Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Close Reading
NONFICTION: “The Flaming Sky,” pages 4-11
October 2016
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Close-Reading Questions
“The Flaming Sky”
1. On page 6, Lauren Tarshis writes, “Tens of thousands of people traveled on zeppelins.
Millions more flew on zeppelins in their dreams.” What do these lines help you understand
about zeppelins in the 1920s and 1930s? (inference, figurative language)
2. Why was Werner Franz’s job as a cabin boy on the Hindenburg meaningful to him?
(key ideas and details)
3. In the section “Just 32 Seconds,” which details help you understand how terrible Werner’s
experience was when the Hindenburg caught fire? (text evidence)
4. How did the Hindenburg explosion affect zeppelin travel? Why did it have this effect?
(cause and effect)
5. How did the Hindenburg explosion affect Werner? (cause and effect)