Lindbergh

Level: B2

As a boy, Charles Lindbergh had an ambition to fly a plane. He could not know that as a consequence of this desire, he would become famous. While flying as an airmail pilot in 1926, Lindbergh was induced to enter a contest. A very generous man offered twenty five thousand dollars to anyone who could fly a plane from New York to Paris, France, without stopping. Lindbergh was eager to try for the prize. He was convinced that he could make the trip safely. On May 20, 1927, in his small but capable plane, “The Spirit of St. Louise,” he took off from New York. The Spirit of St. Louise, with Charles Lindbergh at the controls, descended at Le Bourget Airport outside Paris the next evening. This first nonstop flight from New York to Paris made an impression on the people all over the world. The commercial airlines of today owe much of their success to the courageous flight of Charles Lindbergh.

Glossary

ambition n. a strong desire for success, achievement, power or wealth: She's got a lot of ambition, so she's bound to be successful.

capable adj. able; (of people) skilful and effective, or (of people or things) having enough ability or power to do something: She's a very capable judge.

commercial adj. engaged in commerce; of, pertaining to, or bearing on commerce: This property is suitable for domestic or commercial use.

consequence n. an often bad or inconvenient result of a particular action or situation: I missed the bus this morning and as a consequence was late for work.

convince v. to make (someone) certain; to persuade: Your explanation might have convinced Sheila, but it didn't convince me.

descend v. to go or come down (something): The path descended steeply into the valley below.

eager adj. wanting very much to do or have esp. something interesting or enjoyable: Lots of eager volunteers responded to the appeal for help.

generous adj. (esp. of a person) willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., esp. more than is usual or expected, or (of an object) larger than usual or expected: It was most generous of you to lend me the money.

impression n. the way that something seems, looks or feels to a particular person: I think he made quite an impression on the girls (i.e. caused them to notice and admire him) at the tennis club.

induce v. to persuade (someone) to do something, or to cause (something) to happen: They induced her to take the job by promising editorial freedom.

Synonyms

ambition- 1. full of ambition to succeed: desire; aspiration; drive; striving; force; enterprise; eagerness; zeal; longing; yearning; hankering; (inf.) get-up-and-go; oomph; 2. her ambition is to be boss: goal; aim; objective; purpose; intent; desire; wish; design; end; dream; hope.

capable- a very capable young woman: able; competent; adequate; efficient; effective; proficient; accomplished; talented; gifted; adept; skilful; masterly; experienced; practiced; qualified; clever; intelligent; smart.

commercial- 1) commercial training: business; trade; marketing; merchandizing; sales; mercantile. 2) not a commercial proposition: profitable; profit-making; business. 3) town becoming too commercial: profit-orientated; money-orientated; mercantile; materialistic; mercenary.

consequence- the consequence of the decision: result; effect; upshot; outcome; issue; event; end; aftermath; repercussion; reverberation.

convince- 1) she convinced me that I was wrong: make one certain; prove to; satisfy; assure; reassure. 2) convince him to vote for them: persuade; prevail upon; sway; talk round; bring around; win over.

descend- 1) descend the hill/stairs: go down; come down; move down; climb down; pass down. 2) the balloon descended: go down; come down; drop; fall; sink; subside; plummet; plunge; tumble; slump. 3) descend from the train: get down; get off; alight; dismount; disembark; detrain; deplane. 4) the hill descended to the valley: go down; slope; incline; dip; slant.

eager- 1) eager pupils: keen; enthusiastic; impatient; avid; fervent; earnest; diligent; zealous; passionate; wholehearted; ambitious; enterprising; (inf.) bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. 2) eager to learn/eager for news: agog; anxious; intent; longing; yearning; itching; wishing; desirous; hopeful; thirsty; hungry; greedy; (inf.) hot.

generous- 1) generous with money/a generous host: liberal; kind; magnanimous; benevolent; beneficent; bountiful; bounteous; munificent; hospitable; charitable; open-handed; lavish; ungrudging; unstinting; free-handed; princely. 2) a generous spirit: noble; magnanimous; lofty; high-minded; honourable; good; unselfish; altruistic; unprejudiced; disinterested.

impression- make an impression on the crowd: effect; influence; sway; impact; hold; power; control.

induce- 1) induce them to go: persuade; talk into; get; prevail upon; prompt; move; inspire; instigate; influence; exert influence on; press; urge; incite; encourage; impel; actuate; motivate; inveigle; coax; wheedle. 2) induce a reaction: bring about; bring on; cause; produce; effect; create; give rise to; generate; originate; engender; occasion; set in motion; develop; lead to.

Collocations

as a boy

have an ambition to do something

as a consequence of

be induced to do something

be eager to do something

be convinced that

make an impression on someone