63277 reading comprehension amelia earhart

Biography
When Amelia Mary Earhart went to a stunt-flying
exhibition around the time she was 18, she became
seriously interested in aviation. A pilot at the exhibit
saw Earhart watching the show, and dove down at
her. As the plane swooped by, something inside her
woke up. "I did not understand it at the time," she
said, "but I believe that little red airplane said
something to me as it swished by."
On December 28, 1920, a pilot named Frank Hawks
gave her a ride that would forever change her life.
"By the time I had gotten two or three hundred feet
off the ground," she said, "I knew I had to fly."
In 1937, as Earhart neared her 40th birthday, she
was ready for a final challenge. She wanted to be
the first woman to fly around the world. "I have a
feeling that there is just about one more good flight
left in my system, and I hope this trip is it," she
said.
On June 1st, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan
departed from Miami and began the 29,000-mile
journey. By June 29, when they landed in Lae, New
Guinea, all but 7,000 miles had been completed.
The next part of their journey was the most
challenging. The next stop was Howland Island,
located about 2500 miles in the middle of the
Pacific and was only one and a half miles long.
Every unessential item was removed from the plane
to make room for additional fuel, which gave
Earhart approximately 274 extra miles.

At 10am on July 2, the pair took off. They had
problems with cloudy skies and difficulty
communicating by radio.
Her last radio
transmission, was faint and full of static: "We must
be on you, but we cannot see you. Fuel is running
low. Been unable to reach you by radio.”
We are flying at 1,000 feet." At 8:45 Earhart
reported, "We are running north and south."
Nothing further was ever heard from Earhart.

A rescue attempt was started immediately and
became the most extensive air and sea search in
naval history. Today, though many theories exist,
there is no proof of her fate. There is no doubt,
however, that the world will always remember
Amelia Earhart for her courage, vision, and
groundbreaking achievements, both in aviation and
for women.
In a letter to her husband, written in case this
dangerous flight was to be her last, this brave spirit
was evident. "Please know I am quite aware of the
hazards," she said. "I want to do it because I want to
do it. Women must try to do things as men have
tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a
challenge to others."
/>A. Find a word that means the same as…
1. A show or display about a certain topic
__________________________________
2. 2 of something

__________________________________
3. brave
__________________________________
4. not necessary
__________________________________
5. a last quest
__________________________________
6. dangers
__________________________________
7. effort or try
__________________________________
8. tragic ending or destiny
__________________________________
9. things that have to do with planes and flying
__________________________________
10. finished
__________________________________


11.
B. Match the Vocabulary
1. difficulty

A. extremely, or very much

2.

seriously

B. Come down very quickly

3.

swooped

C. Something large in the amount, covering a large area

4. swished

D. not loud, bright or clear

5. neared

E. possible circumstances or ideas

6. additional

F.

7. transmission

G. something that isn’t easy

8. extensive

H. to get closer

9. theories

I.

extra

10. faint

J.

a radio signal that is carried through the air

C.
1.
12.
2.
13.
3.
14.
4.
15.
5.

to move in a fast whistling sound

Answer the questions. Use easy answers if you are beginning level, full sentences if you are advanced level.
Where did her ill-fated flight begin?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
What was the biggest challenge on the last part of her flight?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
What made Amelia want to fly?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Did Amelia think the flight around the world would be easy?

_________________________________________________________________________________________
Why is her attempt to fly around the world still considered a “groundbreaking achievement” even though she
failed?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
What preparations did they make for the final part of the flight to Howland Island?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
What was the last radio transmission ever heard from Amelia Earhart?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
What three qualities does the article say Amelia Earhart will be remembered for?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Was Amelia Earhart married? If so, what is her husband’s name?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you think the little airplane could have said to 18 year old Amelia?
_________________________________________________________________________________________

16.
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D. Find a related word in the reading selection
1. serious

23.

24. 5.
navigation

25.

2. essential

26.

27. 6. evidence

28.

3. fail

29.

30. 7.
approximat
e

31.


4. danger
35.
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44.

32.

33. 8. write

34.