Read the passage. There are several questions about this passage.
Why Do Astronauts Eat Tortillas instead of Bread?
Which phrase from the passage best helps readers
understand why some foods are hard to prepare in
space?
1
O 1. "in the form of bite-sized cubes"
O2
"inside toothpaste-type tubes"
2
03.
"need three hands"
3
4. "even greater challenges"
Food is a basic need. Having enough food while traveling has always
been a problem for explorers. In addition to having enough to eat, explorers
also need ways to package and store food. What can be done to make sure
the food won't spoil? Early explorers dried and stored food in cool places
They also used sealed containers.
Some of these same methods are still being used to store food onboard
the space shuttle and the International Space Station
Originally, all foods eaten by astronauts in space were in the form of
bite-sized cubes, freeze-dried food, or semi-liquids inside toothpaste-type
tubes. Sound tasty? As space missions continued the food became "better"
in variety, taste, and texture. The choices continue to grow. Astronauts can
now choose from more than 70 different kinds of foods and 20 different
beverages
What kinds of foods make good space food? Of course taste is important,
but foods are also chosen for their nutritional value. Space food must also be
easy to package and store.
Space food is grouped into several different categories. Foods may be
rehydrated or freeze-dried, like "astronaut ice cream." if a little bit of water is
left in the food to keep it soft, like dried fruit the food is categorized as
"containing intermediate moisture." Some foods may be in their natural
form, ready to eat right out of the package, like bite sized crackers and nuts.
Other foods are processed once they're packaged, such as irradiated and
thermostabilized foods. Both processes help sterilize foods. Food that i
irradiated is sterilized by radiation, like smoked turkey. Thermostabilized
foods, like grilled chicken for fajitas, are sterilized with heat to destroy
bacteria
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5
6