Question No.3. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given
at the end.
Many great inventions are initially greeted with ridicule and disbelief. The invention of the
airplane was no exception. Although many people who heard about the first powered flight on
December 17, 1903 were excited and impressed, others reacted with peals of laughter. The idea
of flying an aircraft was repulsive to some people. Such people called Wilbur and Orville
Wright, the inventors of the first flying machine, impulsive fools. Negative reactions, however,
did not stop the Wrights. Impelled by their desire to succeed, they continued their experiments in
aviation.
Orville and Wilbur Wright had always had a compelling interest in aeronautics and mechanics.
As young boys they earned money by making and selling kites and mechanical toys. Later, they
designed a newspaper-folding machine, built a printing press, and operated a bicycle-repair shop.
In 1896, when they read about the death of Otto Lilienthal, the brothers’ interest in flight grew
into a compulsion.
Lilienthal, a pioneer in hang-gliding, had controlled his gliders by shifting his body in the desired
direction. This idea was repellent to the Wright brothers, however, and they searched for more
efficient methods to control the balance of airborne vehicles. In 1900 and 1901, the Wrights
tested numerous gliders and developed control techniques. The brothers’ inability to obtain
enough lift power for the gliders almost led them to abandon their efforts.
After further study, the Wright brothers concluded that the published tables of air pressure on
curved surfaces must be wrong. They set up a wind tunnel and began a series of experiments
with model wings. Because of their efforts, the old tables were repealed in time and replaced bythe first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces. This work, in turn, made it possible
for the brothers to design a machine that would fly. In 1903 the Wrights built their first airplane,
which cost less than $1,000. They even designed and built their own source of propulsion-a
lightweight gasoline engine. When they started the engine on December 17, the airplane pulsated
wildly before taking off. The plane managed to stay aloft for 12 seconds, however, and it flew
120 feet.
By 1905, the Wrights had perfected the first airplane that could turn, circle, and remain airborne
for half an hour at a time. Others had flown in balloons and hang gliders, but the Wright brothers
were the first to build a full-size machine that could fly under its own power. As the contributors
of one of the most outstanding engineering achievements in history, the Wright brothers are
accurately called the fathers of aviation.
Q.1. What was the response of the people when they heard about the first powered
flight?
Q.2. Why are the Wright brothers called the father of aviation?
Q.3. How the problem of air pressure was resolved that enabled Wright brothers to
make a machine for flying?
Q.4. Write the summary of the passage in your own words.
Answers
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Answer:
1. There were a lot of mixed reactions from the people. Some think they are doing this impulsively and without a good plan. Some were excited and impressed. The reactions were mostly negative.
2. The wright brothers are known as the father of aviation because they built the first-ever flying machine in the world. They give it their all efforts and time in making the first-ever aircraft which is helping the people in today's world and inspiring so many young kids to invent some useful invention that will help mankind.
3. The Wrights designed and built their own source of force for moving forward. The old tables were invalidated and replaced by the first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces that enabled the wright brothers to make a machine for flying.
4. The perseverance and dedication of the Wright brothers made the impossible possible by inventing the first-ever flying machine or aircraft. From all the mockery and negative reactions, they took the inspiration to create something new that would benefit mankind and be used for a long time. They faced a lot of difficulties in making the aircraft, but they kept on going.
They built budget-friendly aircraft and kept on trying new things to get the best aircraft. Their invention of aircraft made them entitled to the tile 'Father of Aviation.'
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