Pre-reading questions:
- How would you describe Amelia Earhart, considering her achievement as the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean?
- Do you believe you could become a female aviator? Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
- mission /MISH-uhn/
- aircraft /AIR-kraft/
- unsuccessful /uhn-suhk-SES-fuhl /
- massive /MAS-iv/
- vanish /VAN-ish/
[noun] – a planned and organized effort or undertaking with a specific purpose
The team embarked on a mission to provide aid to the disaster-stricken region, delivering essential supplies and medical assistance.
[noun] – any vehicle, with or without an engine, that can fly, such as a plane or helicopter
The airport runway buzzed with aircraft, ranging from sleek airplanes to sturdy helicopters, ready to take flight.
[adjective] – not achieving the hoped for result; not successful
Despite their diligent efforts, the team’s attempt to fix the malfunctioning machine was ultimately unsuccessful.
[adjective] – very large in size, amount, or number
The research project required massive data analysis, involving a substantial amount of information gathered from diverse sources to draw comprehensive conclusions.
[verb] – to disappear or stop being present or existing, especially in a sudden, surprising way
After a brief moment, the illusionist caused the coin to vanish, perplexing the audience with its sudden and surprising disappearance.
Article reading:
Amelia Earhart, a renowned American aviator, achieved a historic solo flight across the Atlantic in 1932. Attempting a global circumnavigation with navigator Fred Noonan, their plane vanished over the Pacific. Romeo believes the wreckage lies over 5,000 meters below the ocean surface, near Howland Island. Blurry sonar images reveal a plane-like shape, matching Earhart’s Lockheed Model 10-E Electra. Deep Sea Vision’s 16-member crew spent over 100 days searching 13,400 square kilometers last year. Romeo suggests the plane may have landed due to a fuel shortage, sinking undisturbed. While confirming the discovery is the initial step, Romeo envisions raising and restoring the plane, a process spanning years. The mission’s purpose is to bring Earhart’s plane home and unravel one of America’s enduring mysteries.
Comprehension questions
- What did the former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer assert?
- Who is the CEO of Deep Sea Vision?
- What is the goal of the mission planned by Tony Romeo?
- When did the massive U.S. search for Earhart’s plane take place?
- How deep does Romeo believe the wreckage lies?
Discussion questions
- Have you ever been interested in a historical mystery, such as the disappearance of Amelia Earhart? If yes, what made you curious? If not, share another historical mystery that you find intriguing.
- Can you think of any documentaries or news stories about underwater discoveries that caught your attention, especially those related to the importance of deep-sea exploration in solving mysteries?
- Do you believe Amelia Earhart’s accomplishments have inspired present-day aviators and explorers?
- How might finding Amelia Earhart’s plane impact what we know about aviation history and the challenges faced by early aviators?
- Considering the challenges of exploring the deep sea and the potential long process of raising the wreckage, what ethical aspects do you think should be considered during such missions?