WARM UP

Discuss these questions

with a partner.

1. Do you know of any

famous explorers? What
Pilot Amelia Earhart in 1931,
places did they visit?
six years before she went missing
2. Can you think of any
famous people who
vanished (went missing)
or died mysteriously?

159
 BEFORE YOU READ

SCANNING A. Read this timeline. What record did Amelia Earhart set?
Amelia Earhart (1897–1937)
1920: Attends an air show in California. Decides she wants to fly.
1921: Starts taking flying lessons. Becomes a pilot at age 24.
1932: Becomes the first woman to fly a plane alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
1937, May–June: Plans to be the first woman to fly a plane around the world. Flies
with guide Fred Noonan across the U.S., south to Brazil, and across Africa, Asia, and
Australia. They arrive in New Guinea on June 29.
1937, July 2: They head for an island in the Pacific, but are never seen again.

PREDICTING B. What do you think happened to Earhart and Noonan? Discuss with a partner.
Then read the passage to check your ideas.

American pilot Linda Finch

flies over Howland Island on a
commemorative flight, retracing
Amelia Earhart’s 1937 route.

166 Unit 12B

A On July 2, 1937, Amelia Earhart and EARHART’S 1937 FLIGHT ROUTE
Fred Noonan left Lae, New Guinea,
for Howland Island in the Pacific. This
was without a doubt the longest and
most dangerous part of their trip Oakland, Calif.
around the world. Earhart had
trouble shortly after takeoff.
The weather was stormy, so
she had to fly at approximately Earhart and
3,000 meters. Going this high, Noonan vanish
Lae
the plane used up gas quickly.
B After about 20 hours, Earhart
and Noonan approached
Howland Island. The island was
only about a hundred kilometers
away at this point, but the
bright sun was shining in Flight path Intended flight path
their faces, so they couldn’t CLARE TRAINOR, ROSEMARY WARDLEY, NG STAFF. SOURCE: TIGHAR
see it. Near Howland, a
ship—the Itasca—was waiting. Earhart contacted the ship: “Gas is low,” she said. The Itasca tried
to maintain contact with her, but it got no response. Finally, the Itasca called for help. People
searched for Earhart and Noonan for days. Despite great efforts, they found nothing.

Answers to a Mystery?
C What happened to Amelia Earhart? No one knows for sure. During the flight, she likely headed in
the wrong direction because the sun was bright and it was hard to see. Perhaps she and Noonan got
lost somewhere over the Pacific; soon after, her plane ran out of gas, and she crashed into the sea.
Another idea is that Earhart might have landed on a nearby, uninhabited1 island called Nikumaroro,
where she later died. Researchers recently brought bone-sniffing dogs to the island, though, and no
human bones were found. However, the dogs did detect2 the smell of bones that decomposed3 long
ago—these bones could have been Earhart’s. A more extreme theory is that Earhart flew the plane
to the Japanese-controlled Marshall Islands, a thousand kilometers to the north, and later secretly
returned to the United States under a new name.
D The first theory seems most likely. However, none of these ideas has been proven. Today, people
are still investigating Earhart’s and Noonan’s disappearance. Whatever happened, Earhart
probably died as she wished. “When I go,” she once said, “I’d like best to go in my plane.”

1 If a place is uninhabited, it has no people.

2 If you detect something, you find it or discover that it is present somewhere.
3 When things such as dead plants or animals decompose, they are slowly broken down into simpler parts or substances by
natural processes.

Unit 12B 167

READING COMPREHENSION

A. Choose the best answer for each question.

GIST 1. What could be another title for this reading?
a. Pilot Mystery Is Finally Solved
b. What Happened to Amelia Earhart?
c. America’s First Female Pilot
DETAIL 2. According to the reading, why was flying to Howland Island difficult?
a. Noonan didn’t have a map.
b. Their plane was damaged.
c. Howland Island was very far from
New Guinea.
DETAIL 3. Shortly after taking off from New Guinea,
what happened?
a. The Itasca made contact with Earhart
and Noonan.
b. Earhart and Noonan tried to land on
the Itasca.
c. A storm forced Earhart and Noonan to
fly higher.
VOCABULARY 4. Which of these words or phrases is most
similar in meaning to ran out of in
paragraph C?
a. removed
b. filled up with
A jar of face cream was found on
c. had no more of
Nikumaroro. This jar may have
INFERENCE 5. In paragraph D, when Earhart says “When belonged to Amelia Earhart.
I go …,” what does go mean?
a. fly
b. die
c. leave

MATCHING B. Match each place with the correct description.

1. Nikumaroro • • a. where Earhart and Noonan last took off from

2. New Guinea • • b. where Earhart and Noonan were heading
3. Howland Island • • c. where some people believe Earhart flew to
before returning to the U.S.
4. Marshall Islands • • d. where dogs have recently picked up the smell of
human bones

168 Unit 12B

READING SKILL

Recognizing Degrees of Certainty

It is important to recognize how sure an author is about any claims that are made in a text. A fact
would have a very high degree of certainty. Theories or speculations would have a lower degree of
certainty. The following words and phrases can indicate degrees of certainty.

Complete certainty: certainly, definitely, without a doubt, for sure, certain

Strong certainty: probably, likely

Less certainty: might, may, could, possibly, perhaps, maybe, doubtful

IDENTIFYING A. Look at the sentences below (1–6) from Reading B. Underline the words and
phrases that indicate degrees of certainty.

ANALYZING B. For each claim below, circle the author’s degree of certainty (1 = lowest degree 
of certainty; 5 = highest degree of certainty). Then compare answers with
a partner.
1. This was without a doubt the longest and most 1 2 3 4 5
dangerous part of their trip around the world.
2. During the flight, she likely headed in the wrong 1 2 3 4 5
direction because the sun was bright and it was
hard to see.
3. Perhaps she and Noonan got lost somewhere over 1 2 3 4 5
the Pacific.
4. Another idea is that Earhart might have landed 1 2 3 4 5
on a nearby, uninhabited island called Nikumaroro,
where she later died.
5. These bones could have been Earhart’s. 1 2 3 4 5
6. Whatever happened, Earhart probably died as 1 2 3 4 5
she wished.

CRITICAL THINKING Evaluating Theories Discuss these questions with a partner.

Look back at Reading B. Of the theories about Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, which does the
author think is most likely?
Theory:

Do you agree with the author? What do you think happened to Earhart and Noonan? Note
your answers below. Then compare them with your ideas in Before You Read B (on page 166).

Unit 12B 169

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

COMPLETION A. Circle the correct words to complete the paragraph below.

Jim Thompson was an American businessman

who helped revive Thailand’s silk industry in
the 1950s and 1960s. On March 26, 1967,
while on vacation in Malaysia’s Cameron
Highlands, Thompson 1investigated /
headed out alone for an afternoon walk. He
was never seen again. A huge search 2effort /
disappearance was conducted, but no trace
of him was found. After a(n) 3investigation /
flight, the conclusion was that he fell into an The last photo taken of Jim Thompson
animal trap or was eaten by a tiger. However, before he disappeared in 1967

other theories have since been put forward. Some people believe he was murdered,
while others think he faked his own death. His 4disappearance / response may
remain a mystery forever. However, Thompson’s presence can still be felt in Thailand
today. Shoppers crowd his stores to buy 5flight / bright silk scarves and elegant ties,
and his former home in Bangkok is a popular tourist attraction.

WORDS IN B. Complete the sentences. Circle the correct words.

CONTEXT
1. Something that shines is bright and clear / dull and dirty.

2. If a plane crashes, it takes off quickly / hits the ground or sea hard.

3. A person who is taking a flight needs to go to the airport / train station.

4. When you approach something, you get closer to / walk away from it.

5. A response is a(n) wish or need / answer or reply.

WORD PARTS C. We can add the prefix dis- to some words to show an opposite meaning
(e.g., dis- + appear = disappear). Complete the sentences using the words
in the box. One word is extra.

ability appear approve like

1. Although he is blind, he doesn’t consider his lack of sight a dis .

2. Chemistry is the only subject I dis at school.
3. The moon will dis behind the clouds in a few minutes.

170 Unit 12B

Visitors attend the Amelia Earhart
exhibit at the National Air and
Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

B E F O R E Y O U W AT C H

PREVIEWING A. Read the extracts from the video. Match the words in bold with their
definitions (1–5).

“As she approached, she landed on a reef and then went to the island. Earhart
and Noonan waited for help to come, but … died of thirst.”

“… the idea that Earhart was taken prisoner by the Japanese is supported by
many people …”

“Some believe she was actually an American spy. Earhart’s mission? To pretend
she was having problems with her plane, so she would then have to fly to the
Marshall Islands.”

1. : the feeling that you need to drink something

2. : a person who secretly collects and reports information
3. : a person who has been caught by an enemy (e.g., in war)
4. : to behave as if something is true when you know that it is not
5. : a long line of rocks, the top of which is just below or above the sea
Video 171
W H I L E Y O U W AT C H

COMPLETION A. Look at the chart below. What do you think the missing words are? Watch the
video and complete the chart.

Theories What happened to Amelia Earhart?

• “Crash and Sink” Theory flew toward Howland Island → ran out of
1
→ plane crashed and sank
• Gardner Island Theory flew to Gardner Island (now called Nikumaroro) →
no 2 → died of thirst
• A Prisoner of War flew to Marshall Islands → captured by the
Japanese → 3 while being held prisoner
• An American Spy flew to Marshall Islands to give the U.S. Navy a
4
to search the area
• The Irene Bolam Connection returned to the U.S. → lived as a 5
in New Jersey under a new name

CRITICAL THINKING Reflecting

The idea that Amelia Earhart was a spy is an example of a conspiracy theory (a belief that an
event or situation is the result of a secret plan made by powerful people). Can you think of
any other conspiracy theories? Note your ideas and share them with a partner.

Why do you think some people believe in conspiracy theories? Are there any that you believe
in? Discuss with a partner.

VOCABULARY REVI EW

Do you remember the meanings of these words? Check ( ) the ones you know. Look back at the
unit and review any words you’re not sure of.

Reading A

achieve* camp evidence* path prove

section* suffer unfortunately unlikely whatever

Reading B

approach* bright crash disappearance effort

flight head investigate* response* shine

* Academic Word List

172 Video