What do these phrases mean in this article? (A dictionary and thesaurus will help!)

• the gondola
• its galaxy
• survive the rigours of landing
• sense a feeling of optimism
• a few knots
• no gusts
• the mood quickened
• plastic pipes that snaked on the ground

1. Why did the launch crew like Steve and his gondola?
2. What type of winds do the launch crew love?
3. Draw the balloon and gondola and all the parts of the arrangement, laid out on the ground before the launch.
4. When would they definitely not launch the balloon?
5. How high do they want the balloon to go?
6. How do they get the balloon down again?

Here are some extracts from the article. Complete the sentences by filling in the spaces.

As the end of the balloon filled with ________, the truck holding the heavy roller gradually ________ closer to the parachute and the gondola on the launch truck. Tonnes of ________ weights held the roller truck ________. Finally, the roller was pivoted out of the ________. Fairly slowly at first, but then faster and ________, the balloon began to rise in the ________. All the gas was at one end, so it ________ a little like a sperm cell with an inflated end at one ________, and a very long skinny tail. At first, the ________ was upwind of the gondola, but the wind carried it ________ downwind. The plastic stretched and the ________ came to a halt and then gradually swung back to ________ directly over the gondola. It continued to swing ________ it was slightly upwind of the gondola.

This article has a number of sections. Each section has a main point. Write down the main point of the sections named here.

Steve Schindler's apparatus

How the balloon is launched

How they get the balloon down again

Think of all the arguments for and against this statement. (To help you, use this article and others that you can find.)

"Launching these huge balloons is more dangerous than it is worth."

Use this article, the Internet and libraries to find information on one of these topics:

1. Xray testing of mechanical parts
2. How balloons are used in the upper atmosphere
3. Ultraviolet-degradable and bio-degradable plastics

Use the library or the Internet to collect information about the topic. Find at least four different articles or chapters.

Write down about three ideas from each article you find.

You now have about a dozen ideas on this topic. Choose which idea is the most important, which is second-most important, and so on.

Write them in order, from most important to least important.

Write a paragraph to explain each idea.

Write down where you found the information you used. This is your "bibliography".

Be prepared to deliver your report on the date it is due!

• Meanings
• Questions
• Cloze Activity
• Summary
• Debate
• Research
• Instructions to Students
• Teachers' Guide