“Brave Bessie” Coleman (3/5)

Which sentence best states the central idea of paragraph 3?

• In 1915 Coleman moved to Chicago.

• She lived with her brothers and went to beauty school.

• World War I had begun in Europe the year before.

• 1. She fell in love with airplanes.

Paragraph 8 is mainly about —

• Bessie Coleman returned to America and spoke to people about flying.

• Bessie Coleman encouraged people to learn how to fly.

• 1. Bessie Coleman performed in air shows and captivated audiences.

• 1. Bessie Coleman learned to speak French and saved money to move to Paris.

Which sentence from the text best supports the idea that Bessie Coleman faced challenges pursuing her dream of becoming a pilot?

• 1. Coleman was born in 1892 in Texas. (paragraph 2)

• In the United States, most pilots were men, and Coleman was a woman. (paragraph 4)

• She learned that she could get a pilot’s license in France. (paragraph 5)

• She spoke to people all over the country about flying. (paragraph 8)

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. 

Part A

What does the selection reveal about Bessie Coleman’s ability to achieve her dream of becoming a pilot? 

• 1. Bessie Coleman's family was supportive of her dream.

• Bessie Coleman easily found a flight school in the United States that accepted her.

• Bessie Coleman faced challenges but found a way to get a pilot's license.

• 1. Bessie Coleman gave up on her dream after moving to Paris.

Question 4 Part B

Which evidence from the text supports the answer to Part A?

• 1. She lived with her brothers and went to beauty school. World War I had begun in Europe the year before. (Paragraph 3)

• 1. In the United States, most pilots were men, and Coleman was a woman. Also, most pilots were not African American, and Coleman was African American. (paragraph 4)

• 1. Having a license allows someone to do something. She needed a license if she wanted to learn to fly a plane. (paragraph 5)

• 1. Coleman learned to speak French, saved her money, and moved to Paris. In 1921 she became the first American woman and first African American in the world to get a pilot’s license. (paragraph 7) 

What is the central idea of the biography?

Select TWO correct answers.

• 1. Bessie Coleman faced challenges in pursuing her dream of becoming a pilot due to her gender and race.

• Bessie Coleman was the first American woman to perform loops and rolls in air shows.

• Bessie Coleman worked hard to overcome obstacles, inspiring others to pursue their dreams.

• 1. Bessie Coleman's family struggled with poverty in Texas.

• Bessie Coleman became a famous pilot who signed autographs after her air shows.