Use a dictionary and the context of the passage to explain the meaning of the following words. They are underlined in the passage. The first one is done for you. 

1. suspense = uncertainty, expectation 
2. Calculator program 
3. Magnetic fields 
4. Gravity 
5. Swapped 
6. Podlike 
7. Lightheaded 
8. Runnel 
9. Specimen 
10. Symmetrical 
11. Inverted 
12. Marcasite 

Here are some words which occur in the extract which can cause spelling problems. Look at them carefully. 
                 Perishable           fourteen              forty-eight          equipped             intended              glided 
                 lucid                      straightened      symmetrical       aeronautical       assessment        ascent 
                 apprehension 
 Put them in alphabetical order. 

Here are 30 words that frequently cause spelling difficulties. Use your dictionary to complete them correctly. 
 1. Maint_nance                        2. Cat_ _pill_r                                    3. Vacu_m 
 4. _onest                                     5. Auxil_ary                                        6. Independ_nce 
 7. Hyg_enic                                 8. G_est                                               9. Par_ _ lel
 10. Asp_rin                                 11. Rest_ _ _ _ not                           12. Feb_uary 
 13. Ex_aust                                 14. Ex _ibition                                    15. Su_table 
 16. Defin_te                               17. A_quire                                         18. Mess_nger 
 19. Inten_ion                             20. Ph_sical                                        21. Bound_ry 
 22. In_ident                                23. Ma_ntain                                     24. Thor_ _gh 
 25. Plag_e                                   26. Leag_ e                                         27. Di_aster 
 28. Milit_ry                                                 29. Squi_re!                                        30. Pos_ pone

Imagine that you are one of the passengers on Titanic, the fateful passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. Describe your experience on it from the time you boarded the liner to how you spent the first few days on it and finally on the day when the announcement about its sinking was made. 
 -      You must decide what the first main impression is going to be: 
         For example: peaceful and calm                 scary      mysterious          grand 
 -      Something must happen that changes this impression: 
         For example:      a beautiful cruise setting becomes frightening 
                                         a frightening setting is made to seem normal 
 Remember to describe your experience before you boarded the liner, when you were on it, what you did on the liner, what the people were like, what the activities were, how the ocean was, what it was like to sail on such a grand liner and what the general perception of being on the liner was. Then you describe what happened when the announcement was made about the liner hitting an iceberg and about it sinking. Describe the frenzy and fear, what people did, what the ship’s crew did, what the safety measures were, what you did, how you escaped, the screams and more. End it with how you still recall the day with a shudder and how grateful you are to have escaped. 

We were allowed so little, and we didn’t have to bother about leaving anything tidy behind us.... 

1. Who does 'we' refer to here? 
2. Of what were they allowed little? 
3. Why were they not bothered about leaving things tidy behind them?

Father didn’t cry; he didn’t look, either.... 

1. At what or where did the father not look? 
2. Why did he not look or cry? What does that tell you about him?
3. What do you think the others did?

It was my choose.... 

1. Who said this line, and to whom? 
2. What does my choose refer to? 
3. Why do you think the speaker was protective about it?

How did the family know that the Earth was destroyed sooner than it was supposed to be?

Why do you think that the people in the spacecraft were fidgeting and restless?

Why do you think the inner door was closed before the outer door was opened?

Why do you think Malcolm wanted to test the liquid in the stream?

If you had been one of the people on the spacecraft, what would you have thought of this new planet? Would you have liked it or would you have thought it dangerous and frightening? Give your reasons. 

Do you think life exists on other planets? Support your argument with some information that you have read.

Explain the implication of the statement we were at the bottom of the barrel with examples from the extract that you have just read.

Imagine that you are one of the passengers on Titanic, the fateful passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. Describe your experience on it from the time you boarded the liner to how you spent the first few days on it and finally on the day when the announcement about its sinking was made.

• You must decide what the first main impression is going to be: For example: peaceful and calm scary mysterious grand
• Something must happen that changes this impression: For example: a beautiful cruise setting becomes frightening a frightening setting is made to seem normal Remember to describe your experience before you boarded the liner, when you were on it, what you did on the liner, what the people were like, what the activities were, how the ocean was, what it was like to sail on such a grand liner and what the general perception of being on the liner was. Then you describe what happened when the announcement was made about the liner hitting an iceberg and about it sinking. Describe the frenzy and fear, what people did, what the ship’s crew did, what the safety measures were, what you did, how you escaped, the screams and more. End it with how you still recall the day with a shudder and how grateful you are to have escaped.