Bessie Coleman: Challenges and Achievements

What was one of Bessie Coleman's biggest challenges in real life?

• She didn’t enjoy flying.

• Flight schools in the U.S. refused to accept her because of her race and gender.

• She was afraid of heights.

• She didn’t have enough money to travel to France.

How does A Pair of Wings show Bessie overcoming obstacles?

• A) She quits after failing her first flight test.

• B) She works hard, studies, and travels to France to become a pilot.

• C) She asks someone else to fly for her.

• D) She gives up on flying and becomes a teacher instead.

How were Bessie Coleman's real-life struggles similar to those in A Pair of Wings?

• In both, she had to prove herself as a Black female pilot.

• In both, she easily got into flight school.

• In both, she was supported by everyone she met.

• In both, she never faced discrimination.

What was a major sacrifice Bessie Coleman made in real life?

• A) She left her family and traveled to France for flight training.

• B) She stopped flying to become a doctor.

• C) She worked as a flight instructor instead of flying herself.

• D) She refused to learn the French language while in France.

How did people react to Bessie Coleman’s dream of becoming a pilot?

• Everyone encouraged her right away.

• Some people doubted her because she was a Black woman.

• She faced no obstacles because women were already common in aviation.

• She was accepted into every flight school she applied to.

What was one of Bessie Coleman’s greatest achievements in real life?

• She became the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license.

• She was the first person to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

• She became a commercial airline pilot.

• She designed her own airplane.

How does A Pair of Wings show Bessie’s first solo flight?

• A) She fails her first attempt and gives up.

• B) She successfully lands and celebrates the milestone.

• C) She crashes but tries again the next day.

• D) She decides not to fly solo.

How did Bessie Coleman inspire future aviators in real life?

• She opened a flight school for Black students.

• She became a world-famous airline pilot.

What was one way the novel A Pair of Wings shows Bessie’s determination?

• A) She gives up on flying after facing challenges.

• B) She keeps practicing and never lets obstacles stop her.

• C) She avoids speaking up for herself.

• D) She lets others tell her she can’t succeed.

How does Bessie Coleman’s story—both in real life and in the novel—teach an important lesson?

• That perseverance and hard work can help achieve dreams.

• That only people with money can succeed.

• That dreams are not worth the struggle.

• That it’s better to choose an easier path than face challenges.