Text Message Referencing ‘Hijack’ Forces United Flight to Return to Las Vegas

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Single choice

How to approach this practice

Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What is the article mainly intended to explain?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. How airlines train passengers to write messages
   2. Why one message caused serious consequences despite its claimed intent
   3. Why workplace banter is usually illegal
   4. How aircraft hijacking investigations are completed
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Why one message caused serious consequences despite its claimed intent

   It explains how one message produced serious aviation and legal consequences.

   Rather, it shows that the wording of one message was serious enough to affect the flight.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can be inferred about the passenger’s explanation?

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   1. It has already ended the legal case
   2. It proves the message was harmless
   3. It may influence later consideration of the case
   4. It caused officials to cancel the flight
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It may influence later consideration of the case

   The explanation may be considered, but it does not settle the case.

   The passenger’s account—that he had been drinking and meant the message as poorly expressed workplace banter—may be considered as the case continues.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In the third paragraph, what does “that possibility” refer to?

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   1. The possibility of workplace disagreement
   2. The possibility of an aircraft hijacking
   3. The possibility of poor drinking habits
   4. The possibility of a delayed legal hearing
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The possibility of an aircraft hijacking

   The phrase refers to the possibility of an aircraft hijacking.

   In aviation, language suggesting that possibility can lead to an immediate security response because a possible threat must be treated seriously.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article mention that a charge is not proof of guilt?

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   1. To explain why the flight returned
   2. To describe the meaning of banter
   3. To emphasize legal uncertainty
   4. To criticize aviation security
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To emphasize legal uncertainty

   This distinction prevents readers from treating an accusation as a final judgment.

   A charge is an accusation, not proof that someone is guilty.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   How is the article organized?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. From general aviation history to unrelated examples
   2. From the event through analysis to practical implications
   3. From legal definitions to a detailed travel schedule
   4. From passenger opinions to airline advertisements
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   From the event through analysis to practical implications

   It moves from the event to explanations, legal context, and broader lessons.

   Clear communication matters especially in situations where safety officials must make quick decisions.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What relationship does the article establish between written language and security responses?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Written language always prevents confusion
   2. Written wording can remove context and increase concern
   3. Security officials ignore messages between colleagues
   4. Workplace messages cannot affect flights
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Written wording can remove context and increase concern

   Ambiguous written wording can trigger serious responses when safety is involved.

   Written messages can lose the tone and context that the sender may believe are obvious.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What limitation does the article place on the passenger’s statement about drinking?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It cannot describe his behavior
   2. It cannot establish the case’s legal outcome
   3. It cannot explain the message’s wording
   4. It cannot be considered by anyone
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It cannot establish the case’s legal outcome

   The statement explains his account but does not decide the legal case.

   Drinking can also affect judgment and word choice, although the passenger’s statement is not a legal decision about the case.

What to review next

Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.

Before you practise: a worked example

Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.

The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?

The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.

This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.