Compare and Contrast Texts
American travel transformed drastically in the 1920s, especially in regards to flight. The U.S. Post Office launched its airmail service in 1918, which greatly expanded and improved throughout the 1920s. Soon, pilots began pushing the boundaries of flight, flying farther and faster than ever before. In 1923, a team of two military pilots made the first transcontinental flight from New York to San Diego. This accomplishment sparked interest in longer flights, especially with wealthy investors. One of them was Raymond Orteig, a hotel owner interested in the future of flight. He offered a prize of $25,000 for the first pilot to fly nonstop from New York to Paris. Though many had tried and failed, Lindberg decided to take on the challenge. On May 20, 1927, he began his journey across the Atlantic Ocean in a monoplane named the Spirit of St. Louis. 33 and a half hours later, Lindbergh landed in Paris, logging over 3,600 miles on his journey. His accomplishment made him quite famous and he was even awarded a medal from President Calvin Coolidge.
With the successful transatlantic flights of Lindberg and other pilots, commercial airlines became a reality. Airports began developing across the U.S., and companies like Pan American Airways and Western Air Express were established as major commercial airlines. Congress adopted the Air Commerce Act, which gave the U.S. government the authority to regulate air routes, navigation systems, licensing of pilots, and aircraft. Commercial flight was not as safe and comfortable for passengers as it is today. Cabins were not pressurized, nor were they equipped with heat and air. Additionally, passengers endured much more turbulence in early planes than in modern commercial planes. Despite these discomforts, interest in commercial flight grew as the number of annual passengers increased from 6,000 in 1926 to about 173,000 in 1929. Charles Lindbergh’s successful transatlantic flight fueled America’s desire to explore other possibilities of flight. Commercial flying was one of those possibilities, and people of the 1920s laid the groundwork for the successful form of transportation it is today.
Question 1
Which is a similarity between information in Early American Flight and the text shown in the timeline?
Responses
A They both compare flight to automobilles.They both compare flight to automobilles.
B They both present problems and solutions.They both present problems and solutions.
C They are presented in a chronological structure.They are presented in a chronological structure.
D They both include detailed opinions of the authors.They both include detailed opinions of the authors.
Question 2
What is an example of a cause-and-effect relationship found in either the timeline or Early American Flight?
Responses
A The number of annual commercial flights increased to 173,000 by 1929.The number of annual commercial flights increased to 173,000 by 1929.
B The United States Postal Service launched their airmail service in 1918.The United States Postal Service launched their airmail service in 1918.
C By completing his flight, Lindbergh earned a medal from President Coolidge.
3 answers
For Question 2, the answer is C: By completing his flight, Lindbergh earned a medal from President Coolidge.
9 answers