Answer:
A. An event that sparked competition and encouraged Americans to invest in science.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sputnik was an artificial satellite that was created by the Soviet Union and launched into space on the 4th of October 1957. It was the first ever artificial satellite that was launched into space.
The United States of America seeing the Soviet Union launched Sputnik successfully into space, decided to launch theirs as well. This event created started a sort of competition and caused the Americans to become more creative and innovative in science, engineering and technology in an attempt to recover the lead in science and technology that they lost to the Soviet Union.