Unit 2 Quiz - The Reading - Comprehension

F. Reading [ 24 marks ]

The Ups and Downs of Being a Pilot

Have you ever thought about being an airline pilot? Being a pilot is challenging and exciting. However, some aspects of a pilot’s job can be boring, and pilots often have inconvenient hours.

A pilot’s work begins long before the plane takes off. Two or three hours before a flight, the pilot and the flight dispatcher meet. They plan the exact route the aircraft will take, using information about weather, number of passengers, and cargo. The pilot also helps check the plane for technical or mechanical problems.

Pilots often say that the worst thing about flying is sitting in the cockpit, which is very cramped. Once the plane is in the air, the pilot usually puts the controls on “autopilot”. And on very long flights, a pilot may take a break for a few hours, leaving the co-pilot to fly the aircraft.

A pilot must be intelligent, calm under pressure, and in excellent health. The life of the crew and the passengers depends on a pilot’s skill and control.


T / F Not all aspects of a pilot’s job are interesting

T / F The flight dispatcher’s main job is to help fly the plane.

T / F It’s not the pilot’s job to check for mechanical problems on the plane.

T / F One of the worst things for the pilot is the lack of space in the cockpit.

T / F Once the plane is in the air, the co-pilot has nothing to do.

T / F The pilot is responsible for everybody’s life on board.