Question

what is most closely the meaning of the phrase \slipped the surly bonds of earth\ as it is used in the final sentence of the text?
a. the shuttle struggled to complete its liftoff.
b. most of the astronauts on the shuttle had significant personal issues.
c. the shuttle broke through gravity as the astronauts lost their lives.
d. reagan is acknowledging that we all will one day die.
best: ⓒ fl-ela.k12.ee.2.1

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "slipped the surly bonds of earth", we analyze each option:

• Option A: "Struggled to complete liftoff" doesn't match the phrase's implication of overcoming Earth's gravity/constraints.
• Option B: Personal issues of astronauts are irrelevant to the phrase's meaning.
• Option C: "Broke through gravity as the astronauts lost their lives" aligns with the idea of a shuttle (likely in a tragic context, like a disaster) overcoming Earth's gravitational bonds, with the loss of astronauts' lives.
• Option D: Reagan's acknowledgment of mortality is unrelated to the phrase's literal or contextual meaning about a shuttle and Earth's bonds.

Answer:

C. The shuttle broke through gravity as the astronauts lost their lives.