Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Do you know about the Apollo 11 mission? What do you think it was like on the moon?
- Are you interested in outer space? If yes, what about it interests you? If not, why do you not find it interesting?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- feature /FEE-cher/
- surviving /ser-VAHY-ving/
- look back /look BAK/
- institution /in-sti-TOO-shuhn/
- resource /REE-sawrs/
[verb] – to include someone or something as an important part
The new movie is featuring several well-known actors.
[adjective] – continuing to live or exist after an event
She was the last surviving person from the old village.
[verb] – to think about something that happened in the past
I look back on my school days with joy.
[noun] – a large and important organization, such as a university or bank
Harvard University is a well-known educational institution.
[noun] – a stock or supply of materials, money, or other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively
The library offers many resources for learning.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
On the weekend of July 20th, a full moon coincided with the 55th anniversary of the first lunar landing, which occurred in July 1969. To commemorate this historic event, various celebrations took place honoring the Apollo 11 mission. The San Diego Air and Space Museum hosted a gala on Saturday night featuring 94-year-old Buzz Aldrin, the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew, alongside Charlie Duke, who communicated with the crew during the moon landing. Jim Kidrick, the museum’s president, emphasized the significance of celebrating this milestone on its exact anniversary. Other notable events included activities at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Houston’s Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control managed the Apollo missions.
Alongside these events, a new film titled “Fly Me to the Moon,” starring Scarlett Johansson, provided a lighthearted look back at the lunar landing. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum launched a special website dedicated to Apollo 11, offering extensive information and resources. Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit, restored for the 50th anniversary in 2019, was displayed at the museum in Washington, D.C., along with the return capsule. Additionally, a museum in Alameda, California, hosted a splashdown party to commemorate the retrieval of the Apollo 11 crew and their capsule from the Pacific Ocean. Looking ahead, NASA plans to send four astronauts around the moon next year as part of the Artemis program, with future missions aiming for a lunar landing no earlier than 2026.
Alongside these events, a new film titled “Fly Me to the Moon,” starring Scarlett Johansson, provided a lighthearted look back at the lunar landing. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum launched a special website dedicated to Apollo 11, offering extensive information and resources. Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit, restored for the 50th anniversary in 2019, was displayed at the museum in Washington, D.C., along with the return capsule. Additionally, a museum in Alameda, California, hosted a splashdown party to commemorate the retrieval of the Apollo 11 crew and their capsule from the Pacific Ocean. Looking ahead, NASA plans to send four astronauts around the moon next year as part of the Artemis program, with future missions aiming for a lunar landing no earlier than 2026.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- When did the first lunar landing occur?
- Who is Buzz Aldrin?
- What is the title of the new film starring Scarlett Johansson?
- What special feature did the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum launch?
- What are NASA’s future plans related to the moon?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever attended an event or celebration commemorating a historical event? If so, what event was it, and how did it make you feel? If not, what historical event would you like to attend a celebration for and why?
- Have you ever visited a museum that had a special exhibition or event? If so, what was the exhibition about, and what did you learn from it? If not, which museum or exhibition would you like to visit and why?
- Do you agree that celebrating historical milestones like the Apollo 11 landing is important?
- Why do you think the Apollo 11 lunar landing continues to be such a significant event in history, even 55 years later? What impact did it have on science and society?
- What role do museums and institutions play in preserving and promoting history, such as the Apollo 11 mission? How can they engage younger generations in learning about these important events?