Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following quest...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 21 to 30.

The space race began on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, shifting Cold War tensions into space. The Soviets’ use of the R7 rocket, originally designed as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), alarmed the U.S., which feared potential nuclear threats. This technological rivalry originated in World War II when Germany’s V2 rocket program influenced both nations’ space ambitions. The U.S. soon joined the competition, attempting to launch its own satellite.

On January 31, 1958, the U.S. successfully launched Explorer I, confirming the existence of the Van Allen radiation belts. This mission was led by Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi scientist brought to the U.S. through Operation Paperclip. Both the U.S. and U.S.S.R. had recruited German rocket experts after World War II, prioritizing their technical skills despite ethical concerns. The U.S. formed NASA in 1958, consolidating its space programs while the Soviet Union continued its successes under Sergei Korolev.

[I] The Soviet Union advanced in the space race by launching Sputnik II, carrying Laika, the first living creature in space. [II] Then, on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth, marking another Soviet victory. [III] Determined to regain leadership, U.S. President John F. Kennedy set a bold goal to land an astronaut on the Moon before the decade ended. [IV] This ambition led to Project Gemini and later Project Apollo.

After years of preparation, Apollo 11 successfully landed on the Moon in 1969, with Neil Armstrong becoming the first human to walk on its surface. This achievement marked a turning point in the space race, while the Soviet Union failed to match the U.S. success.

The Moon landing solidified U.S. dominance in space exploration, effectively ending the space race. Despite the Cold War competition fading, both nations continued their space programs, eventually collaborating on projects like the International Space Station. Today, space exploration remains a global pursuit, with multiple countries contributing to scientific advancements beyond Earth.

(Adapted from https://education.nationalgeographic.org)

Question 21. The word “alarmed” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by:

A. unaffected                B. concerned                        C. ignored                        D. encouraged

Question 22. The word “their” in paragraph 2 refers to:

A. belts                B. concerns                        C. skills                        D. experts

Question 23. According to paragraph 1, which of the following was NOT a reason the U.S. was alarmed by

Sputnik?

A. It was the first satellite launched into orbit.

B. It demonstrated Soviet technological superiority.

C. It carried a human passenger into space.

D. It raised concerns about nuclear missile capabilities.

Question 24. Which of the following best summarizes paragraph 3?

A. Project Gemini and Apollo were part of a long-term plan unrelated to the Soviet Union’s early achievements.

B. The United States responded to Soviet achievements by setting a goal to land on the Moon.

C. President Kennedy declared that the U.S. would defeat the Soviet Union in the Cold War.

D. The Soviet Union dominated the early years of the space race without American competition.

Question 25. Where in paragraph 3 does the following sentence best fit?

“Meanwhile, the United States quickly responded by sending astronaut Alan Shepard on a suborbital flight weeks later.”

A. [III]                        B. [IV]                                C. [I]                                D. [II]

Question 26. The word “dominance” in paragraph 5 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. prevalence                B. superiority                        C. inferiority                        D. supremacy

Question 27. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The space race came to an immediate end after the Apollo 11 Moon landing successfully occurred in 1969.

B. The Soviet Union did not accomplish any significant space exploration milestones during the space race.

C. Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union relied on German scientists for their space programs.

D. The U.S. established NASA in 1958, which was after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.

Question 28. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. Apollo 11 underwent decades of preparation before successfully completing its mission and landing on the Moon.

B. Following extensive planning, the Apollo 11 mission reached the Moon, where Neil Armstrong made history.

C. In 1969, Neil Armstrong’s long space journey ended when he finally stepped onto the Moon’s surface.

D. The Apollo 11 mission, which took years to launch, ended with Neil Armstrong landing alone on the Moon.

Question 29. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Despite numerous Soviet milestones, the progression of U.S. space initiatives was not significantly altered by external technological threats.

B. Competition in space exploration escalated geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War period.

C. The success of the U.S. space program was entirely due to its strategic recruitment of former German rocket scientists after World War II.

D. After the Cold War rivalry cooled, both superpowers eventually abandoned their space efforts and shifted focus to domestic development.

Question 30. Which of the following most accurately captures the broader implication of the passage regarding the role of geopolitical tension in shaping technological progress?

A. Without Cold War pressures, it is unlikely that either superpower would have prioritized space research, resulting in significantly slower technological progress during the 20th century.

B. The Cold War rivalry acted as a catalyst that accelerated space exploration achievements in both the U.S. and the Soviet Union, eventually leading to lasting global collaborations in the post-race era.

C. Although the Soviet Union made early advances in space, its long-term contributions to scientific development were overshadowed by U.S. dominance after the Moon landing.

D. Geopolitical competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union hindered scientific transparency and delayed cooperative innovation in the field of space technology.