When ten-year-old Amelia Mary Earhart saw her first plane ...



Read the passage below and then choose the best answer to the questions:

When ten-year-old Amelia Mary Earhart saw her first plane at a state fair she attended with her father, she was not impressed. She told her father, "It was a thing of rusty wire and wood and looked not at all interesting." But, in the fall of 1919, when she was twenty, Amelia attended another air show with her father and after watching a stunt-flying exhibition; she became seriously interested in aviation. Her father asked her to go to lunch with him and his friends, but she rapidly declined because she did not want to miss seeing any of the planes. The next day, still excited from watching the planes, Amelia paid one dollar to take a plane ride. On that fateful day, pilot Frank Hawks gave her a ride that would forever change her life. "By the time I had got two or three hundred feet off the ground," she said, "I knew I myself had to fly."

Although Amelia’s convictions were strong, many difficult, detrimental and financial problems awaited her. But the tomboy in her was no stranger to censure or doubt. The young Earhart climbed trees, "belly-slammed" her sled to start it downhill and hunted rats with a .22 rifle, all the things that only boys should do. She also kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about successful women in primarily male-oriented fields.

Amelia overcame all obstacles and finally managed to take flying lessons from a woman pilot named Neta Snook. Neta insisted that Amelia learn all about airplanes before she allowed Amelia to actually fly one. Amelia was adamant about flying so she not only learned the parts of a plane, but she also learned how to repair airplane engines.

In 1926 Amelia met someone who would change her life forever. George Putnam was a publisher of a local newspaper and wanted Amelia to participate in a stunt designed to sell newspapers. He had arranged for Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon to fly a plane named the “Friendship” from Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland, to Burry Port, Wales, and wanted Amelia to ride along. Amelia would have the official title of “commander.” No woman had ever flown across the Atlantic Ocean before, and Amelia jumped at this glorious chance to fly, even though it was only as a passenger. She already had her pilot’s license and wanted desperately to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. Women of the time were appalled that a “woman” would fly. The belief was that only men should fly. Amelia always held the strong belief that women could and should do anything they set their hearts to do.

By 1931, there were several woman pilots who were planning flights across the Atlantic but Amelia’s new husband, George Putnam, pushed Amelia to be the first. Amelia decided she would be the first and on May 27, 1932, she boarded her plane and flew across the Atlantic. Amelia landed in Northern Ireland and broke several records when she landed. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, the first to fly the Atlantic twice and set the record for the shortest time. Because of this extraordinary feat, Amelia was voted “Outstanding Woman of the Year.” She was extremely pleased to accept the award handed to her. Amelia always believed that all women were heroes, no matter what they did.

In 1935, Amelia announced her plan to fly around Earth at its widest point, the equator. She would make several stops to refuel along the way. Before she took off, she told the huge crowd that had gathered that this would be her last long-distance flight. After flying more than three-quarters of the distance, 22,000 miles, with only 7, 000 miles to go, Amelia wired her last message from the plane. No one has ever seen her or her plane again.

To this day, people still search for Amelia Earhart’s plane. Amelia Earhart always fought for women’s rights and her husband, George, received a letter from her a few weeks after her disappearance. Amelia wrote to George “ . . . Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.”

Note:

The above article was taken from: , , Family of Amelia Earhart c/o CMG Worldwide.

Now choose the best answer to each question.

1. What one word best describes Amelia Earhart’s character?

a. Languid

b. Sluggish

c. Energetic

d. Weary

2. Amelia didn’t want to go to lunch with her father because:

a. She was anxious about what she would miss if she went.

b. She was unimpressed about what she would miss if she went.

c. She was indifferent about what she would miss if she went.

d. She was unconcerned about what she would miss if she went.

3. How would you best describe Amelia’s feelings toward other women?

a. She didn’t have an opinion one-way or the other.

b. She thought all women were weak.

c. She believed only women were smart enough to do particular things.

d. She believed all women could do anything they set their minds to do.

4. Which of these statements about Amelia support the passage above?

a. Amelia Earhart had a strong character.

b. Amelia Earhart had a fragile character.

c. Amelia Earhart had a delicate character.

d. Amelia Earhart had a shameful character.

5. Which of these is a fact about Amelia Earhart?

a. She was the first woman pilot.

b. She was the only woman to fly around the world.

c. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.

d. She was the first woman ever voted, “Outstanding Woman of the Year.”

6. Which of these best summarizes the passage?

a. All women can fly.

b. One woman took the world by storm in the 1930’s.

c. Men and women fight each other to be the best.

d. Men can be pushy.

7. Which of these best describes Amelia’s ability to stand up for what she wanted to accomplish?

a. Amelia was extremely athletic.

b. Amelia was strong in her beliefs.

c. Amelia was a tomboy.

d. Amelia had enough money.

8. Amelia Earhart’s strong involvement in flying showed that she was:

a. Determined to fight for women’s rights.

b. Confused by women versus men’s roles in society.

c. Distressed by the role of women in society.

d. Undeterred by any threat of personal danger.

9. Of the people mentioned in the passage, who had the most influence on Amelia’s life?

a. Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon

b. Her husband

c. Her flying instructor

d. Her father

10. According to the passage, what kind of student would you say Amelia was?

a. A competitive learner who only cares about being the best.

b. A motivated learner who finds great pleasure in doing her best.

c. A gifted learner.

d. A slow learner.

Answer Key

1. C

2. A

3. D

4. A

5. C

6. B

7. B

8. D

9. B

10. B

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