| Known as | Emeka |
| Age at departure | 12 |
| Origin | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Role | Systems Maintenance — Trainee |
| Assigned section | Engineering Bay / Lower Deck Access |
| Notes | Record 95% complete. Audio supplement available. Listen to complete this file. |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| maintenance | The work of keeping a machine in good condition |
| component | One part of a larger machine or system |
| diagnose | To find the cause of a problem |
| instinct | Knowing how to do something without being taught |
| precision | Doing something in a very exact, careful way |
| assign | To give someone a particular job or place |
Listen to the computer audio record. Choose the correct word from the word bank to complete each gap in the file transcript.
Chukwuemeka Okafor, known as Emeka, is twelve years old at the time of departure. He was selected for the PROXIMA-7 mission on the basis of exceptional mechanical aptitude. Assessment records show that Emeka began diagnosing faults in complex systems at the age of [1] — without formal instruction.
His role aboard PROXIMA-7 is trainee systems maintenance. He is considered the most reliable crew member for [2] identification under [3].
The file says Emeka began diagnosing faults without formal instruction.
We often describe natural ability using without + a noun phrase. It tells us what someone did not need — and makes the ability sound more impressive:
Notice how removing without… from the sentence makes it feel less remarkable. The contrast is doing the work.
Think about it: what is something you can do without help? Try writing one sentence using this structure.
Personal notes on file indicate that Emeka communicates primarily through [4] rather than speech. He has been observed laying out components in careful rows on a [5] before beginning any repair — a personal method that has produced consistent results.
His parents, Dr Adaeze Okafor and Dr Kelechi Okafor, are mission specialists. Their assignment is [6]. Their area of expertise is hibernation system engineering.
End of supplement.
- The file says Emeka learned to fix machines without formal instruction. Do you think it is possible to be naturally good at something, or do you think all skills have to be taught? Give an example from your own life.
- Emeka’s parents are experts in hibernation systems — the same systems Emeka works on during the mission. Do you think his parents planned this? Why or why not?
- The computer file describes Emeka through data and observations. It does not say anything about what he thinks or feels. What do you think the file cannot tell us about him?
Learn more about the Proxima-7 mission series: Between Two Suns