Outer SpaceEnglish Toolkit 1 - Language & Culture The Space Race was a competition between the Soviet Union and the United States to show their superiority in technological developments
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English Toolkit 1 - Language & Culture
The Space Race was a competition between
the Soviet Union and the United States
to show their superiority in technological
developments by exploring outer space
After World War II, both nations started
building their own long-range weapon
forces Soon after that, scientists realised
that rockets could be used to go into space
The two teams had scientists and engineers
who had contributed to the creation of
rockets, used as weapons during the war
In 1957, the US government informed that
they would launch satellites the following
year However, the Soviets were faster On
October 4, 1957, they successfully launched
the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth,
Sputnik 1 The Americans, however, could
only achieve their goal three months later,
led to the creation of the NASA, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration But
this was just the beginning of the race
The Soviets were also the first to transport
a dog, Laika, the first animal ever sent to
outer space Both nations continued their
space explorations by sending automated spacecrafts with animals In 1959, the Soviets maintained their leadership position
a Soviet cosmonaut became the first man
in space in 1961, followed by an American with a difference of twenty-three days
That very same year, US president John F
Kennedy expressed his wish to send a man
to the Moon before the end of the decade
There were several phases and previous flights During this period, a tragedy also occurred A fire destroyed a command
1967 And it was eventually in 1969 that Apollo 11 successfully landed on the Moon
This was a great triumph for the Americans, who accomplished the task set eight years before and could finally be the first in the race
The Space Race contributed to continuous technological and scientific evolution After the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Russia and the US started working together to improve technology and continue exploring the outer space
The Space Race
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English Toolkit 1 - Language & Culture
Activities
a Sputnik 1 was (small) than Explorer 1
b The Soviets were (fast) than the Americans in the
Space Race
c The first Soviet man in space stayed (long) than the
first American.
d Sputnik 2 carried a (heavy) payload than Sputnik 1
4 Design a poster that includes a timeline showing
the most important events and developments in the
Space Race You can look for more information and
add illustrations
3 Put the letters in order to form a verb in the infinitive
Then look for its irregular past form in the text.
a edla: Past form:
b anc: Past form:
c cmoebe: Past form:
d lyf: Past form:
e vhea: Past form:
a The Soviets launched their first satellite in 1958
b The US created the NASA to work on their first satellite
c The US never sent animals to space
d The craft Luna 1 landed on the Moon
e The Americans could never defeat the Soviets in the Space Race
1 Find the mistake and write the correct sentence.
2 Complete the sentences using comparatives.