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
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?
A.
It helps us understand that astronauts receive a large salary.
B.
We learn astronauts have a small salary.
C.
It shows that money isn’t given to astronauts.
D.
There is no connection to the meaning of generous.
A. It helps us understand that astronauts receive a large salary.
Option D: There is no connection to the meaning of generous.
To understand what the word "generous" means in paragraph 1, we need to analyze its Latin origin. The Latin word "generousus" means "noble birth, royalty." This can give us insight into the meaning of "generous" in the context of the paragraph.
Considering the Latin root, we can eliminate choice D, as there is indeed a connection between the Latin meaning of "generous" and its usage in the paragraph.
Choice A, "It helps us understand that astronauts receive a large salary," could be a possible answer. If we associate "generous" with "noble birth, royalty," it might imply that astronauts receive a substantial salary, which aligns with the idea of nobility or privilege.
Choice B, "We learn astronauts have a small salary," can be eliminated because it directly contradicts the notion of generosity associated with nobility or royalty.
Choice C, "It shows that money isn't given to astronauts," is also incorrect. The paragraph does mention that Dr. Greg Olsen bought his own ticket into space, but it doesn't imply that astronauts don't receive any money.
Therefore, the correct answer is A: It helps us understand that astronauts receive a large salary.