News by Levels · Level 3 · For teachers
Teacher guide & answers
In this lesson: Evaluate what an orbital success does and does not prove.
Starship Flight 15 Leaves Full Recovery Unproven
How to use these two pages
Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.
Student worksheetA simple 15–20-minute lesson
- Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
- Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 2 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
- Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.
Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.
Answers to the 2 questions
The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.
Which recovery plan changed?
Correct answer: C — The tower catch of Super Heavy
Why: The first paragraph says SpaceX abandoned the planned tower catch of the booster.
Clue in the story: SpaceX sent Starship into orbit on November 13, but abandoned the planned tower catch of its Super Heavy booster, which splashed down at sea.
Why is full recovery unproven in this account?
Correct answer: B — The upper stage still faced a later return attempt
Why: The second paragraph distinguishes reaching orbit from recovering both stages and leaves the upper-stage return ahead.
Clue in the story: The upper stage faced a later return attempt. Reaching orbit therefore did not establish that both stages had been recovered.
The open question: accept different answers
Ask learners: Explain why this test could achieve orbit without demonstrating full recovery.
One possible answer: Starship reached orbit, but Super Heavy splashed down instead of being caught by the tower. The upper stage still faced a later return attempt, so the account did not establish recovery of both stages.
This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.
Grammar to discuss
Reasoned conclusion
therefore
Therefore marks the inference from a return attempt still ahead to a limit on the claim of recovery.