Question

Read the paragraph from "Who Was Sally Ride?"

How Did Sally Ride Become an Astronaut?
Sally Ride applied to be an astronaut in 1977. Sally was a college student and saw an advertisement that NASA was looking for women astronauts. It was the first time that women were invited to apply to the astronaut program and many women very much wanted to be a part of something so important and exciting. More than 1,000 women applied for the highly coveted position and Sally was one of only six women selected to the astronaut corps in 1978. Sally trained for over five years before her first space mission. Her training included navigation, parachute jumping, and communications.
Question 1
Part A
What is the meaning of coveted as it appears in the paragraph?
curious
welcomed
chosen
desired

Answer 1

• Sally Ride was an American astronaut and physicist. She became the first American woman and the youngest American astronaut to travel to space.
• Ride's journey to becoming an astronaut started with her passion for science and physics.

• The meaning of 'coveted' in the paragraph is desired. The answer is option ⇒d.

Step-by-step explanation:

--Ride joined NASA in 1978 and was a member of the astronaut class known as Group 8, which included the first female astronauts in the U.S. program. She flew on the Space Shuttle Challenger twice, in 1983 and 1984.

--Ride's journey to becoming an astronaut started with her passion for science and physics. She earned her Bachelor's degree in physics and a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University. Her expertise in physics, specifically in astrophysics and space physics, played a crucial role in her selection as an astronaut.

Sally Ride's achievements and contributions to space exploration have made her an important figure in history and a role model for aspiring astronauts, particularly women in STEM fields.

--In this context, it indicates that the position of being an astronaut was highly sought after by many women. The use of 'coveted' emphasizes that the position was considered valuable and held in high regard. Sally Ride was one of the few individuals who were fortunate enough to be selected for this desired position.

To sum up, in the given paragraph, 'coveted' means desired. It conveys that the position of being an astronaut was highly valued and sought after by many women. Sally Ride's selection for this coveted position highlights her achievement and the competitive nature of the opportunity. The answer is option ⇒d