Question

Countdown to united states was finally making headway in the space race, but a lot of work still had to be done. around this time, edwin diamond of newsweek magazine wrote, "the first man in space? most likely a russian. a mission to mars? the russians wont pass up the chance next year. the first man on the moon? hell be carrying a hammer and sickle.

Why do the authors use questions in the passage?
a. To provide icons that give visual cues about the topic.
b. To suggest that the United States is behind in the space race.
c. To suggest that readers should draw conclusions about the Soviet Union.
d. To provide readers with information for making predictions.

Answer 1

The author's use of questions indicates that the U.S. was perceived as lagging behind in the space race, emphasizing the urgency and competition with the Soviet Union during that era. These questions also foreshadowed potential Soviet achievements, underscoring the strategic importance of space exploration and the potential for the U.S. to overcome its early setbacks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of questions in the passage by Edwin Diamond of Newsweek magazine suggests that the United States was behind in the space race. This rhetorical device conveys the urgency and concern during a time when the Soviet Union was achieving significant milestones in space exploration, including being the first to send a manmade satellite, Sputnik, into orbit and the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space. The author's hypothetical questions reflect the widespread belief at the time that the Soviets would continue to lead in space achievements, such as the potential of sending the first man to the moon.

The United States, recognizing the military and strategic implications of these advancements, responded strongly. It led to the creation of NASA and a renewed focus on space exploration, culminating in President Kennedy's commitment to land a man on the moon. The Apollo 11 mission eventually achieved this goal in 1969, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin taking the first steps on the lunar surface.

The authors likely utilized questions to highlight the sense of competition and to foreshadow future events, capturing the readers' attention and encouraging them to grasp the significance of the ongoing technological race. This method conveys both the challenges faced by the United States and the potential for growth and achievement in the realm of space exploration.