Flying with the Sun

words. Then go back to the selection' Read the selection. Think about the meanings of the boldfaced of each boldfaced word' underline the words or sentences that give you a clue to the meaning

get people to solve their present-day problems Inventor paul MacCready was a man with a mission-to of Maccready's more famous projects did both' by looking back to the past or forward to the future. one wright brothers might have built' but it was His plane, the solar Challenger,looked like something the the first plane to attempt to harness solar energy designed to operate on the energy of the sun. It was not storing the energy in batteries before taking off' and put it to work, but it was the first to do so without It was a monoplane-an At only 217 pounds , the solar challenger definitely qualified as lightweight. than 16,000 solar cells spread over the wings aircraft with a single set of wings. It got its power from more from the sun and converted it to electricity, and the rear section of the plane. These cells collected.energy which was then conducted through wires to the engine' its ups and downs. On an airport runway in The maiden flight of the Solar Challenger in 1981 had plane off the ground without success' Finally' the Paris, France, the pilot repeatedly attempted to get the reading of 240, the pilot was very relieved' The aircraft slowly rose into the air. when he saw the altimeter feet. As the pilot accelerated to a speed of fortySolar challengereventually reached an altitude of 11,000 Channel' Powered only by the sun and its own seven miles per hour, the plane headed across the English challenger completed an object has because it is already in motion-the solar kinetic energy-th" "n"rgy minutes after takeoff' its voyage. It landed in Dover, England, five hours and twenty-three not very practical' However' the Admittedly, a plane that can fly only when the sun is shining is energy source that can be flight of the solar challengerdemonstrated that solar energy is an accessible could be modified, or changed, for more obtained easily. Maccready believed that inventions like his power to drive mechanized' or machine-run' practicai uses. He continued to explore ways to use the Sun's Penguin, another solar-powered plane' Maccready vehicles, inventing sunraycer,a solar car, and Gossamer transporting people until his death in2001' continued to develop new environmentally sound methods of

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Unit'2
Vocabulary in Gontext G9, SV 9780547625829

Name Date

Context Clues
Read each sentence. Look for context clues to help you complete each sentence rvith a u'ord from the box.

Write the word on the line.

conducted accessible accelerated altimeter lightweight mechanized modified kinetic

1.

harness

monoplane

In today's

society, most work is done by machines.

)
3.

But as more power is needed, people have about possible energy sources.

or altered, their ideas

Paul MacCready had an idea for an airplane that used the sun's energy and its own energy, the energy of motion, for its power. had been working slowly on the plane for several years, but when the energy shortage

4. MacCready

began in the 1970s, he 5. Called the Solar Challenger, this

his efforts.
had only one set of wings.

6. Unlike planes built of heavy materials, the Solar Challenger was made of a plastic and weighed only 217 pounds.

7. Special energy cells collected the solar energy and converted it to electricity, which
to the engine.

was

8. The test pilot flew the plane at a height of 11,000 feet, as measured by the
, the altitude gauge

in the plane.
can

9. The

successful

flight of the Solar Challenger proved that people

or control and use, the sun's energy.

10. But solar energy is

only when the sun shines!

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19

Unit 2
Vocabulary in Context G9, SV 9780547625829

Name

Date

Understanding Multiple-Mean ing Words

The words in the box have more than one meaning. Look for the clues in each sentence to tell which mealing is being used. Write the letter of the correct meaning next to the sentence.

lightweight a. not heavy (adjective) b. not important (adjectirve) conducted c. transmitted (verb) d.led a musical group (verb)

harness
e. straps used to control an animal (noun)

f. to control and put to work (verb)

modified
g. changed slightly

h. made less extreme or severe

1. A windmill can be used to harness the wind.

2. In view of all their troubles, my problems are lightweight. 3. The copper frying pan conducted the heat evenly. 4. We modified our decision and said

Lil would be confined to the house for only

irstead of a whole month. arve-ek

5. A famous musician conducted the orchestra. 6. Although this is a lightweight aluminum, it is very strong.
7. We

modified our plans so we would be home a day earlier.

was fastened to the plow with a harness.

8. The mule

Cloze Paragraphs
Use the words in the box to complete the passage. Then reread the passage to be sure it makes sense.

accelerated accessible altimeter kinetic

monoplane

Marisa's husband gave her a glider trip for Christmas. Marisa never thought that such an experience

would be (1)
she caught her

to her. She was elated when they approached the airport and

first glimpse of the (2)

tied down in the hangar.

Her moment had finally arrived, and she could feel the breeze race over her face as they
(3) (4)

after takeoff. After they evened off, the navigator checked the
and appeared contertt with their altitude. Powered only by the wind and energy, their glider soared with the eagles for over an hour.

its own (5)

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20

Unit 2
V0cabulary in Context G9, SV 97805476258C!

Name Date

Synonyms andAntonyms
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings, while antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Look at the words below. If they are synonyms, put a ({) in the Synonyms column. If they are antonyms,
put a

(/)

in the Antonyms column.

Antonyms

Synonyms

1. harness-control

2. accessible-unreachable 3. accelerated-slowed
4. modified-changed 5. lightweight-heavy

The Greek Root mono

The Greek toot mono comes from the Greek word monos, which means "single" or "alone." The word monoplane contains this root. The words below also contain this root.

monarchy monotone monochromatic monocle

1.

monogrammed
over his left eye.

ln old photographs, my great great uncle wore

England has a limited we visit London.

)
3.

we hope to catch a glimpse of the royals when

Sometimes the newscaster speaks in a

her voice lulls me to sleep.

; the walls, sofas, and tables were

4. Their living room was 5. The towels were

all white.

with the new couple's initials.

oRp

F
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21

Unit 2
Vocabulary in Context G9, SV 9780547625829

Name

Date

WordGame
fits the clue' Read each clue. Then write the word from the box that

accessible accelerated harness lightweight

1. A windmill must do this to the wind to create energy'

modified

) A person
3.

who drove a car faster and faster did this'

changed, you could say it has been this'

If something has been

4. A feather

could be described as this'

5. If you need information that is easy to find, you need this kind of data.

Challenge Yourself
1. Name two natural sources of energy that people
have been able to harness.

2. Name two things that you have modified'

3. Name something that is mechanized'

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Unit 2
Vocabulary in Context G9, SV 9780547625829

ril

E
Name Date

Standardized Test Practice

Circle the letter of the word or words that best complete the sentence.

Before you choose your answer, try reading the sentence with each answer choice. This will help you choose an answef that makes sense.

L. An altimeter A altitude.

measures an object's

length.

C width.

D weight.
D D
breakable.

2.

Something that ts accessible rs

A worthless.
3. Amonoplanehas

B B

obtainable.

C expensive.

A
A

one wheel.

one motion.

C one

set of wings.

one window.

4. Kinetic refers to
business.

B kindness.

C movement.

D
D D

speech.

5. By building a dam, you can harness water's B power. A taste. 6. Mechanized work is done by B females. A males.
7.

C freshness.

beauty.

C hand.

machines.

If a car accelerated, tt A sped up.

C onduc te

B B
B

slowed down.

C turned.

D suddenly stopped.
D transmitted. D D

8.

d electricity is
ancient.

A A

shocking.

C full.

9. Amodifiedplanis
approved. rejected.

shipped.

changed.

f0. A lightweight material used to make warm-weather clothing is B fur. C cotton. A wool.

velvet.

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23

Unit 2
Vocabulary in Context G9, SV 9780547625829

Name

Date

Understanding Related Words

They are used here in sentences about satellites' The words in the box can be related to new technology' words' Use the glossary to find definitions of unfamiliar See how many of the words you already know'

amazingly
exceeded

clarity
hurnankind

closeness

contraptions
oYerseas

correspondence

impossibility

transmit

with a word from the box. Write the word on the line' use context clues to replace the underlined definition Use the glossarY if necessarY'
1". Satellites have imProved

life for much of the PeoPle living

on Earth.
1

Satellitessendoutsignalsthatarepickedupbytelevisionsets.

Broadcasting Sateliiles' 3. These astonishing devices are called Direct

are small 4. Surprisingly, people can set up satellite dishes that ;G*" frt on the roof of a house'

halfway 5. Years ago, watching a live sporting event happening around the world was an event that could not happen' tell the broadcast 6. Now, from the clearness of the image, we cannot is coming from another continent'
the rest 7" Communications satellites have increased our nearness to of the world.

8. Before the twentieth century,

the ocean telePhone call.

there was no such thing as an across

9.

across the Insteacl, people sent letters and other written messages

oceans bY shiP. phone L0. Communications satellites allow us to make international pioneers calls; these satellites have gone beyond the dreams of the

who launched them.

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Unit 2
Vocabulary in C0ntext Gg, SV 9780547625829

il

Name
Date

Antonyms
In each sentence, one word is underlined. That word sounds odd in the sentence. Choose box that is the antonym of the odd word in the sentence. Write that word on the line.
a word

from the

amazingly clarity closeness impossibility overseas

1.

transmit

Through sharing their thoughts and feelings, the friends developed real distance.
You need to fly on a plane to visit your local relatives.

)
3.

After hundreds of failed attempts at traveling through time, finally admitted the possibility of time travel.
The magician unsurprisingly vanished into thin air. The confusion of her report was impressive.

he has

4. 5. 6.

A television studio can receive

a broadcast anywhere

in the area.

Writing Sentences
Write an original sentence with each of the words in the box.

contraptions correspondence exceeded

1.

humankind

2.

3.

4.

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25

Unit 2
Vocabulary in Context G9, SV 9780547625829

!,:

Name

Date

Completing Sentences
Write the letter of the word that best completes the sentence.

l.

Contraptions are A jokes.

tovs.

C devices.
C C C
underwater.

plans.

2. When you go overseas, You travel

A abroad.
A
remarkably.

B B

near.

D quickly.

3. The word amazinglY means

sadly.

confusinglY.

D carefully.

4. An author with claritY writes

quickly.

slowly.

humorouslY.

clearly.

5. People carry on correspondence by writing

A songs.
6. When you transmit, A fix.

letters.

C C

stamps.

addresses.

Yolu

B borrow.

send.

D throw.

7. Something that benefits humankind helps

A B

your friends onlY. plants and animals.

C your community onlY.

D people everywhere.

8. Something that \s an impossibility ts A sure to happen. B likely to happen'

C easy to do.

D not possible.

9. Countries known for their closeness on the map are C unfriendly. A near each other. B far aPatt.
10. When he exceeded the speed limit, he B discussed it. A obeyed it.

D the same size.

\

C went beyond it.

D went under it.

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26

Unit 2
Vocabulary in Context G9, SV 9780547625829

-.
Name Date

Writing
Even before the successful

flight of the Solar Challenger, Paul MacCready had been experimenting with

airplanes that were powered by alternative sources of energy. MacCready invented a bicycle-like plane that was powered by human energy and could be kept in the air by pedaling.

Write a letter requesting funding for an invention that harnesses an unusual energy source.

. What is the invention and how would it be operated? . What source of energy does the invention use? . What would be the benefits of your invention?
Be sure to use some of the vocabulary words from this unit in your writing.

:2
29

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27

Unit 2
Vocabulary in Context G9, SV 9780547625829