4000 Essential English Words 4 » Unit 15: Laika, the Space Dog

Word List
  • although [ɔːlˈðou] conj.
    You use although to say that one thing is contrasted by another.
    → Although she was late, her friends gave her a warm welcome.
  • apply [əˈplai] v.
    To apply something means to put it on.
    → She always applies makeup to her face before going outside.
  • await [əˈweit] v.
    To await something means to wait for it.
    → The players awaited the judge’s decision.
  • beloved [biˈlʌvid] adj.
    When something is beloved, it is very special and you like it very much.
    → The boy took a nap next to his beloved cat.
  • bury [ˈberɪ] v.
    To bury someone or something means to put them in the ground.
    → They buried their grandfather under his favorite tree after he died.
  • climate [ˈklaimit] n.
    A climate is the usual weather in a place.
    → The climate in the desert is very hot.
  • complain [kəmˈplein] v.
    When you complain, you say that you are unhappy about something.
    → The workers complained that they were being treated unfairly.
  • confuse [kənˈfjuːz] v.
    To confuse someone means to make them feel like they are unsure.
    → The sign confused the traveler because it pointed in two directions.
  • due [djuː] adj.
    When something is due, it is expected to happen or be done at that time.
    → The papers were due on the 19th.
  • entire [ənˈtaiər] adj.
    When you talk about an entire thing, you are talking about the whole thing.
    → He was so hungry that he ate the entire pizza by himself.
  • establish [isˈtæbliʃ] v.
    To establish something means to create it.
    → He wanted to establish a club for people to help the Earth.
  • furnace [ˈfəːrnis] n.
    A furnace is a place where heat is made.
    → Mr. Jones came to fix the furnace.
  • leash [liːʃ] n.
    A leash is a rope or chain that is used to lead an animal.
    → A lot of dogs must wear a leash to keep them from running away.
  • mature [məˈtjuə:r] v.
    To mature means to grow up to become an adult.
    → When they matured, they became as tall as their parents.
  • measure [ˈmeʒə:r] v.
    To measure something means to find out the quality, value, or effect of it.
    → The scientists carefully measured the amount of chemicals in the tubes.
  • midst [midst] n.
    The midst of something is the middle of it.
    → She was in the midst of cleaning when the telephone rang.
  • misery [ˈmizəri] n.
    Misery is extreme suffering.
    → There was a lot of misery after Sam lost his dog.
  • prior [ˈpraiər] adj.
    When something happened prior to something else, it happened earlier.
    → Ron had to wait since he arrived prior to the scheduled meeting time.
  • research [riˈsəːrtʃ] n.
    Research is close and careful study to discover new things.
    → Scientists did a lot of research on the subject of blood type.
  • variety [vəˈraiəti] n.
    A variety of something is a group of many different kinds of it.
    → There are a variety of flowers at the shop.
Exercise 1

Choose the word that is the better fit for each blank.

  1. research / await
    • After weeks of hard work, the scientists must ____________ the results of their ____________ .
  2. misery / beloved
    • After the death of her ____________ pet, the woman felt nothing but ____________ for many weeks.
  3. complained / variety
    • The store had a ____________ of canned vegetables, but the man ____________ that they didn’t have his favorite brand.
  4. due / confused
    • The new schedule ____________ passengers who thought the train was ____________ at 8 a.m.
  5. climate / establish
    • The island was a great place to ____________ a hotel since the ____________ was warm throughout the year.
  6. although / prior
    • ____________ he had a lot of bad luck in the past, he refused to let ____________ events stop him from moving forward.
  7. furnace / entire
    • The ____________ was turned up to the highest temperature, but it couldn’t heat the ____________ room.
  8. mature / midst
    • In the ____________ of a terrible war, the young boys had to ____________ quickly.
  9. measured / leash
    • To make sure the dog’s ____________ was long enough, Bob took out a ruler and ____________ it.
  10. buried / apply
    • She insisted that they ____________ her mother’s favorite perfume before they ____________ her.
Exercise 2

Part A: Match the phrases to make complete sentences.

  1. Although he didn’t know how to dance, ______.
  2. A furnace keeps ______.
  3. Florida’s warm climate makes ______.
  4. He wanted to establish ______.
  5. The train was due to arrive at ______.
  6. A lot of research is needed ______.
  7. Shoppers have a variety of ______.
  8. In the midst of the game ______.
  9. A leash keeps ______.
  10. Her beloved sister ______.
  1. a. he went to the party anyway
  2. b. before new medicines can be created
  3. c. a school for blind children
  4. d. a room warm during the winter
  5. e. a dog from running away
  6. f. many travelers want to vacation there
  7. g. always calmed her
  8. h. the team’s best player had to be replaced
  9. i. around seven in the morning
  10. j. food to choose from at the store

Part B: Match the clauses to make complete sentences.

  1. To determine if the new drug was safe, ______.
  2. His newest book did not sell well, ______.
  3. He wanted to finish the race, ______.
  4. He lost his map, ______.
  5. The soup was cold, ______.
  6. Sue was very silly as a child, ______.
  7. No one could find the treasure ______.
  8. He said he would write to her, ______.
  9. She wanted to look older, ______.
  10. They were thirsty, ______.
  1. a. scientists measured all the effects
  2. b. but his prior works were very successful
  3. c. because the pirate had buried it
  4. d. so she applied makeup to her face
  5. e. but the pain in his ankle gave him too much misery
  6. f. so she patiently awaited his letters
  7. g. so they drank the entire bowl of punch
  8. h. so the diners complained to the waiter
  9. i. but she became more serious as she matured
  10. j. so he became confused

Answer Key
Exercise 1
  1. await / research
  2. beloved / misery
  3. variety / complained
  4. confused / due
  5. establish / climate
  6. Although / prior
  7. furnace /entire
  8. midst / mature
  9. leash / measured
  10. apply / buried
Exercise 2
Part A
  1. a
  2. d
  3. f
  4. c
  5. i
  6. b
  7. j
  8. h
  9. e
  10. g
Part B
  1. a
  2. b
  3. e
  4. j
  5. h
  6. i
  7. c
  8. f
  9. d
  10. g
Answer Key
Laika, the Space Dog

One of the world’s most beloved space travelers was also the furriest. Laika was a little dog living on the streets of Moscow, Russia. She matured on the streets because no one would give her a home. She had to learn how to live without eating much. She found ways to keep warm in a very cold climate. Scientists thought a tough dog like Laika would do well in a project they were putting together.

In a prior launch, Russia had put the first man-made object into space. Now, scientists wanted to see if a living thing could go to space. Although many facts about space had been learned, they weren’t enough to help send humans to space safely.

Laika and two other dogs were chosen to help scientists with their research. The animals were used in a variety of tests. In the end, though, only Laika would go to space. On November 3,1957 the Sputnik 2 spaceship was due to leave Earth.

Scientists carefully applied wires to Laika’s skin to measure her body’s reactions once she got into space. Laika also wore a special leash. Without it, she would float around in the spaceship. Soon after, Laika left the planet. Scientists on Earth awaited information from the ship.

But in the midst of so much excitement, something very sad happened. Scientists were able to tell that Laika was under a lot of stress. The trip confused and scared her. Laika’s entire ship had become as hot as a furnace. Scientists were powerless to help the dog in her misery. After about five hours, Laika died.

Some have complained that the little dog should never have been used in the mission. Scientists knew that she would not survive the trip. Laika was never buried, but a memorial has been established in Moscow. There are many songs and books about her, too. It seems that Laika became a hero to many people.

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

  1. _____ Scientists did a variety of tests for research before the Sputnik 2 was due to leave.
    • _____________________________________________________
  2. _____ Wires were applied to Laika’s leash so that scientists could find the ship.
    • _____________________________________________________
  3. _____ Although Laika could not be buried, a spaceship was established in her honor.
    • _____________________________________________________
  4. _____ In the midst of the scientists’ excitement, Laika’s ship became too hot.
    • _____________________________________________________
  5. _____ In a prior launch, scientists sent two other dogs into space.
    • _____________________________________________________
  6. _____ Many people complained that Laika should not have gone to space.
    • _____________________________________________________

Part B: Answer the questions.

  1. Why did scientists choose Laika for the mission?
    • a. She was tough.
    • b. She was a beloved space traveler.
    • c. The trip to space confused her.
    • d. She needed to wear a special leash.
  2. Why did Laika die during the trip?
    • a. The ship became as hot as a furnace.
    • b. The scientists were under a lot of stress.
    • c. Living things cannot survive in space.
    • d. The scientists didn’t get information from her.
  3. Scientists made Laika wear a special leash because they _______.
    • a. were awaiting information from the ship
    • b. were not able to bury her
    • c. didn’t want her to float around the ship
    • d. needed to adjust the climate
  4. Why did scientists apply wires to Laika’s skin?
    • a. To measure her body’s reactions
    • b. To allow her to mature
    • c. To take her for the entire trip
    • d. To return her to Earth
Answer Key
Answer Key
Reading Comprehension
Part A
  1. T
  2. F / Wires were applied to Laika’s skin so that scientists could know how she felt.
  3. F / Although Laika could not be buried, a memorial was established in her honor.
  4. T
  5. F / In a prior launch scientists sent a man- made object into space.
  6. T
Part B
  1. a
  2. a
  3. c
  4. a
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