Comprehension task

I. Read the word combinations and translate them into Russian

Earliest projectiles, sophisticated buoyant, aerodynamic devices, human flight, more credible claims, short-distance human flights, hot air balloon, steerable or dirigible balloon, routine flights, elongated balloon, internal combustion engine, controlled and sustained flight, heavier-than-air flight, adoption of ailerons, artillery spotting, ground positions, non-rigid blimps, first jet aircraft, liquid-fueled rockets, civil jets, turbojet propulsion, composite airframes, solid-state electronics, satellite communications, low visibility.

II. Make up the word combinations

1. routine 2. elongated 3. fully 4. earliest 5. qualified 6. light 7. aerodynamic 8. important 9. weather 10. short 11. satellite 12. synthetic

a) projectiles b) flights c) conditions d) distance e) documented f) pilots g) aircraft h) balloon i) devices j) innovations k) vision l) communications

III. Fill in the missing words (legends, aviation, practicality, devices, balloon)

1. Many cultures have built … that travel through the air.

2. There are early … of human flight.

3. The modern age of … began with the first flight on November 21, 1783.

4. A hot air … was designed by the Montgolfier brothers.

5. The … of balloons was limited because they could only travel downwind.

IV. Find synonyms in the list of words

Devices, plane, regular, complex, sputnik, era, apparatus, construct, missile, external, sophisticated, age, area, design, routine, internal, aircraft, rocket, satellite, terrain.

V. Find antonyms in the list of words

Modern, upwind, long-distance, extended, ancient, heavy, unusual, solid-fueled, short-distance, limited, large-volume, liquid-state, downwind, routine, liquid-fueled, light, small-volume, solid-state, nearby, synthetic, far, natural.

VI. Agree or disagree with the following statements

1. The legend of Icarus flight was followed by a kite flight by Yuan Huangtou in China.

2. The modern age of aviation began with the first flight on November 21, 1783.

3. A hot air balloon was designed by the Montgolfier brothers.

4. The practicality of balloons was limited because they could only travel upwind.

5. Great progress in the field of aviation was made during the 1920s and 1930s.

VII. Match the questions with the answers

1. Have only Russians built devices that travel through the air?	а) Yes, there was.
2. Are there early legends of human flight?	b) No, they haven’t.
3. Did the modern age of aviation begin with the first flight on November 21, 1873?	c) No, it didn’t.
4. Were several airships built during the 1800s?	d) Yes, there are.
5. Was there a boom in general aviation after the WWII?	e) Yes, there were.