Neil Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong was an American astronaut who worked for NASA. He
is best known for becoming the first man to walk on the Moon in July

His Early Life

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was the eldest of three children. Neil developed an interest

in flying at a young age when his father took him to the

part-time job and he used the money he made to pay for

flying lessons. He earned his student pilot certificate on his
th
birthday and began flying alone soon after – all before
he had a licence to drive a car!

the NASA Astronaut Corps; this would eventually lead to the task of landing on
the Moon.

The Moon Landing

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V rocket left the launch pad carrying Neil Armstrong

and his crew mates (Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin and

mission. The journey to the Moon took over

three days.

each astronaut took on a different

job. Michael remained in the rocket
completing science experiments
and taking photographs while
Neil and Buzz entered the
lunar module (nicknamed
The Eagle) to travel to the

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 Neil Armstrong

were heading to an unsafe landing

area so he took manual control of
The Eagle; this took longer than
expected and meant that they were
running low on fuel by the time
they landed on the surface of the

Eagle has landed.”

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left foot on the surface of the Moon.

on the Moon; their time was limited because NASA were unsure how long their

Celsius) on the Moon.

switch was broken so they used part of a pen to activate the

launch sequence. The remainder of the descent
to Earth went smoothly and the
th
July

tour the country.

Later Life

a professor in order to share his knowledge and passion and he lived until

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 Neil Armstrong

Questions
1. When was Neil Armstrong born? Tick one.
th

th

th

th

2. Join the boxes to match each date to the important event that happened on it.

Neil became the first person on

the Moon.
th
Neil was accepted to the NASA
Astronaut Corps.
th

3. List two

4. Who took part in the Apollo 11 mission with Neil?

5. Find and copy one phrase from the Moon Landing section which tells you that the The Eagle
didn't land automatically.

6. Why were NASA unsure how long the spacesuits would cope with the high temperatures on the
Moon?

7. Why do you think around 600 million people watched the events on television?

8. In your opinion, which part of the mission was the most dangerous? Explain your answer.

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 Neil Armstrong

Answers
1. When was Neil Armstrong born? Tick one.
th

th

th

th

2. Join the boxes to match each date to the important event that happened on it.

Neil became the first person on

the Moon.
th
Neil was accepted to the NASA
Astronaut Corps.
th

3. List two
calmness
resilience

4. Who took part in the Apollo 11 mission with Neil?

5. Find and copy one phrase from the Moon Landing section which tells you that the The Eagle
didn't land automatically.

he took manual control

6. Why were NASA unsure how long the spacesuits would cope with the high temperatures on the
Moon?

spacesuits were.

7. Why do you think around 600 million people watched the events on television?

8. In your opinion, which part of the mission was the most dangerous? Explain your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think that landing the lunar module on the Moon was the most

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 Neil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong (an American astronaut working for NASA) is best known

His Early Life

Born on 5th
the eldest of three children to Stephen Koenig Armstrong and

age when his father took him to the National Air Races as

th

solo soon after – all before he had a licence to drive a car!

aeronautical
engineering

the NASA
of landing on the Moon.

The Moon Landing

After carrying out much training and many trial
th

launch pad and carried Neil Armstrong and his

mission. The journey to the Moon took

over three days to complete. During the

contact Earth.

Did You Know…?

previous crews had. Neil was especially glad about this as he had been prone
to travel sickness as a child.

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 Neil Armstrong

in the rocket completing science experiments and taking

photographs while Neil and Buzz entered the lunar module

descent did not go smoothly; when Neil noticed they were

of The Eagle and this took longer than expected. This meant
that the module was running low on fuel by the time they

Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Did You Know…?

The Moon landing was shown on television around the

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limited because NASA were unsure how long the spacesuits would cope with the high

was broken so they used part of a pen pushed into the circuit breaker to
activate the launch sequence. The remainder of the descent to Earth went

th

released to tour the country.

Later Life

his enthusiasm for space and aircraft continued so he became a professor

years old.

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 Neil Armstrong

Glossary
aeronautical engineering: The primary field of engineering concerned with
the development of aircraft and spacecraft.

lunar module: A small craft used for travelling between the Moon's surface
and an orbiting spacecraft.

NASA: Abbreviation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

quarantine: Isolation in case of infection.

Tranquillity Base: The site on the Moon where humans landed and walked
for the first time.

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 Neil Armstrong

Questions
1. What were the names of the other astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission? Tick two.
Stephen Koenig Armstrong
Viola Louise
Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin
Michael Collins
2. Join the boxes to match each fact to the section of the text it appears in.

Early Life

Neil became a professor in order to share

The Moon Landing
his knowledge and passion.
Neil said, “That’s one small step for man,
Later Life
one giant leap for mankind.”

3. Find and copy one word or phrase from The Moon Landing section which tells you
that things didn’t all go to plan.

4. Fill in the missing words from this sentence:

Due to high on the Moon, NASA limited the time spent

there to .

5. Give three things that Neil did as a teenager.

6. Why do you think Neil wanted to join NASA?

7. In your own words, explain what is meant by .

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 Neil Armstrong

8.
time live on television? Explain your answer.

9.

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 Neil Armstrong

Answers
1. What were the names of the other astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission? Tick two.
Stephen Koenig Armstrong
Viola Louise
Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin
Michael Collins
2. Join the boxes to match each fact to the section of the text it appears in.

Early Life

Neil became a professor in order to share

The Moon Landing
his knowledge and passion.
Neil said, “That’s one small step for man,
Later Life
one giant leap for mankind.”

3. Find and copy one word or phrase from The Moon Landing section which tells you
that things didn’t all go to plan.

4. Fill in the missing words from this sentence:

Due to high temperatures on the Moon, NASA limited the time spent
there to .

5. Give three things that Neil did as a teenager.

study aeronautical engineering.

6. Why do you think Neil wanted to join NASA?

7. In your own words, explain what is meant by .

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 Neil Armstrong

8.
time live on television? Explain your answer.

9.

to see.

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 Neil Armstrong
Armstrong was an American astronaut working for NASA.
His Early Life
Born on 5th
three children to Stephen Koenig Armstrong and Viola Louise. When his

th
birthday and began soloing
soon after – all before he had a licence to drive a car!

the development of aircraft and spacecraft) and then went on

was accepted to the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

the Moon.

The Moon Landing

th

the powerful Saturn V rocket left the launch pad carrying Neil Armstrong

(some members of previous crews had). Neil was especially glad

contact Earth.

rocket completing science experiments and taking

photographs while Neil and Buzz entered the lunar
module (a small craft used for travelling between
the Moon's surface and an orbiting spacecraft).

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 Neil Armstrong
This lunar module was nicknamed The Eagle and Neil and

to take manual control of The Eagle. This took longer than

expected and meant that the module was running low on fuel
by the time they landed on the surface of the Moon. At this

has landed.”

Neil and Buzz were keen to get straight out of the module but NASA

th
July

The Moon landing was shown on television around the

watched in awe as Neil set his left foot on the surface of

one giant leap for mankind.” Limited to two and a half hours

broken the ignition switch with their bulky spacesuits so they used part of a pen
pushed into the circuit breaker to activate the launch sequence. The remainder
of the descent to Earth went without any problems and the astronauts
th
July

the country where they received much praise

and admiration.

Later Life

share his knowledge and passion with future generations. Neil lived until he was

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 Neil Armstrong

Questions
1. What did Neil do as a teenager? Tick all that apply.
He went to the National Air Races.
He attended university.
He worked in a chemist.
He earned his student pilot certificate.

2.
What do composure and resilience mean? Tick one.
ideas and perseverance
dedication and courage
calmness and strength
happiness and determination
3.

What does mean?

4. List two things that Neil did after he returned to Earth.

5. Find and copy one word or phrase from the text which shows that Neil was

6. Do you think that Neil had a typical childhood? Explain your answer.

7. Why do you think that Neil’s training took so long?

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 Neil Armstrong

8.

9. Do you think Neil would have been a good professor? Explain your answer.

10. Would you like to travel to the Moon? Give two reasons to support your answer.

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 Neil Armstrong

Answers
1. What did Neil do as a teenager? Tick all that apply.
He went to the National Air Races.

He worked in a chemist.

2.
What do composure and resilience mean? Tick one.
ideas and perseverance
dedication and courage
calmness and strength
happiness and determination
3.

What does mean?

start

4. List two things that Neil did after he returned to Earth.

5. Find and copy one word or phrase from the text which shows that Neil was

6. Do you think that Neil had a typical childhood? Explain your answer.

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 Neil Armstrong

7. Why do you think that Neil’s training took so long?

during the mission.

8.

9. Do you think Neil would have been a good professor? Explain your answer.

10. Would you like to travel to the Moon? Give two reasons to support your answer.

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