1. A PERSONAL MOMENT IN SPACE

During the Artemis II mission, astronauts traveling around the moon shared an emotional moment when they asked to name two craters they spotted. One crater was named after their spacecraft, Integrity, and the other was named in honor of Commander Reid Wiseman’s wife, Carroll, who died in 2020. Wiseman was too emotional to speak, so his crewmate made the request to Mission Control, and the crew embraced as they remembered her. The moment showed a more personal side of space exploration, highlighting how astronauts carry their lives and memories with them even on historic missions. The names will now be reviewed before becoming official. Write a short reflection responding to this moment in space. In 5–7 sentences, explain why naming a place can be meaningful, describe how this moment connects personal life to scientific exploration, and include one example of something in your own life that you think deserves to be remembered in a special way.

2. JUDGE BLOCKS PENTAGON PRESS RULES

A federal judge ruled against new Pentagon rules that would have limited how journalists report from inside the military’s headquarters. The rules were meant to restrict how reporters gather information and move around the building, but the judge said they violated the Constitution, especially protections for a free press. This was the second time the court rejected similar policies, and the judge ordered that reporters be given the same access they had before. The Pentagon said it plans to appeal, arguing that it must balance press access with security. The case highlights ongoing tensions between government control and the role of independent journalism in a democracy. Create a short comparison explaining two viewpoints in this situation. In one paragraph, describe why the Pentagon says it needs stricter rules, and in another paragraph, explain why journalists argue those rules are harmful. Then write one final sentence explaining what makes this issue difficult to resolve.

3. A DEEP STORAGE SOLUTION FOR NUCLEAR WASTE

Finland is preparing to open the world’s first permanent underground storage site for nuclear waste. The facility, called Onkalo, is built deep inside 1.9-billion-year-old bedrock, where radioactive materials will be sealed in metal containers and buried hundreds of meters underground. Scientists believe this method is safer than storing waste above ground, where it could be damaged or misused. However, some experts warn that there are still uncertainties, including how long the containers will last and how future generations will understand the danger. Because nuclear waste can remain harmful for hundreds of thousands of years, the project raises questions about how people today make decisions that affect the distant future. Design a warning system for people living thousands of years from now. Describe what your warning would look like, what symbols or language it would use, and how it would communicate danger to people who may not speak the same language as us. Your response should show how you would make the message clear even if modern technology no longer exists.

4. DIPLOMACY BEHIND A SOCIAL MEDIA POST

As tensions rose between the United States and Iran, Pakistan’s prime minister posted a message on social media asking for more time to reach a peaceful agreement. While the post appeared to be a public request, officials later revealed that the White House had reviewed and approved the message before it was shared. The request helped lead to a short-term cease-fire, showing that important diplomatic work was happening behind the scenes. At the same time, major disagreements remained between the countries, including disputes over trade routes, nuclear materials, and money. The situation shows how public messages can sometimes hide more complex negotiations. Rewrite this situation as a short timeline of events. Create 4–5 steps that show what happened, starting with rising tensions and ending with the temporary cease-fire. Each step should be written as a complete sentence and clearly show how one event led to the next.

5. A POPE AND A PRESIDENT DISAGREE

A rare disagreement has developed between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the war in Iran. The pope publicly criticized threats of violence and said that harming civilians is unacceptable, while the Trump administration has defended its actions and language. This situation is unusual because both leaders are Americans, and it is rare for a pope to directly criticize a U.S. president so clearly. The disagreement reflects deeper differences in how political and religious leaders think about war, responsibility, and moral authority. It also shows how global issues can create tension even between influential figures from the same country. Write a short dialogue between two people discussing this issue. One person should focus on the role of political leadership during conflict, and the other should focus on moral or religious concerns about war. After the dialogue, add one sentence explaining what you think both sides agree on, even if they disagree overall.