Comprehension
What event takes place in Chapter 1 that sets the story in motion?
The Aurora rescues a distressed air balloon named "The Endurance" where the captain Benjamin Molloy (who passes at the end of the chapter) tells Matt about what he saw in the sky
Which word does NOT describe Kate? Obedient, Adventurous, Stubborn, Wealthy, Intelligent
Which word does NOT describe Matt? Resourceful, Ethical, Hard-working, Wealthy, Ambitious
Kate: Obedient
Matt: Wealthy
From whose point of view is the story told and what type of view is it? (first, second, third)
The story is told from Matt's point of view and it is first-person
What happens when Matt sees an albatross while on watch? (Ch.6)
He asks for permission to get it off the ship, when he goes out to do this he sees another airship coming right for them. (Pirates)
Why do Kate and Matt agree to keep the skeleton a secret?
Kate is worried that if they tell an adult they will take the discovery away from them because they are "just kids" and Kate has also experienced similar things with the Zoological Society when telling them about the creatures originally
Who is the "lead" pirate during the raid of the Aurora?
Vikram Szpirglas
Why is the job of sailmaker so important to Matt? Why does Matt get passed over for the job?
It is so important to Matt because his father was also a sailmaker aboard the Aurora before he died. The owner of the airship brings on his son to train to be sailmaker so the captain has no choice in who gets the job.
What are the creatures that Kate’s grandfather saw like? How do they act?
The creatures are described as half bird half panther, they act mostly like birds as they seem to be migrational, their off-spring are born in the air and must learn to fly immediately
How does Matt feel about life on an airship?
He feels more comfortable there than anywhere else in the world.
Where has the Aurora landed? How do we know?
On an island, more specifically the same island that Kate's grandfather had watched the creatures from when he was observing them during his time logging
How do Kate and Matt find the skeleton? How do they know it is not the skeleton of a regular animal?
They are searching through the woods when they come upon a snake who scares them up a tree, they find the skeleton there. They know it's not a regular skeleton because Kate points out the features such as the wings but the skull having no beak like a bird.
Describe the pirate attack on the Aurora. How do the pirates manage to board the airship?
They are on a ship which is painted black to disguise them in the sky, they hover above the airship and send down lines where pirates slid down and land on top of the ship, they have spiked shoes to help them grip on and they enter from the entrances (crow's nest, etc.)