Albert Einstein 2023-1: Inglês

Read the text to answer questions from 11 to 14

In the late 1960s, following the Apollo 11 Moon landings, the three astronauts were waiting to be picked up inside their capsule floating in the Pacific Ocean — and they were hot and uncomfortable. NASA officials decided to make things more pleasant for their three national heroes. The downside? There was a small possibility of unleashing deadly alien microbes on Earth.

When humanity first made plans to send probes and people into space in the mid-20th Century, the issue of contamination came up. Firstly, there was the fear of “forward” contamination — the possibility that Earth-based life might accidentally hitch a ride into the cosmos. Spacecraft needed to be sterilised and carefully packaged before launch. If microbes silently moved onboard, it would confuse any attempts to detect alien life. And if there were extra-terrestrial organisms out there, we might end up inadvertently killing them with Earth-based bacteria or viruses. These concerns matter just as much today as they did back in the Space Race era.

A second concern was “back” contamination. This was the idea that astronauts, rockets or probes returning to Earth might bring back life that could prove catastrophic, either by consuming all our oxygen or outcompeting Earth organisms.

What if the astronauts brought back something dangerous? At the time, the probability was not considered high, but still, the scenario had to be explored. “Maybe it’s sure to 99% that Apollo 11 will not bring back lunar organisms,” said one influential scientist at the time, “but even that 1% of uncertainty is too large to be complacent about.”

NASA put several quarantine measures in place — in some cases, a little reluctantly. Concerned officials from the US Public Health Service argued for stricter measures than initially planned, pointing out that they had the power to refuse border entry to contaminated astronauts. NASA then agreed to install a costly quarantine facility on the ship that would pick up the men from their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

It was also agreed that the lunar explorers would then spend three weeks in isolation before they could hug their families or shake the hand of the president.

(Richard Fisher. bbc.com, 18.02.2021. Adapted.)

11. (Albert Einstein 2023-1) The text discusses

1. crucial decisions regarding the safety of astronauts in outer space.
2. NASA’s deep concerns about the well-being of the Apollo 11 lunar explorers.
3. misunderstandings between NASA and other American agencies regarding Apollo 11.
4. potentially catastrophic outcomes of capsules landing on an open-ocean area.
5. types of possible contamination between the Earth and other outer space locations.

12. (Albert Einstein 2023-1) The first paragraph mentions

1. the discomfort experienced by the Apollo 11 astronauts inside their capsule.
2. the very moment in which the lunar explorers are rescued from the sea.
3. the successful completion of a spacecraft mission to the Moon.
4. things that can possibly go wrong in long spaceship trips.
5. NASA officials’ pride in showing the world their three national heroes.

13. (Albert Einstein 2023-1) In the second paragraph, “‘forward’ contamination” is explained as contamination which

1. is produced by silent extra-terrestrial microbes.
2. can only be detected after repeated attempts.
3. could unintentionally be taken beyond the Earth.
4. tended to affect the Space Race missions.
5. is inevitable considering the risks of traveling to outerspace and back.

14. (Albert Einstein 2023-1) According to the third and fourth paragraphs, the disputes over the potential risks posed by the return of Apollo 11 from outer space were eventually settled as follows:

1. severe actions were taken to guarantee enough oxygen to Apollo 11 astronauts returning to Earth.
2. NASA publicly rejected US Public Health Service recommendations over stricter Earth-entry procedures.
3. NASA hesitated to embrace quarantine measures, eventually putting astronauts’ lives in danger.
4. back contamination was dismissed as a threat since there was only 1% certainty it could take place.
5. Earth-entry provisions were made, such as quarantine equipment and a 21-day isolation period for astronauts.

15. (Albert Einstein 2023-1) Read the advertisement.

The advertisement uses text and the image of two women astronauts in spacesuits to suggest that both the bath oil “Skin-So-Soft” and the suit

1. are appropriate to life in the Moon.
2. help protect women’s skin.
3. are essential to those who have them.
4. can take people wherever they want.
5. are intended to make users safe.