Hazerfen Ahmet Çelebi was a brave and clever man from Turkey. He lived a long time ago, in the 17th century. Hazerfen wanted to do something amazing—he wanted to fly like a bird! He studied how birds fly and made special wings for himself.
One day, Hazerfen went to the top of a tall tower in Istanbul called the Galata Tower. The tower is very tall, and many people gathered to watch him. Hazerfen put on his wings and jumped off the tower! Everyone watched with big eyes and open mouths. Amazingly, Hazerfen flew across the Bosphorus, which is a big river in Istanbul, and landed safely on the other side. It was an incredible moment, and everyone was amazed.
But not everyone was happy about Hazerfen’s flight. The sultan, who was the ruler at that time, was worried. He thought that someone who could fly might be dangerous. So, the sultan sent Hazerfen to a faraway place called Algeria. Hazerfen lived there for the rest of his life. Even though he couldn’t come back home, people still remember him today as a great inventor and a brave man who dared to dream of flying.
Some historians believe that there was no such thing in Ottoman history and that it is just a legend.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What did Hazerfen Ahmet Çelebi want to do?
a) Swim across the Bosphorus
b) Fly like a bird
c) Climb a mountain
d) Build a tower
2. Where did Hazerfen Ahmet Çelebi start his flight?
a) From a mountain
b) From his house
c) From the Galata Tower
d) From the Bosphorus
3. What did Hazerfen use to help him fly?
a) A hot air balloon
b) A parachute
c) Special wings
d) A magic carpet
4. How did the people react when they saw Hazerfen fly?
a) They were scared
b) They were amazed
c) They were angry
d) They didn’t care
5. Why did the sultan send Hazerfen to Algeria?
a) Because Hazerfen was dangerous
b) Because Hazerfen wanted to go
c) Because Hazerfen was sick
d) Because Hazerfen asked to be sent
6. How do people remember Hazerfen Ahmet Çelebi today?
a) As a doctor
b) As a teacher
c) As an inventor and a brave man
d) As a singer
