization,asking scientists and doctors to apply for an astronaut training course. Those who completed the course successfully would be sent to the International SpaceStation (ISS) high above the Earth to replace⁵ the astronauts already working there.

Why did NASA need more astronauts? (paragraph III)

COMPLETE THE ANSWER.

Because it wanted to...........................................................

Of the 3,500 people who applied to do the course, only nine were accepted, and to Rubins' great surprise, she was one of them.

According to lines 17-18, why was Rubins surprised?

COMPLETE THE ANSWER.

Because she did not expect to......

Of the 3,500 people who applied to do the course, only nine were accepted, and to Rubins' great surprise,she was one of them. An exciting two-year training program followed, in which they all learned to live and work in the challenging conditions on a spacecraft ⁶.In 2016 Rubins spent six months on the ISS. She studied the effects of space travel on the human body, so that NASA could develop ways to keep astronauts healthy while in space.

What do we learn from paragraph IV?

PUT A √ BY THE TWO CORRECT ANSWERS.

After returning to Earth, Rubins happily went back to her own research, and has not traveled into space again. However, she often goes to speak to children in schools all over the USA about her NASA training and the experience of living and working on the ISS. She tells them how wonderful it was to be able to fulfill⁷ herchildhood dream, and encourages them to follow their own dreams.

What can we understand about Rubins from paragraph V?