Louis Zamperini Skills Activity

1. Louis Zamperini’s life was off to a rough start until __________ suggested he join the track team.

• a. his mother
• b. his 8th grade teacher
• c. a police officer
• d. his brother Pete

2. In the 1936 Olympics, Zamperini’s final lap time was impressive enough to earn him a meeting with...

• a. President Roosevelt.
• b. Jesse Owens.
• c. Adolf Hitler.
• d. Katharine Hepburn.

3. Why didn’t Zamperini get to compete in the 1940 Olympics in Tokyo?

• a. He couldn’t afford a ticket to the tryouts.
• b. The Olympics were canceled because of World War II.
• c. He had already enlisted in the Army.
• d. He missed the qualifying time by .03 seconds.

4. Upon deployment, what was Zamperini’s assignment?

• a. bombardier on the B-24 Liberator
• b. pilot on the B-19 Flying Fortress
• c. navigator on the B-19 Flying Fortress
• d. tail gunner on the B-24 Liberator

5. What happened to the chocolate bars?

• a. A shark bit off the section of the raft that held the chocolate bars.
• b. They melted in the hot sun and the liquid mixed with ocean water.
• c. McNamara panicked and ate them all the first night.
• d. An albatross stole them all.

6. For how long was Zamperini stranded at sea?

• a. two weeks
• b. 33 days
• c. 47 days
• d. two years

7. What happened when Zamperini and Phillips finally reached land?

• a. They were immediately captured by the Japanese.
• b. They found themselves alone on a desert island.
• c. They were helped by a local tribe of natives.
• d. They were greeted by German soldiers.

8. Why did Zamperini return to Japan when he was 81?

• a. to confront his captors
• b. to carry the Olympic torch
• c. to visit Naoetsu
• d. to search for Phillips

1. Which definition for turbulent is most accurate for how it is used in the first paragraph of the article?

• A. moving in an irregular way
• b. full of disorder

2. What did other soldiers think about the Green Hornet?

• a. They thought it was not mechanically sound.
• b. They thought it was too dangerous to fly.