DreamReader.net Pop Culture – Fun English Star Trek Perhaps the best known science fiction TV show is Star Trek. The original Star Trek was shown on September 8, 1966. Gene Roddenberry, a former military pilot and Los Angeles police officer, created the show. It was about humanity joining together and exploring space. Each week, the crew of the USS Enterprise faced danger, love, and mysterious aliens. At its heart, however, Star Trek was about humanity. It tried to show that human beings, although flawed, were essentially good. Star Trek also tried to ask questions about social and political issues such as racism, war, and human rights. NBC, the studio that produced and showed Star Trek, was not enthusiastic about the series but gave it a chance anyways. The show featured many interesting characters that Star Trek fans grew to love over the next three seasons. Captain Kirk, played by William Shatner, was the daring captain of the starship USS Enterprise. His first officer, Mr. Spock, was a half-Vulcan who tightly controlled his emotions and always tried to solve problems with logic. By 1969, Star Trek’s ratings were too low and it had lost many viewers. It was shown on Friday nights, when most people were not watching TV. NBC cut the show’s budget and the quality of the shows dropped. Despite its cancellation, Star Trek lived on again in movies and television in later years. 1. Who created the original Star Trek? a) Mr. Spock b) Captain Kirk c) William Shatner d) Gene Roddenberry 2. What was the original Star Trek about? a) war b) aliens c) racism d) humanity 3. What was the name of the studio that produced and showed Star Trek? a) NBC b) NCB c) USS d) USB 4. Who was the captain of the starship USS Enterprise? a) Mr. Spock b) Captain Kirk

c) William Shatner

) b ( 4. ) (a 3. ) d ( 2. ) d ( 1. d) Gene Roddenberry Answers:

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