GRAVITY EXERCISES

A. READING COMPEREHENSION

1. Complete the sentences below from the article above!

a) The pilot controls the pitch, roll and yaw of the craft _____________ a
handlebar, _____________ weight-shift to change direction.
b) _____________ the throttle controls climb.
c) You turn left or right _____________ a yaw switch with your left thumb.

2. Complete these sentences about basic control of a fixed-wing aircraft

using the words in the box.
adjust by means of by means of by moving by raising turns
changes controls lowering move moving pushing

a) Cockpit controls _____________ the control surfaces _____________ rods,

cables and pulleys.
 b) _____________ the control yoke left or right _____________ roll.
c) You control the rudder _____________ pedals.
d) You _____________ the pitch _____________ the control column
backwards or forwards.
e) _____________ the left-hand pedal _____________ the aircraft to the
right.
f) The pilot _____________ the pitch of the aircraft _____________ or
_____________ the elevators.

B. LISTENING
1. Listen to a radio interview with Brazilian world champion pilot Thiago
Silvo Corbera. Number the maneuvers 1 – 8 in the order he describes
them.
 2. Listen again and write the names of the maneuvers he describe next to
the pictures.
The words you need are in the box (two words are not needed)
inside half barrel full outside death tail
Cuban hammerhead slide loop spin roll eight

3. Listen again and answer the questions

a) Which is Thiago’s favorite maneuver?
b) Which is more important in an air race – speed or maneuver?
c) What plane is Thiago flying?
d) How much does Thiago’s plane weigh?
e) How many degrees do the control surfaces deflect as a minimum?
f) What happened to Thiago in the 2007 race?
g) How is Thiago feeling about today’s race?

C. FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE
1. Underline the correct option of the bold words.
a) A pilot is able to steer a plane by means of/ by flight controls.
b) Controllers are able to observe the progress of a flight through / with
the use of radar.
c) The second level in the Airbus A380 is accessed by the way of / by
way of a curving set of stairs.
d) Pilots keep unwanted passengers out ol the cockpit by / with the use
of locking the door.
e) The Boeing 747 is powered by way of / by four engines.
f) With the help of / By an escape chute, passengers and crew are able
to evacuate the aircraft quickly.
g) Flight safety is maintained through / using regular maintenance
checks.
h) Aerodrome controllers are able to see aircraft clearly by way of / with
the help of binoculars.
i) You climb and descend using / through the throttle controls.
j) The presence of ice on aircraft wings is reduced through / by means
of de-icing chemicals.

2. Change adjectives below to comparative.

Examples:
Small → smaller easy → easier
 a) bad → _____________ f) short → _____________
b) quick → _____________ g) windy → _____________
c) fast → _____________ h) serious → _____________
d) good → _____________ i) tall → _____________
e) busy → _____________ j) urgent → _____________

3. Complete the sentences using the words in the box. Not all the words are
needed.
a bit a lot more as good as many farther than fewer
longer than more most important much heavier powerful as

a) Steel is __________________ than aluminium.

b) The Airbus A320 is as __________________ the Boeing 747.
c) An Airbus A380 is __________________ Concorde.
d) French ATCs are __________________ as controllers in Germany.
e) The __________________ function of an air traffic controller is to ensure
the safe separation of air traffic.
f) The Airbus A320 can carry __________________ passengers as the
Boeing 747.
g) A jumbo jet is able to fly __________________ a light aircraft.
h) Captain Emery flew __________________ miles than Captain Roberts
last year.