KrumetoName ____________________Date __________

Astronaut

A2 · 246 words · ≈ 2 min

An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person who goes into outer space. The Soviet Union and countries that it controlled used the word cosmonaut. Western countries including the United States said astronaut. Astronauts are also called "taikonauts" in China or "spationaute" in France.
The first person to go into space was a Russian from the Soviet Union. His name was Yuri Gagarin. This happened on April 12, 1961. The first and second people to walk on the Moon were the Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. This happened on July 20, 1969. No astronauts have gone to the moon since 1972. No people have visited any other planets yet.
Astronauts used to go into space using many different ways, but now they can only go on the American Dragon 2, the American Starliner, the Russian Soyuz, or the Chinese Shenzhou. Several countries have worked together to build an International Space Station where people stay and work in space for long periods of time.
A few countries and companies are trying to make more ways to get people into space. The United States is building a very big rocket called the Space Launch System. A United States company called SpaceX is also building a very large rocket called "Starship" that is fully reusable and could take people to Mars and further. Some American companies, for example Boeing, Lockheed Martin and SpaceX, are being paid by the United States to make ways for people to go to space.

Words to know

cosmonaut: the Russian word for an astronaut — Kosmonaut — cosmonauta — cosmonaute — cosmonauta — astronauta, kosmonauta, astronautka — cosmonauta — космонавт — kozmonot, astronot, uçurcu — космонавт
control A2: had power over and ruled — kontrollieren, steuern, regeln — controlar — contrôler — controllare — kontrolować, zarządzać, sterować — controlar — контролировать, управлять — kontrol etmek — контролювати, керувати
western B2: of Europe and North America — westlich, West- — occidental, oesteño — occidental — occidentale — zachodni — ocidental — западный — batı, batısal — західний
several A2: more than two, but not many — mehrere, einige — algunos, unos — plusieurs — diversi, vari — kilka — vários, diversos, muitos — несколько — birkaç, çeşitli — кілька, декілька
company A2: businesses that make or sell things — Firma, Unternehmen, Gesellschaft — compañía, empresa — entreprise, société, compagnie — azienda, compagnia, impresa — firma, przedsiębiorstwo — companhia — компания, фирма, предприятие — şirket — компанія, діло, підприємство
rocket B2: a vehicle that flies into space by burning fuel — Rakete — cohete — fusée — razzo — rakieta — foguete — ракета — havai fişek — ракета
reusable: can be used again — wiederverwendbar — reutilizable — réutilisable — riutilizzabile — wielokrotnego użytku — reutilizável — многоразовый

Text: Simple English Wikipedia, “Astronaut”, Wikipedia contributors, https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronaut · CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) · Translations: English Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) · Worksheet: https://krumeto.com/read/astronaut

KrumetoAstronautName ____________________

A. Choose the right answer

Which word did the Soviet Union use for a person who goes into space? A2
1. a) cosmonaut
2. b) astronaut
3. c) spationaute
4. d) taikonaut
When did the first person go into space? A2
1. a) April 12, 1969
2. b) July 20, 1961
3. c) April 12, 1961
4. d) July 20, 1969
According to the text, when did astronauts last go to the Moon? A2
1. a) In 1972
2. b) In 1961
3. c) In 1969
4. d) In 1976
Which sentence about other planets is true, according to the text? B1
1. a) Only cosmonauts have visited them.
2. b) Astronauts visited Mars after 1972.
3. c) Starship has already taken people to Mars.
4. d) No person has visited one yet.
Which of these can astronauts use to go into space today? A2
1. a) The Space Launch System
2. b) The International Space Station
3. c) The Russian Soyuz
4. d) SpaceX's Starship
In paragraph 4, Starship is "fully reusable". What does this mean? A2
1. a) It can fly further than any other rocket.
2. b) It is paid for by the United States.
3. c) It can carry people to Mars and back.
4. d) All of it can be used again for more flights.
Why does the text mention Boeing, Lockheed Martin and SpaceX? B1
1. a) They were the first companies to land on the Moon.
2. b) They make the Soyuz and Shenzhou spacecraft.
3. c) They built the International Space Station together.
4. d) The United States pays them to help people reach space.

B. Answer in full sentences

Would you like to travel into space? Write 4–5 sentences about why or why not.
Why do you think several countries worked together to build the International Space Station? Discuss in pairs.

KrumetoAstronautAnswer key

Answer key

a) cosmonaut — Paragraph 1 says the Soviet Union and the countries it controlled used the word cosmonaut.
c) April 12, 1961 — Paragraph 2 says Yuri Gagarin went into space on April 12, 1961.
a) In 1972 — Paragraph 2 says no astronauts have gone to the Moon since 1972.
d) No person has visited one yet. — Paragraph 2 says no people have visited other planets; paragraph 4 says Starship only could take people to Mars.
c) The Russian Soyuz — Paragraph 3 lists Dragon 2, Starliner, Soyuz and Shenzhou; paragraph 4 says the other rockets are still being built.
d) All of it can be used again for more flights. — Paragraph 4: reusable means it can be used again, and "fully" means all of it.
d) The United States pays them to help people reach space. — The last sentence of paragraph 4 says these companies are being paid by the United States.