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An Min · 08-05-2003, 07:25 AM

The Wright Brothers, Wilber and Orville, began publishing the West Side News from 1889, a small four-page newspaper. Their printing venture lasted until 1896. Their father, Milton, was a Bishop in the church and his wife, Susan, was a well-educated woman. It was she who stimulated the Wright Brothers interest in mechanical things.

In 1900, the brothers successfully tested their 50-pound biplane glider in Carolina, and subsequently made a number of revisions. Controlled, powered flight seemed impossible until Orville Wright took off on the 17th December 1903. The key of the Wright Brothers success was that their engineering had gone beyond the trial and error methods of their contemporaries.

Having only very limited resources they showed great scientific ingenuity. When their test flights did not produce as much lift as they had expected, they went back to first principles and carried out a series of scientific experiments, starting with the bicycle balance and moving on to their famous wind tunnel experiments. They were the first to understand how the lift from the aerofoil changes in flight, and the first to design their propellers as a form of aerofoil.

Despite the financial burdens of all their research, testing, and the many aircraft built, the Wright Brothers were never financed by outsiders. The bicycle was a hot item at that time, and their bicycle shop financed everything. The firs passenger to ever fly in an airplane was Charles W.Furnas who was taken aloft by Wilbur Wright on May 14, 1908 for a flight of 28.6 seconds duration. Orville and Wilbur flew together only once in their airplane for their father to see, but decided it unwise, because if they crashed, no one could carry on their work.

The Wright Brothers inherited an aptitude for independent judgment, personal courage and mechanical talents of superior caliber. Two older brother, Reuchlin and Lorin and a sister Katharine, went on to college, while Orville and Wilbur had only high school educations, and never officially graduated. However, their solid scientific methods had set free the ancient dream of human flight. The first American to fly after the Wright Brothers was Glenn H. Curtiss, who flew his gJune Bugh for the first time on June 20, 1908. The first airplane purchased by the American Government was a Wright Biplane.

10. What is the passage mainly about
(a) the first controlled, powered flight
(b) the beginnings of aviation
(c) the Wright Brothers
(d) the Wright family

11. The word gstimulatedh in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(a) threatened
(b) educated
(c) planned
(d) encouraged

12. The word gingenuityh in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(a) understanding
(b) inventiveness
(c) budgeting
(d) commitment

13. It can be inferred that the Wright Brothers change from a printing business to a bicycle shop was supported by
(a) their mother
(b) family savings
(c) the church
(d) their father

14. According to the passage, the Wright Brothers were able to spend so much time experimenting on possible flight because
(a) their family looked after the shop
(b) they had savings from their earlier printing business
(c) the bicycle was a hot item at that time
(d) the family supported them financially

15. The purpose of paragraph 3 is to
(a) note the brothersf achievements
(b) describe the brothersf approach to their work
(c) give examples of the brothersf ingenuity
(d) mention the famous experiment

16. The phrase ga hot itemh in line 15 is closest in meaning to
(a) new
(b) popular
(c) stolen
(d) expensive

17. Why did the brothers fly together only once, according to the passage?
(a) their father thought it was unwise in case both were killed
(b) the flights were so short
(c) they had made two airplanes
(d) there would be nobody to continue their work

18. The word gtalentsh in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(a) ability
(b) workings
(c) items
(d) devices

19. Why are the two brother and the sister of Wilber and Orville mentioned in paragraph 5?
(a) because they all had more education
(b) to illustrate that the abilities and personal qualities of Wilber and Orville had enabled them to achieve their goals without college
(c) to illustrate why it was not necessary for them to go to college
(d) to contrast the achievements of different family members

20. According to the passage, it can be concluded that the key to the Wright Brothersf success was
(a) the influence of their mother
(b) their inherited aptitudes
(c) their scientific approach
(d) the success of their bicycle shop

21. What was the gJune Bugh?
(a) a purchase by the American Government
(b) one of the Wright Brothers airplanes
(c) a fly
(d) the airplane of another American

22. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?
(a) talent and perseverance are important ingredients for success
(b) success is always possible if you keep trying
(c) ability is more important than education
(d) the scientific approach is the most reliable

hsengoren · 08-05-2003, 12:23 PM

10. It looks a though one. I'd say "C"
11. D
12. I cheated. "B"
13. A
14. D
15. D
16. B
17. A
18. A
19. B
20. B
21. D
22. A

An Min · 08-06-2003, 12:26 AM

10. What is the passage mainly about
(c) the Wright Brothers

11. The word gstimulatedh in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(d) encouraged

12. The word gingenuityh in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(b) inventiveness

13. It can be inferred that the Wright Brothers change from a printing business to a bicycle shop was supported by
(a) their mother

14. According to the passage, the Wright Brothers were able to spend so much time experimenting on possible flight because
(c) the bicycle was a hot item at that time

15. The purpose of paragraph 3 is to
(c) give examples of the brothersf ingenuity

16. The phrase ga hot itemh in line 15 is closest in meaning to
(b) popular

17. Why did the brothers fly together only once, according to the passage?
(a) their father thought it was unwise in case both were killed
Hi, hsengoren. Did you think this answer has some things wrong? The author said that their father saw their flying, but didn't mention he thought anything. So, I think the answer (a) is incorrect either.
Will you favor me with an explanation?

18. The word gtalentsh in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(a) ability

19. Why are the two brother and the sister of Wilber and Orville mentioned in paragraph 5?
(b) to illustrate that the abilities and personal qualities of Wilber and Orville had enabled them to achieve their goals without college

20. According to the passage, it can be concluded that the key to the Wright Brothersf success was
(c) their scientific approach
I have also chosen (b), their inherited aptitudes.
Anyone can explain why the correct answer is not b but c?

21. What was the gJune Bugh?
(d) the airplane of another American

22. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?
(a) talent and perseverance are important ingredients for success

Hippo · 08-06-2003, 11:34 AM

Hi guys,

My errors were:
17. I chose D
20. I chose C

I agree with An Min that from the sentence:
"Orville and Wilbur flew together only once in their airplane for their father to see, but decided it unwise, because if they crashed, no one could carry on their work."
it isn't possible to say whether brothers or their farther decided that flying together is unwise.

What about the 20th - I think the key is the following sentence: "The key of the Wright Brothers success was that their engineering had gone beyond the trial and error methods of their contemporaries."

Also I thought a lot about the 15th. I still think that B and D are possible too.

hsengoren · 08-06-2003, 02:12 PM

Hi Pals,
I agree with both of you on Q17. The passage didn't give me the imression that it was their father who didn't think it unwise. There is sth. strange. But, "A" makes more sense than the others.

As for Q20.
In the last paragraph it says:
"The Wright Brothers inherited an aptitude for independent judgment, personal courage and mechanical talents of superior caliber. ............ However, their solid scientific methods had set free the ancient dream of human flight. "

Both "B" and "C" could be correct. It is difficult to decide, but in the question it says "it can be concluded" I think, they took the second sentence as referrence.

An Min · 08-06-2003, 11:52 PM

Thanks, hsengoren!

Now, I got the Q 20, because there is the word, HOWEVER, so, the main point is the second sentence, their solid scientific methods had set free the ancient dream of human flight.

Thank you, again.

An Min · 08-07-2003, 12:02 AM

Hello, Hippo!

For Q15, I agree with you B can also be the correct answer, but D is definitely wrong.

If the author wanted to describe a famous experiment, s/he would mention when it was done, where it occurred, and the details about it. On the other hand, the third paragraph mainly told about the Wright Brother. Therefore, I think D is not a good choice.

Zareen · 08-19-2003, 01:54 AM

10c
11d
12b
13a
14c
15c
16b
17d
18a
19b
20c
21d
22a

Zareen · 08-19-2003, 02:01 AM

17. Why did the brothers fly together only once, according to the passage?
(a) their father thought it was unwise in case both were killed
(d) there would be nobody to continue their work

How can it be d? Dad said nothing

"Orville and Wilbur flew together only once in their airplane for their father to see, but decided it unwise, because if they crashed, no one could carry on their work."
it isn't possible to say whether brothers or their farther decided that flying together is unwise.

Maybe here we need to make some inference. The only time the brothers has ever flew together was for Dad and they decided it wasnt wise to do so. Maybe dad said something?

20. According to the passage, it can be concluded that the key to the Wright Brothersf success was
(b) their inherited aptitudes
(c) their scientific approach

Why b?
Is it because of this
- "The key of the Wright Brothers success was that their engineering had gone beyond the trial and error methods of their contemporaries."

08-06-2003, 12:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
An Min Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 234	10. What is the passage mainly about <font color="brown">(c)</font id="brown"> the Wright Brothers 11. The word gstimulatedh in line 3 is closest in meaning to <font color="brown">(d)</font id="brown"> encouraged 12. The word gingenuityh in line 9 is closest in meaning to <font color="brown">(b)</font id="brown"> inventiveness 13. It can be inferred that the Wright Brothers change from a printing business to a bicycle shop was supported by <font color="brown">(a)</font id="brown"> their mother 14. According to the passage, the Wright Brothers were able to spend so much time experimenting on possible flight because <font color="brown">(c)</font id="brown"> the bicycle was a hot item at that time 15. The purpose of paragraph 3 is to <font color="brown">(c)</font id="brown"> give examples of the brothersf ingenuity 16. The phrase ga hot itemh in line 15 is closest in meaning to <font color="brown">(b)</font id="brown"> popular 17. Why did the brothers fly together only once, according to the passage? <font color="brown">(a)</font id="brown"> their father thought it was unwise in case both were killed Hi, hsengoren. Did you think this answer has some things wrong? The author said that their father saw their flying, but didn't mention he thought anything. So, I think the answer (a) is incorrect either. Will you favor me with an explanation? 18. The word gtalentsh in line 21 is closest in meaning to <font color="brown">(a)</font id="brown"> ability 19. Why are the two brother and the sister of Wilber and Orville mentioned in paragraph 5? <font color="brown">(b)</font id="brown"> to illustrate that the abilities and personal qualities of Wilber and Orville had enabled them to achieve their goals without college 20. According to the passage, it can be concluded that the key to the Wright Brothersf success was <font color="brown">(c)</font id="brown"> their scientific approach I have also chosen (b), their inherited aptitudes. Anyone can explain why the correct answer is not b but c? 21. What was the gJune Bugh? <font color="brown">(d)</font id="brown"> the airplane of another American 22. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage? <font color="brown">(a)</font id="brown"> talent and perseverance are important ingredients for success

08-06-2003, 11:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
An Min Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 234	Thanks, hsengoren! Now, I got the Q 20, because there is the word, <font color="brown">HOWEVER</font id="brown">, so, the main point is the second sentence, <font color="brown">their solid scientific methods had set free the ancient dream of human flight</font id="brown">. Thank you, again.

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08-05-2003, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
An Min Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 234	The Wright Brothers, Wilber and Orville, began publishing the West Side News from 1889, a small four-page newspaper. Their printing venture lasted until 1896. Their father, Milton, was a Bishop in the church and his wife, Susan, was a well-educated woman. It was she who stimulated the Wright Brothers interest in mechanical things. In 1900, the brothers successfully tested their 50-pound biplane glider in Carolina, and subsequently made a number of revisions. Controlled, powered flight seemed impossible until Orville Wright took off on the 17th December 1903. The key of the Wright Brothers success was that their engineering had gone beyond the trial and error methods of their contemporaries. Having only very limited resources they showed great scientific ingenuity. When their test flights did not produce as much lift as they had expected, they went back to first principles and carried out a series of scientific experiments, starting with the bicycle balance and moving on to their famous wind tunnel experiments. They were the first to understand how the lift from the aerofoil changes in flight, and the first to design their propellers as a form of aerofoil. Despite the financial burdens of all their research, testing, and the many aircraft built, the Wright Brothers were never financed by outsiders. The bicycle was a hot item at that time, and their bicycle shop financed everything. The firs passenger to ever fly in an airplane was Charles W.Furnas who was taken aloft by Wilbur Wright on May 14, 1908 for a flight of 28.6 seconds duration. Orville and Wilbur flew together only once in their airplane for their father to see, but decided it unwise, because if they crashed, no one could carry on their work. The Wright Brothers inherited an aptitude for independent judgment, personal courage and mechanical talents of superior caliber. Two older brother, Reuchlin and Lorin and a sister Katharine, went on to college, while Orville and Wilbur had only high school educations, and never officially graduated. However, their solid scientific methods had set free the ancient dream of human flight. The first American to fly after the Wright Brothers was Glenn H. Curtiss, who flew his gJune Bugh for the first time on June 20, 1908. The first airplane purchased by the American Government was a Wright Biplane. 10. What is the passage mainly about (a) the first controlled, powered flight (b) the beginnings of aviation (c) the Wright Brothers (d) the Wright family 11. The word gstimulatedh in line 3 is closest in meaning to (a) threatened (b) educated (c) planned (d) encouraged 12. The word gingenuityh in line 9 is closest in meaning to (a) understanding (b) inventiveness (c) budgeting (d) commitment 13. It can be inferred that the Wright Brothers change from a printing business to a bicycle shop was supported by (a) their mother (b) family savings (c) the church (d) their father 14. According to the passage, the Wright Brothers were able to spend so much time experimenting on possible flight because (a) their family looked after the shop (b) they had savings from their earlier printing business (c) the bicycle was a hot item at that time (d) the family supported them financially 15. The purpose of paragraph 3 is to (a) note the brothersf achievements (b) describe the brothersf approach to their work (c) give examples of the brothersf ingenuity (d) mention the famous experiment 16. The phrase ga hot itemh in line 15 is closest in meaning to (a) new (b) popular (c) stolen (d) expensive 17. Why did the brothers fly together only once, according to the passage? (a) their father thought it was unwise in case both were killed (b) the flights were so short (c) they had made two airplanes (d) there would be nobody to continue their work 18. The word gtalentsh in line 21 is closest in meaning to (a) ability (b) workings (c) items (d) devices 19. Why are the two brother and the sister of Wilber and Orville mentioned in paragraph 5? (a) because they all had more education (b) to illustrate that the abilities and personal qualities of Wilber and Orville had enabled them to achieve their goals without college (c) to illustrate why it was not necessary for them to go to college (d) to contrast the achievements of different family members 20. According to the passage, it can be concluded that the key to the Wright Brothersf success was (a) the influence of their mother (b) their inherited aptitudes (c) their scientific approach (d) the success of their bicycle shop 21. What was the gJune Bugh? (a) a purchase by the American Government (b) one of the Wright Brothers airplanes (c) a fly (d) the airplane of another American 22. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage? (a) talent and perseverance are important ingredients for success (b) success is always possible if you keep trying (c) ability is more important than education (d) the scientific approach is the most reliable

08-05-2003, 12:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
hsengoren Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Turkey Posts: 368	10. It looks a though one. I'd say "C" 11. D 12. I cheated. "B" 13. A 14. D 15. D 16. B 17. A 18. A 19. B 20. B 21. D 22. A

08-06-2003, 11:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hippo Within my grasp! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Belarus Posts: 440	Hi guys, My errors were: 17. I chose D 20. I chose C I agree with An Min that from the sentence: "Orville and Wilbur flew together only once in their airplane for their father to see, but decided it unwise, because if they crashed, no one could carry on their work." it isn't possible to say whether brothers or their farther decided that flying together is unwise. What about the 20th - I think the key is the following sentence: "The key of the Wright Brothers success was that their engineering had gone beyond the trial and error methods of their contemporaries." Also I thought a lot about the 15th. I still think that B and D are possible too.

08-06-2003, 02:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
hsengoren Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Turkey Posts: 368	Hi Pals, I agree with both of you on Q17. The passage didn't give me the imression that it was their father who didn't think it unwise. There is sth. strange. But, "A" makes more sense than the others. As for Q20. In the last paragraph it says: "The Wright Brothers inherited an aptitude for independent judgment, personal courage and mechanical talents of superior caliber. ............ However, their solid scientific methods had set free the ancient dream of human flight. " Both "B" and "C" could be correct. It is difficult to decide, but in the question it says "it can be concluded" I think, they took the second sentence as referrence.

08-07-2003, 12:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
An Min Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 234	Hello, Hippo! For Q15, I agree with you B can also be the correct answer, but D is definitely wrong. If the author wanted to describe a famous experiment, s/he would mention when it was done, where it occurred, and the details about it. On the other hand, the third paragraph mainly told about the Wright Brother. Therefore, I think D is not a good choice.

08-19-2003, 01:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
Zareen Eager! Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 33	10c 11d 12b 13a 14c 15c 16b 17d 18a 19b 20c 21d 22a

08-19-2003, 02:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
Zareen Eager! Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 33	17. Why did the brothers fly together only once, according to the passage? (a) their father thought it was unwise in case both were killed (d) there would be nobody to continue their work How can it be d? Dad said nothing "Orville and Wilbur flew together only once in their airplane for their father to see, but decided it unwise, because if they crashed, no one could carry on their work." it isn't possible to say whether brothers or their farther decided that flying together is unwise. Maybe here we need to make some inference. The only time the brothers has ever flew together was for Dad and they decided it wasnt wise to do so. Maybe dad said something? 20. According to the passage, it can be concluded that the key to the Wright Brothersf success was (b) their inherited aptitudes (c) their scientific approach Why b? Is it because of this - "The key of the Wright Brothers success was that their engineering had gone beyond the trial and error methods of their contemporaries."

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