Question
Purpose for Reading: In this excerpt from the literary nonfiction book Amelia Lost, you will delve into the early experiences of Amelia Earhart, one of the most iconic aviators of the early 20th century. Set against the backdrop of the Roaring '20s, this passage captures the moments that ignited Amelia's enduring passion for flying. Pay attention to how the descriptive language helps to develop the characters and mood.
Excerpt from Amelia Lost, by Candace Fleming
(1) Amelia went to her first air meet just days after arriving in California. Flying was all the rage on the West Coast, and new airfields were opening almost every week.
(2) There were twenty of them in the Los Angeles area alone, and there was always something going on there – place races, stunt flying, wing walking.
(3) "I remember that first meet," Amelia wrote years later. "The sky was blue and the flying conditions were perfect . . . The planes streaked overhead like silver birds, gleaming in the sunlight."
(4) Amelia turned to her father, who had come along with her. "Dad, you know, I think I’d like to fly."
(5) Edwin was not enthusiastic about the idea. But she dragged him under the rope that bordered the field for a closer look at the planes. She had dozens of questions. But suddenly she felt too shy to ask them herself.
(6) "Dad," she said, pointing to a young man in uniform, "ask that officer how long it takes to [learn to] fly."
(7) Edwin dutifully headed off to speak with the pilot and soon returned with the answer. "The average seems to be from five to ten hours."
(8) Amelia just nodded, but "in her bones," she felt that "a [flight] would come soon."
(9) She was right. The very next day, she returned to the airfield because Edwin had arranged a trial flight. "I am sure he thought one ride would be enough for me," she later wrote, "and he might as well act to cure me promptly."
(10) A pilot stepped forward and shook their hands. "A good day to go up," he said pleasantly. Then he pointed to another flier. "He’ll go up with us."
(11) "Why?" asked Amelia.
(12) The pilots exchanged grins. "I understood instantly," she said. "I was a girl – a nervous lady. I might jump out. There needed to be somebody to grab my ankles as I went over." She told the fliers she wasn’t afraid, but they refused to listen. "I was not allowed to sit alone in the front cockpit."
(13) None of that mattered once the plane left the runway. "I was surprised to be able to see the ocean after a few moments of climbing . . . then the Hollywood Hills seemed to peep over the edge of the cockpit . . . and I knew what I wanted to do with my life . . . I knew I myself had to fly."
(14) "I think I’d like to learn to fly," Amelia told her family that evening. She tried to sound casual, "knowing full well I’d die if I didn’t."
(15) "Not a bad idea," replied Edwin, just as casually. "When do you start?"
(16) Amelia wasn’t sure. She needed to do a bit of investigating first. "I told him I’d let him know shortly."
(17) Edwin nodded, seemingly unconcerned. "I hadn’t thought she actually meant it," he later said. So days later, when he learned she had signed up for lessons, he was surprised. In hopes of putting her off the idea, he told her he couldn’t afford them. But Amelia was determined. She found a job in the mailroom of the local telephone company to pay for the lessons herself. What could Edwin do? "I let her fly," he said.
Fleming, Candace. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011.
Why did the main character's father tell her they couldn't afford flying lessons in Paragraph 17?
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To discourage her from pursuing flying
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Because he wanted her to get a scholarship
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As a way to test her commitment
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To motivate her to find a job
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Excerpt from Amelia Lost, by Candace Fleming
(1) Amelia went to her first air meet just days after arriving in California. Flying was all the rage on the West Coast, and new airfields were opening almost every week.
(2) There were twenty of them in the Los Angeles area alone, and there was always something going on there – place races, stunt flying, wing walking.
(3) "I remember that first meet," Amelia wrote years later. "The sky was blue and the flying conditions were perfect . . . The planes streaked overhead like silver birds, gleaming in the sunlight."
(4) Amelia turned to her father, who had come along with her. "Dad, you know, I think I’d like to fly."
(5) Edwin was not enthusiastic about the idea. But she dragged him under the rope that bordered the field for a closer look at the planes. She had dozens of questions. But suddenly she felt too shy to ask them herself.
(6) "Dad," she said, pointing to a young man in uniform, "ask that officer how long it takes to [learn to] fly."
(7) Edwin dutifully headed off to speak with the pilot and soon returned with the answer. "The average seems to be from five to ten hours."
(8) Amelia just nodded, but "in her bones," she felt that "a [flight] would come soon."
(9) She was right. The very next day, she returned to the airfield because Edwin had arranged a trial flight. "I am sure he thought one ride would be enough for me," she later wrote, "and he might as well act to cure me promptly."
(10) A pilot stepped forward and shook their hands. "A good day to go up," he said pleasantly. Then he pointed to another flier. "He’ll go up with us."
(11) "Why?" asked Amelia.
(12) The pilots exchanged grins. "I understood instantly," she said. "I was a girl – a nervous lady. I might jump out. There needed to be somebody to grab my ankles as I went over." She told the fliers she wasn’t afraid, but they refused to listen. "I was not allowed to sit alone in the front cockpit."
(13) None of that mattered once the plane left the runway. "I was surprised to be able to see the ocean after a few moments of climbing . . . then the Hollywood Hills seemed to peep over the edge of the cockpit . . . and I knew what I wanted to do with my life . . . I knew I myself had to fly."
(14) "I think I’d like to learn to fly," Amelia told her family that evening. She tried to sound casual, "knowing full well I’d die if I didn’t."
(15) "Not a bad idea," replied Edwin, just as casually. "When do you start?"
(16) Amelia wasn’t sure. She needed to do a bit of investigating first. "I told him I’d let him know shortly."
(17) Edwin nodded, seemingly unconcerned. "I hadn’t thought she actually meant it," he later said. So days later, when he learned she had signed up for lessons, he was surprised. In hopes of putting her off the idea, he told her he couldn’t afford them. But Amelia was determined. She found a job in the mailroom of the local telephone company to pay for the lessons herself. What could Edwin do? "I let her fly," he said.
Fleming, Candace. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011.
Why did the main character's father tell her they couldn't afford flying lessons in Paragraph 17?
tts Icon
To discourage her from pursuing flying
tts Icon
Because he wanted her to get a scholarship
tts Icon
As a way to test her commitment
tts Icon
To motivate her to find a job
tts Icon
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In Paragraph 17, the main character's father, Edwin, told Amelia that they couldn't afford flying lessons in an attempt to discourage her from pursuing flying. He hoped that by expressing financial concerns, she might reconsider her desire to fly. However, Amelia's determination led her to take matters into her own hands and find a job to pay for the lessons herself.