Into the Air Wright Brothers

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.

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.”

• “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.)”

• “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.”

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

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.

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.

What were the names of the Wright Brothers?

• Wilbur and Orville

• William and Oliver

• Brian and Jason

• Elliott and Frank

When was Wilbur born?

• April 16 1867

• August 18 1871

• December 14 1903

• November 1904

When did they make their first flight?

• December 14 1903

• August 19 1871

• April 16 1867

• April 3 1985

Where did they make their first flight?

• Reno, Nevada

• Millville, Indiana

• Dayton, Ohio

• Kitty Hawk, North Carolina