Question #N502
The first person to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, famously said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." However, recordings of Armstrong's transmission show that he actually said, "That's one small step for *a* man, one giant leap for mankind." What explains the discrepancy between Armstrong's spoken words and the transcript of his transmission?
The discrepancy is likely due to
A. a technical error in the recording equipment.
B. Armstrong’s attempt to correct a grammatical error.
C. Armstrong’s failure to clearly enunciate the word *a*.
D. a difference in the way the words were transcribed and spoken.
Correct Answer is: C
The discrepancy is due to Armstrong's failure to clearly enunciate the word "a." The recording equipment picked up the faint sound of the word, but the transcript reflects a clearer and more complete pronunciation of the word. This discrepancy is a common occurrence in audio recordings, especially when the speaker's voice is faint.