The word “generous” comes from the Latin word “generousus” meaning “noble birth, royalty.” How does this help us understand what “generous” in paragraph 1 means?

Question

The word “generous” comes from the Latin word “generousus” meaning “noble birth, royalty.” How does this help us understand what “generous” in paragraph 1 means?

In 2005, Dr. Greg Olsen became the third person ever to travel into outer space as a private
citizen. Unlike NASA astronauts who earn a generous salary, he bought his own ticket into space.
He paid about $20 million for the trip, a ten-day orbit aboard the Expedition 11 Russian Soyuz
rocket, which docked at the International Space Station. He also took responsibility for his own
training. The space flight was the achievement of a lifetime for the New Jersey entrepreneur and
college physics professor

Answer 1

Knowing that the word "generous" originally meant "noble birth, royalty" helps us understand that in paragraph 1, "generous" is referring to a high salary or a significant amount of money. This implies that NASA astronauts earn a substantial income, while Dr. Greg Olsen, as a private citizen, had to spend a significant amount of money to go to outer space.

Answer 2

The Latin word "generousus" meaning "noble birth, royalty" helps us understand what "generous" means in paragraph 1 by indicating that it is related to someone of high social status or wealth. In the paragraph, it is mentioned that unlike NASA astronauts who earn a generous salary, Dr. Greg Olsen bought his own ticket into space. This implies that "generous" in this context refers to a significant amount of money or resources being spent by someone who is not obligated to do so, highlighting Dr. Olsen's wealth and ability to afford such a journey.

Answer 3

The word "generous" in paragraph 1 means that Dr. Greg Olsen paid a large amount of money (around $20 million) for his trip to outer space. By knowing that the word "generous" comes from the Latin word "generousus" meaning "noble birth, royalty," we can understand that in this context, the word is being used to describe the significant financial investment that Olsen made. Olsen, as a private citizen, did not have the same financial support or salary as NASA astronauts, who typically earn a generous salary for their work. However, he still chose to spend a substantial amount of money on this opportunity, showing a sense of extravagance and willingness to invest in an extraordinary experience. So, understanding the root and original meaning of the word "generous" helps us interpret its usage in this paragraph.