The Wright Brothers: Air Pioneers

1. PART A: Which of the following best describes the central idea of the text?

• The Wright brothers inspired generations of pilots and engineers after them to create better flying methods.

• The Wright brothers achieved their dreams because they were naturally talented engineers who needed little training.

• The Wright brothers dedicated their entire lives to flight, which paid off when they instantly became famous after the first successful flight.

• The Wright brothers were the first to successfully create and fly an airplane because of their brilliance and determination.

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2. PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?

• “Orville and Wilbur’s fascination with flight began with a present their father gave them — a flying toy.” (Paragraph 4)

• “They were both very good mechanics and could fix just about anything... (They inherited this skill and desire from their mother, who was the family mechanic.)” (Paragraph 6)

• “The brothers… continued to refine their airplane invention. Not long after that, they had built a plane that could fly 25 miles and go 40 miles an hour.” (Paragraph 18)

• “Orville lived on, however, eventually selling his business and watching his and his brother’s dream become a reality in the modern industrial age.” (Paragraph 20)

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3. How do paragraphs 3-5 contribute to the author’s explanation of the Wright brothers?

• This section provides background information on the brothers’ love of learning and mechanical things, as well as what sparked their interest in flight.

• This section shows the brothers’ creativity as they looked to other sources, such as toys and birds, for inspiration on how to create a flying machine.

• This section provides insight into the Wrights’ household and helps the reader imagine what it must have been like for Orville and Wilbur growing up.

• This section shows how one incident can inspire lifelong dreams, like the paper toy inspired the Wright brothers’ obsession with mechanical engineering.

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4. How does the relationship between gliders and airplanes help the reader understand how the Wright brothers achieved flight?

• Both the glider and plane relied on propulsion in order to get up and stay up in the air.

• The two inventions shared many similarities, such as design and using air currents, but the brothers wanted more control and power with the airplane.

• The two inventions shared many similarities, such as using propellers, but the brothers designed for more speed and momentum with the airplane.

• The glider was much more quickly popular than the airplane because fewer people were able to operate the airplane.

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