Practice Test 9

Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, has a history as rich and complex as its intricate designs. The name itself comes from two Japanese words: ori, meaning "to fold," and kami, meaning "paper." While paper was invented in China, it was introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks in the sixth century. At first, paper was a rare and expensive luxury, so folded paper objects were used primarily for religious ceremonies and as special gifts.

Traditionally, origami is made from a single square sheet of paper without any cuts or glue. As paper became more affordable, origami evolved from a ceremonial art into a popular recreational activity. The crane is perhaps the most famous origami design, believed to grant a wish to anyone who folds one thousand of them.

In modern times, the principles of origami have been applied in surprising ways. Scientists and engineers use origami techniques to solve complex problems. For instance, these folding patterns have inspired the design of car airbags that deploy quickly and safely, solar panels for satellites that can be folded compactly for launch and then expanded in space, and tiny surgical instruments that can be inserted into the body and then unfolded to perform delicate operations.

Bessie Coleman dreamed of flying when few women, and no African American women at all, were pilots. Born in Texas in 1892, she moved to Chicago as a young woman and heard exciting stories from pilots returning from World War I. Inspired, she decided she wanted to soar through the clouds, too. However, because she was both a woman and African American, no flight school in the United States would accept her.

Determined, Bessie did not give up. She saved her money, learned to speak French, and in 1920, she sailed to France. There, she was accepted into a well-known aviation school. In just seven months, she earned her international pilot's license, becoming the first woman of African American and Native American descent to do so.

Returning to the United States as a celebrity, "Queen Bess," as she was known, became a famous stunt pilot in airshows. She was known for her daring loops and dives. Yet, she used her fame for a purpose. She refused to perform anywhere that segregated Black and white audiences and dreamed of opening her own flight school to give other African Americans the chance to fly. Though her life was tragically cut short in a plane crash, her legacy of courage continues to inspire people today.