Bacteria are an annoying problem for astronauts. The microorganisms from our bodies grow uncontrollably on surfaces of the International Space Station,so astronauts spend hours cleaning them up each week. How is NASA overcoming this very tiny big problem? It's turning to a bunch of high school kids. But not just any kids. It depending on NASA HUNCH high school class, like the one science teachers Gene Gordon and Donna Himmelberg lead at Fairport High School in Fairport, New York.

HUNCH is designed to connect high school classrooms with NASA engineers. For the past two years, Gordon's students have been studying ways to kill bacteria in zero gravity, and they think they're close to a solution. "We don't give the students any breaks. They have to do it just like NASAengineers," says Florence Gold, a project manager.

"There are notests," Gordon says. "There is no graded homework. There almost are no grades,other than'Are you working towards your goal?'Basically, it's 'I've got to produce this product and then,at the end of year, present it to NASA.' Engineers come and really do an in-person review, and…it's not a very nice thing at time. It's a hard business review of your product."

Gordon says the HUNCH program has an impact on college admissions and practical life skills. "These kids are so absorbed in their studies that I just sit back. I don't teach." And that annoying bacteria?Gordon says his students are emailing daily with NASA engineers about the problem, readying a workable solution to test in space.

Questions:
question_stem: What do we know about the bacteria in the International Space Station?
choices: tag: A
text: They are hard to get rid of.

tag: B
text: They lead to air pollution.

tag: C
text: They appear different forms.

tag: D
text: They damage the instruments.
answer_key: A

question_stem: What is the purpose of the HUNCH program?
choices: tag: A
text: To strengthen teacher-student relationships.

tag: B
text: To sharpen students' communication skills.

tag: C
text: To allow students to experience zero gravity.

tag: D
text: To link space technology with school education
answer_key: D

question_stem: What do the NASA engineers do for the students in the program?
choices: tag: A
text: Check their product.

tag: B
text: Guide project designs

tag: C
text: Adjust work schedules.

tag: D
text: Grade their homework.
answer_key: A

question_stem: What is the best title for the text?
choices: tag: A
text: NASA: The Home of Astronauts.

tag: B
text: Space: The Final Homework Frontier.

tag: C
text: Nature: An Outdoor Classroom.

tag: D
text: HUNCH:A College Admission Reform.
answer_key: B