Question

already a star, calandrelli tells students to aim high
by dan stillman
1 emily calandrelli has flown like astronauts do in space. she has searched for life on mars and gone to the middle of the desert. and she has helped write four published research papers.
2 in 2009 alone, she was named to a usa today all - star academic team and earned two scholarships. she was also voted west virginia university’s ms. mountaineer for her academic work and extracurricular activities.
3 that is not a bad resume, especially since calandrelli is only a senior in college.
4 calandrelli has long had a passion for space. she is drawn to the challenge of space exploration and its benefits.
5 “i’ve always been in love with the stars and view the cosmos as the ultimate adventure,” calandrelli said. “because of technologies from space exploration, we can begin to understand our world’s origins, and our lives are improving. these are the reasons why dedicating a life to the sciences and space exploration is so meaningful and rewarding.”
6 calandrelli has worked on several nasa - related projects during her college years. she has used lasers as part of research to reduce harmful emissions from jet engines. she has developed nanowires for use in chemical detection sensors. (nanowires are incredibly thin wire - like structures.) and she has studied the effect of gravity on different fluids, such as water and oil.
what’s been the most interesting nasa project? calandrelli points to a project that involved designing a simulation of a mars soil testing experiment.
what is the main purpose for writing this passage?
○ to persuade readers to pursue a college degree in engineering
○ to explain how space studies will affect future educational opportunities
○ to share information about one young woman’s personal achievements
○ to entertain readers with an amusing story about an adventure in space

Explanation:

The passage describes Emily Calandrelli's academic achievements, NASA - related projects, and her passion for space. The purpose is to share information about her personal achievements. Option A is incorrect as the passage isn't to persuade readers to pursue a college degree in engineering. Option B is incorrect as the passage doesn't focus on how space studies affect future educational opportunities. Option D is incorrect as the passage isn't an amusing story for entertainment but a factual account of her achievements.

Answer:

C. to share information about one young woman’s personal achievements