A Paper Plane Should be Made By Folding a Single Sheet of A4 GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

A paper plane should be made by folding a single sheet A4 (812 in × 11 in)paper and not involve any cuts or the addition of anything such as sticky tape, glue, or weights.The indoor flight record for such a plane is over 60 m. The aerodynamics involved are as complex as the principles behind any plane, but the secret to one built from paper is the ease of construction, folds that impart strength, the correct location of the center of balance, minimum drag and maximum lift. The key to a successful design is the nose and wing shape. The best designs seem to involve a blunt nose made from multiple folds. This makes the craft strongest at the point of impact in the (hopefully) many crash landings. It also sets the center of gravity further back than on a pointed nose design and so affords more stable flight. The wing shape that affords the longest flights is delta, which is cambered upwards to increase lift by forcing the air as it passes over the wing through a greater angle. A plane with such wings is capable of flight in excess of 20 seconds when launched from a height of 2 m in still air. Outside, where wind conditions and thermal lifts may be harnessed, flights may last considerably longer and go much further than 60 m.

“A Paper Plane Should be Made By Folding a Single Sheet of A4” is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grip in English GMAT reading comprehension. There are 3 multiple choice questions in the above GMAT Reading Comprehension passages. GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions are delineated to evaluate candidates’ abilities to analyze and be conceptual for the answers. Candidates can brace up and take preparation by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

Q1. The secret to the ultimate paper plane is best summed up as:

1. a plane with delta-shaped wings
2. getting the balance and shape right
3. the design of the nose and wing
4. using sticky tape, glue and weights
5. complex aerodynamic principles captured by simplicity of design

Q2. Which of the following points is made in the passage?

1. The nose should be heavy so as to realize stable flight.
2. The center of gravity should be towards the back to prevent stalling.
3. Viewed from the front the wings should give the plane a ‘v’ shape.
4. Wings should be slightly convex so that they increase lift.
5. The plane should have a pointed nose design.

Q3. Which of the following statements, if true, would most weaken the case made in the passage?

1. A paper plane should be made using cuts, glue and weights.
2. A flight of over 30 seconds has been achieved by a plane without delta wings made from a single sheet of paper only, in an indoor test where the air was still.
3. A paper plane made using cuts, glue and sticky tape would fly further than 60 m if launched indoors in still air.
4. A flight of over 60 m has been achieved by a plane made only from a single sheet of paper but with a pointed nose.
5. A flight of over 30 seconds has been achieved by a plane made from only a single sheet of paper with a pointed nose.

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