What was the name of the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957?

• A. Space Race
• B. Sputnik
• C. Bay of Pigs Invasion
• D. Berlin Wall

Answer: (B)

The main idea this question tests is naming the first artificial satellite and recognizing its place in the Space Race. Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, becoming the first human-made object to orbit Earth. This achievement showed that the Soviets had advanced rocket technology, which sparked intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to reach space milestones. The event had big downstream effects, including renewed emphasis on science and math education in the U.S. and the eventual creation of NASA to coordinate space exploration.

The other items refer to different events or broader ideas. The Space Race is the overall competition, not the satellite’s name. The Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Berlin Wall are Cold War events unrelated to the satellite itself.