A
Igor Sikorsky was born on May 25th,1889.Sikorsky developed an interest in natural science in his youth.He began studying at the Saint Petersburg Maritime Cadet Corps at the age of 14.In 1906,he decided that his future lay in engineering,so he left to study in Paris.In 1907,he returned home to complete his studies at the Mechanical College of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
A year later,on a trip to Germany with his father,he learned of the achievements of the Wright Brothers and Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s airships.Sikorsky later said about this:“Within twenty-four hours,I’d decided to pursue aviation.”
Sikorsky then started his work on designing a helicopter.The first two attempts failed in 1909 and 1910,so he stopped and turned to fixed-wing aircraft (飞行器).His first attempt,the S-l,also failed.But his second attempt,the S-2,was a success.He continued to develop his knowledge to improve his airplane models.During this time,he also got his pilot’s license(执照).His fifth plane,the S-5,won him national attention.His sixth plane,the S-6-A,won him the highest award at the 1912 Moscow Aviation Exhibition.He built the first four-engine plane in 1913.
To continue to seek his dream,Sikorsky went to the United States in 1919,where he began teaching mathematics.He worked day and night and saved enough money to establish his own aviation company on Long Island in 1923.The company did pretty well but Sikorsky was dreaming big.
All this time,his dream of building a helicopter had just grown bigger and he never stopped writing down his designs and ideas.In 1939,his dream came true.Sikorsky finally completed the VS-300 and piloted its first flight himself.It was the first successful helicopter of the United States and by 1940 served as the model for all single-rotor(单旋翼) helicopters.
Sikorsky’s work contributed greatly to the aviation industry and he was recognized as the father of helicopters because of his pioneering designs.He officially retired in 1957,but he continued to work as a consultant(顾问) until his death in 1972 at the age of 83.
1.What did Igor Sikorsky do after a trip in 1908?
A.He made engineering his major.
B.He moved from France to Germany.
C.He decided to change his life’s work.
D.He returned home to continue his studies.
2.What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
A.Igor Sikorsky’s continuous hard work.
B.The life lessons Igor Sikorsky learned.
C.The reasons for Igor Sikorsky’s past failures.
D.Igor Sikorsky’s attempts to design helicopters.
3.What happened in the 1930s?
A.Igor Sikorsky’s helicopter was a success.
B.Igor Sikorsky received his pilot’s license.
C.Igor Sikorsky’s own company was set up.
D.Igor Sikorsky became a mathematics teacher.
4.What does the story of Igor Sikorsky inspire people to do?
A.To face danger fearlessly.
B.To treasure what they have.
C.To seek help from others.
D.To stick to their dreams.
