Name: WEEK 1 Monitor Comprehension DAY 1 Read the passage carefully. Look for clues to meanings of words you do not understand. READ THE PASSADE The First Ocean Crossings in the Alr Between 1935 and 1941, an airline named Pan Am offered travelers a flying experienca iko no other Instead of flying in narrow, crowded alrplanes that you seo al airports today, travelers back then boarded voluminous lying boats that wero more like hotels than airplanes. For those who could allord it, a Pan Am fight across the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean was its own unforgettable journey. Covering New Ground Pan Am's transcontinental airplanes were named Clippers after saling ships of the 1800s. Clippers were some of the most advanced aircraft built at that time and the first to cross oceans. Two obstacles had previously prevented long-distance air travel: limited fuel capacity and lack of places to land for retuoling. A Clipper, designed to land on both land and water, could "hop" across the ocean, Filling up its fuel tanks at major Islands Clipper påots had navigation skills similar to those of ship captains, and the crow was trained for landing and moving in water. It took just under a week to cross the Pacific, still much faster than three weeks by ship Flying Luxury Liners Unlike planes today, which have mpy rows of small, cramped seats, Clippers were designed for comfort. The largest Clipper held a maximum of 36 overnight passengers who slept in berths. There were also passenger dressing rooms, lounges with couches, and dining halls where men in black coats and white gloves served meals prepared by famous chefs. A typical 1939 menu featured fruit cocktal, cream of tomato soup, chicken In wine sauce, scalloped potatoes, and ple. All of this comfort and service did not come cheap, however. A typical ticket in 1939 cost around $700, which is over $12,000 in today's dollars. STRATEGY PRACTICE List one or two words you found confusing and describe how you figured out their meanings. SKILL PRACTICE Read the item. Write your response. 1. What is this text mostly about? 2. What made the Clipper able to cross the ocean long before other airliners? 3. Why did the Clipper have so many fewer passengers than today's transatlantic flights? 17 © Evan-Moor Corp. EMC 3618 Daily Reading Comprehension