Barrington Irving, Pilot and Educator

Which of the following lines from "Barrington Irving, Pilot and Educator" is the best example of indirect characterization?

• Barrington Irving is very good at rising above obstacles.

• He beat the odds to become the youngest person and only African American ever to fly solo around the world.

• One of their customers, a Jamaican-born professional pilot, asked Irving if he’d ever thought about becoming a pilot.

• Irving’s nonprofit organization, Experience Aviation, aims to boost the numbers of youth in aviation and other science- and math-related careers.

Part A: Which of the following is the most reasonable inference you can make about Barrington Irving, based on information in “Barrington Irving, Pilot and Educator”?

• He is easily persuaded.

• He is determined and intelligent.

• He behaved irresponsibly when he was younger.

• He believes that science is more important than the arts.

Part B: Which excerpt from the text best supports your answer to Part A?

• “There are probably millions of kids out there like me who find science and exploration amazing, but lack the confidence or opportunity to take the next step.”

• To follow his dream, Irving turned down a full football scholarship to the University of Florida.

• He faced more than 50 rejections for sponsorship before convincing several manufacturers to donate individual aircraft components.

• Irving’s nonprofit organization, Experience Aviation, aims to boost the numbers of youth in aviation and other science- and math-related careers.

Part A: Using clues in “Barrington Irving, Pilot and Educator,” decide which of the following inferences best describes how Barrington Irving feels about accomplishing his solo flight around the world.

• proud and satisfied

• nervous but hopeful

• scared but determined

Part B: The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Which excerpt from the text best supports your answer to Part A?

• Then another dream took hold: flying solo around the world.

• After 97 days, 26 stops, and dozens of thunderstorms, monsoons, snowstorms, and sandstorms, he touched down to a roaring crowd in Miami.

• This “Journey for Knowledge” flight is scheduled to depart in 2013 and will make Irving the youngest person ever to fly to all seven continents.

• “They told me it would take forever and I’d never come home. Well ... guess what?”