Find the Content and Exercises with Solution
Lesson Objectives
Students will read and analyze a dialogue-based passage on the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 (HTV-2) to enhance their reading comprehension, vocabulary (prefixes and suffixes), grammar skills, and critical thinking by answering multiple-choice, short-answer, fill-in-the-blank, and table-completion exercises.
Future Aircraft
B. Read the following dialogue between the English teacher, Mr Ramis, and a student Rubina.
The Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 (Falcon HTV-2) is the fastest plane ever built by human beings. It would fly from London to Sydney in less than an hour. Supersonic Concorde, by the way, could not fly at such a great speed. At the same time it would withstand temperatures of almost 2,000 degree C. This temperature is hotter than the melting point of steel.
The US Defense Agency will launch the Falcon HTV-2. First, they will set it on the back of a rocket. Then they will launch both into the space from an Air Force Base. The plan goes like this: engineers will launch the Falcon HTV-2 into the space on the back of a rocket; then they will detach the plane from the rocket; the plane Falcon will fly towards the Earth; engineers will guide and monitor its flight. The plane would fly at hypersonic speed of 13,000 mph. This speed is about 20 times the speed of sound.
The Falcon was born in 2003. It was born as part of a US military project. The project researched and built a special type of plane. The researchers wanted that the plane could reach any part of the world in less than an hour. They also wanted to use it for both military and civil purposes. The plane had already been tested in computer models.
The Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 would be mankind’s dream aircraft in the days to come.
Multiple Choice Questions
- What feature distinguishes the Falcon HTV-2 from the Supersonic Concorde?
- It could fly without fuel
- It could reach hypersonic speeds far beyond Concorde’s capability
- It was larger in passenger capacity
- It was designed for luxury travel
- Which factor highlights the extreme durability of the Falcon HTV-2?
- It could travel without a rocket
- It could withstand temperatures hotter than the melting point of steel
- It could float in orbit indefinitely
- It could carry passengers across continents
- According to the passage, what role does the rocket play in the launch of Falcon HTV-2?
- It provides continuous fuel throughout the flight
- It detaches after propelling the Falcon into space
- It guides the Falcon throughout its flight to Earth
- It slows down the Falcon at hypersonic speed
- Which of the following best describes the hypersonic speed of 13,000 mph mentioned in the text?
- Approximately 20 times the speed of sound
- Approximately twice the speed of Concorde
- Approximately equal to orbital speed
- Approximately 5 times the speed of a commercial jet
- Why was the Falcon project initiated in 2003, according to the passage?
- To replace Concorde as a passenger aircraft
- To create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour
- To design the first solar-powered hypersonic jet
- To serve only military purposes in the Middle East
- What dual purpose did the researchers envision for the Falcon HTV-2?
- Scientific exploration and tourism
- Military defense and civil transport
- Passenger aviation and entertainment
- Space exploration and colonization
- What does the passage suggest about the Falcon HTV-2’s future significance?
- It would remain a computer model
- It would become mankind’s dream aircraft
- It would be banned due to safety issues
- It would only function in experimental labs
Short Questions
- What specific temperature could the Falcon HTV-2 withstand, and why is this detail significant in comparison to steel?
- Describe the sequence of steps engineers followed to launch and operate the Falcon HTV-2 during its test flights.
- How does the hypersonic speed of 13,000 mph compare with the speed of sound, and what does this reveal about the plane’s performance?
- What dual-use purposes did researchers intend for the Falcon HTV-2, and how does this reflect broader military and civil ambitions?
- Why might the Falcon HTV-2 be described as “mankind’s dream aircraft,” and what futuristic implications does this statement carry?
Fill in the Blanks
The Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 (Falcon HTV-2) is the fastest plane ever built, capable of flying from __________ to __________ in less than an hour. Unlike the Concorde, it could endure almost __________°C, which is hotter than the melting point of __________. To launch it, engineers first placed the Falcon on a __________, then sent both into __________ from an Air Force base. After detachment, the Falcon was guided and monitored as it flew at __________ mph, nearly __________ times the speed of sound. The project, started in __________, aimed to build a plane that could reach anywhere in the world within __________ hour.
Suffix and Prefix Exercise
The Falcon HTV-2 project began as a part of a military __________ (initiate) in 2003. The researchers carried out extensive computer __________ (simulate) before actual testing. The aircraft’s ability to withstand extreme heat shows remarkable __________ (strong). Its hypersonic flight represents a major __________ (develop) in aviation history. Scientists believe the Falcon may become a future __________ (transform) in both military and civil transportation. Despite challenges, it symbolizes human __________ (aspire) to overcome the barriers of distance and time.
Complete the Table
Fill in the blanks in the Event/Action and What/Why columns using information from the passage. Blanks alternate for practice.
| Subject | Event/Action | What/Why |
|---|---|---|
| Falcon HTV-2 | (i) ____________________ | to fly from London to Sydney in less than an hour |
| Falcon HTV-2 temperature | Withstood almost 2,000°C | (ii) ____________________ |
| US Defense Agency | (iii) ____________________ | to test the Falcon HTV-2 in space |
| Engineers | Guided and monitored its flight | (iv) ____________________ |
| Falcon HTV-2 speed | (v) ____________________ | nearly 20 times the speed of sound |
| Project origin | Began in 2003 | (vi) ____________________ |
| Researchers | (vii) ____________________ | to reach any part of the world in less than an hour |
| Computer models | Used for testing the Falcon | (viii) ____________________ |
| Falcon HTV-2 vision | (ix) ____________________ | described as mankind’s dream aircraft for the future |
Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
- What feature distinguishes the Falcon HTV-2 from the Supersonic Concorde?
- It could fly without fuel
- It could reach hypersonic speeds far beyond Concorde’s capability ✅
- It was larger in passenger capacity
- It was designed for luxury travel
- Which factor highlights the extreme durability of the Falcon HTV-2?
- It could travel without a rocket
- It could withstand temperatures hotter than the melting point of steel ✅
- It could float in orbit indefinitely
- It could carry passengers across continents
- According to the passage, what role does the rocket play in the launch of Falcon HTV-2?
- It provides continuous fuel throughout the flight
- It detaches after propelling the Falcon into space ✅
- It guides the Falcon throughout its flight to Earth
- It slows down the Falcon at hypersonic speed
- Which of the following best describes the hypersonic speed of 13,000 mph mentioned in the text?
- Approximately 20 times the speed of sound ✅
- Approximately twice the speed of Concorde
- Approximately equal to orbital speed
- Approximately 5 times the speed of a commercial jet
- Why was the Falcon project initiated in 2003, according to the passage?
- To replace Concorde as a passenger aircraft
- To create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour ✅
- To design the first solar-powered hypersonic jet
- To serve only military purposes in the Middle East
- What dual purpose did the researchers envision for the Falcon HTV-2?
- Scientific exploration and tourism
- Military defense and civil transport ✅
- Passenger aviation and entertainment
- Space exploration and colonization
- What does the passage suggest about the Falcon HTV-2’s future significance?
- It would remain a computer model
- It would become mankind’s dream aircraft ✅
- It would be banned due to safety issues
- It would only function in experimental labs
Short Questions with Answers
-
What specific temperature could the Falcon HTV-2 withstand, and why is this detail significant in comparison to steel?
The Falcon HTV-2 could endure almost 2,000°C, a temperature hotter than the melting point of steel, proving its ability to survive extreme heat during hypersonic flight. -
Describe the sequence of steps engineers followed to launch and operate the Falcon HTV-2 during its test flights.
Engineers first set the Falcon on the back of a rocket, launched both into space from an Air Force base, detached the plane from the rocket, and then guided and monitored its hypersonic flight back toward Earth. -
How does the hypersonic speed of 13,000 mph compare with the speed of sound, and what does this reveal about the plane’s performance?
The Falcon HTV-2 flew at about 20 times the speed of sound, showing its unprecedented performance and ability to reach any part of the world in less than an hour. -
What dual-use purposes did researchers intend for the Falcon HTV-2, and how does this reflect broader military and civil ambitions?
Researchers aimed to use the Falcon for both military operations and civil purposes, reflecting ambitions to combine defense needs with revolutionary global transportation. -
Why might the Falcon HTV-2 be described as “mankind’s dream aircraft,” and what futuristic implications does this statement carry?
The Falcon HTV-2 is seen as mankind’s dream aircraft because of its ability to connect distant parts of the world within an hour, suggesting a future where boundaries of distance and time are dramatically reduced.
Fill in the Blanks – Answer Key
The Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 (Falcon HTV-2) is the fastest plane ever built, capable of flying from London to Sydney in less than an hour. Unlike the Concorde, it could endure almost 2,000°C, which is hotter than the melting point of steel. To launch it, engineers first placed the Falcon on a rocket, then sent both into space from an Air Force base. After detachment, the Falcon was guided and monitored as it flew at 13,000 mph, nearly 20 times the speed of sound. The project, started in 2003, aimed to build a plane that could reach anywhere in the world within one hour.
Suffix and Prefix Exercise – Answer Key
The Falcon HTV-2 project began as a part of a military initiative (initiate) in 2003. The researchers carried out extensive computer simulations (simulate) before actual testing. The aircraft’s ability to withstand extreme heat shows remarkable strength (strong). Its hypersonic flight represents a major development (develop) in aviation history. Scientists believe the Falcon may become a future transformation (transform) in both military and civil transportation. Despite challenges, it symbolizes human aspiration (aspire) to overcome the barriers of distance and time.
Complete the Table – Answer Key
| Subject | Event/Action | What/Why |
|---|---|---|
| Falcon HTV-2 | Flew from London to Sydney in less than an hour (planned) | to demonstrate unprecedented global speed |
| Falcon HTV-2 temperature | Withstood almost 2,000°C | to survive conditions hotter than the melting point of steel |
| US Defense Agency | Launched the Falcon HTV-2 on the back of a rocket | to test the hypersonic technology in space |
| Engineers | Guided and monitored the Falcon’s flight | to ensure control during hypersonic re-entry |
| Falcon HTV-2 speed | Reached 13,000 mph | nearly 20 times the speed of sound |
| Project origin | Began in 2003 as a US military initiative | to create a plane that could reach anywhere in the world in under an hour |
| Researchers | Designed a special type of plane | to serve both military and civil purposes |
| Computer models | Used to test the Falcon before launch | to verify its design and capabilities |
| Falcon HTV-2 vision | Described as mankind’s dream aircraft | to symbolize the future of ultra-fast global travel |
📖 Key Features
- 📌 Format: Reading Text with High Quality Graphics
- 📌Content: Class VIII – Unit Nine, Lesson 4: Taking Off (Page 119)
- 📌 Exercise: Multiple Choice Questions, Short Questions, Fill-in-the-Blanks, suffix and prefix, information transfer
- 📌 Ideal for: IT-Assisted Classrooms
- 📌 Perfect for: Presentation Purposes and Personal Learning too
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