FUN FACTS ABOUT THOMAS EDISON

-Edison was born in 1847 in Ohio. He was the youngest of seven children

- Edison’s mother was an excellent school teacher. That is probably why she was able to teach Edison so well. Edison said about his mother “All that  am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother”

- Edison’s mother let him set up a chemistry lab in the basement, which made his father very nervous

- Thomas Edison has scarlet fever when he was a child. The disease left him almost deaf.

- When Edison was twelve, he started publishing and selling a newspaper to train passengers.

- Edison started a fire in a train car doing chemistry experiments. He was kicked off the train

- Edison submitted his last invention for patent when he was 80 years old. He had 1093 inventions.

- Edison was a devotee of hard work, often logging over 90 hours a week in his office and labs, punching the time clock just like everyone else and also catching a quick nap when he could refresh himself

- Think about this. He was purported to have conducted over 3000 experiments to perfect his light bulb filament, and over 15,000 experiments to get his nickel-iron storage batteries right. How many people do you know who have this kind of work discipline? Do you?

17. How many siblings did Edison have?

            A. 4                             B. 5                             C. 6                             D. 7

18. What was Edison’s mother’s job?

            A. a nurse                    B. a teacher                 C. a farmer                  D. a housewife

19. It can be inferred from the passage that

            A. Edison’s mother had a big impact on him             B. Edison didn’t love his mother

            C. Edison was deaf                                                     D. Edison had 7 sisters and brothers

20. According to the passage, which of the following information is NOT true?

            A. Edison started selling a newspaper to train passengers at the age of twelve

            B. Edison was so hard-working that he spent more than 10 hours a day in his office and labs

            C. Edison supposedly conducted over 3,000 experiments to perfect his light bulb filament

            D. Edison was completely deaf due to a disease

Read the following passage, and answer the questions that follow

Ohio

In 1878, Thomas Edison began serious research into developing a practical incandescent lamp and on October 14, 1878, Edison filed his first patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights". In 1879 he created a successful incandescent light bulb. This was his hardest project – from 1877 to 1880, Edison and his assistants tried around 3000 experiments to perfect their light bulb design. By the end of 1880, Edison had produced a bulb that lasted 1500 hours. This discovery marked the beginning of commercially manufactured light bulbs and in 1880, Thomas Edison’s company, Edison Electric Light Company began marketing its new product.

When was Edison born?

A. in 1878

B. in 1847

C. in 1877

D. in 1500

Read the following passage, and answer the questions that follow

Ohio

In 1878, Thomas Edison began serious research into developing a practical incandescent lamp and on October 14, 1878, Edison filed his first patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights". In 1879 he created a successful incandescent light bulb. This was his hardest project – from 1877 to 1880, Edison and his assistants tried around 3000 experiments to perfect their light bulb design. By the end of 1880, Edison had produced a bulb that lasted 1500 hours. This discovery marked the beginning of commercially manufactured light bulbs and in 1880, Thomas Edison’s company, Edison Electric Light Company began marketing its new product.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. A brief history of the light bulb

B. The early life of Thomas Edison

C. Family of Thomas Edison

D. Thomas Edison’s company

Read the following passage, and answer the questions that follow

Ohio

In 1878, Thomas Edison began serious research into developing a practical incandescent lamp and on October 14, 1878, Edison filed his first patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights". In 1879 he created a successful incandescent light bulb. This was his hardest project – from 1877 to 1880, Edison and his assistants tried around 3000 experiments to perfect their light bulb design. By the end of 1880, Edison had produced a bulb that lasted 1500 hours. This discovery marked the beginning of commercially manufactured light bulbs and in 1880, Thomas Edison’s company, Edison Electric Light Company began marketing its new product.

Where was Edison’s laboratory?

A. at his school

B. in a company

C. in the city

D. in their basement

Read the following passage, and answer the questions that follow

Ohio

In 1878, Thomas Edison began serious research into developing a practical incandescent lamp and on October 14, 1878, Edison filed his first patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights". In 1879 he created a successful incandescent light bulb. This was his hardest project – from 1877 to 1880, Edison and his assistants tried around 3000 experiments to perfect their light bulb design. By the end of 1880, Edison had produced a bulb that lasted 1500 hours. This discovery marked the beginning of commercially manufactured light bulbs and in 1880, Thomas Edison’s company, Edison Electric Light Company began marketing its new product.

How many hours did the 1880 bulb last?

A. 3000

B. 1500

C. 1880

D. 1878

Read the following passage, and answer the questions that follow

Ohio

In 1878, Thomas Edison began serious research into developing a practical incandescent lamp and on October 14, 1878, Edison filed his first patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights". In 1879 he created a successful incandescent light bulb. This was his hardest project – from 1877 to 1880, Edison and his assistants tried around 3000 experiments to perfect their light bulb design. By the end of 1880, Edison had produced a bulb that lasted 1500 hours. This discovery marked the beginning of commercially manufactured light bulbs and in 1880, Thomas Edison’s company, Edison Electric Light Company began marketing its new product.

What does the word “its” in the last sentence refer to?

A. Thomas Edison’s company

B. Thomas Edison’s patent

C. Thomas Edison’s invention

D. Thomas Edison’s discovery

The invention of the phonograph happened quite by accident. Thomas Edison moved to Menlo Park, New Jersy in 1876, where he established an industrial research laboratory. There, Edison was working on a carbon telephone transmitter to improve the existing Bell telephone system. by accident = ACCIDENTALLY In that laboratory a year later, Edison invented the phonograph while he was trying to improve a telegraph repeater. He attached a telephone diaphragm to the needle in the telegraph repeater; in this way, he was able to reproduce a recording that could be played back. After he made some improvements to the machine, he tested it. He recited “Mary Had a Little Lamb” into the machine and played his voice back to a very surprised audience. 26. What is the best title for the passage? A. Thomas Edison’s many inventions B. Improvements in telephone and telegraph C. The History of Menlo Park D. An accidental invention 27. In what year did the invention of phonograph occur? A. 1876 B. 1877 C. 1878 D. the article does not say 28. What was Edison working on when he created the phonograph? A. A telegraph repeater B. A telegraph diaphragm C. A telephone repeater D. A telephone diaphragm 29. According to the passage, how was the phonograph made? A. With a telephone needle and a recorder B. From a recording of a telegraph C. With only a telegraph repeater D. From a combination of telephone & telegraph part 30. According to the passage, how did Edison test his new invention? A. He made improvements to the machine. B. He used a carbon transmitter. C. He read a children’s rhyme. D. He produced the audience voice. VI/Read the following passage, then choose the correct answer to questions Singapore is an island city of about three million people. It’s a beautiful city with lots of parks and open spaces. It’s also a very (1)______ city. Most of the people (2)______ in high-rise flats in different parts of the island. The business district is very modern with (3)______ of high new office buildings. Singapore also has some nice older sections. In Chinatown, there (4)______ rows of old shop houses. The government buildings in Singapore are very beautiful and date from the colonial days. Singapore is famous (5)______ its shops and restaurants. There are many good shopping centers. Most of the goods are duty free. Singapore’s restaurants sell Chinese, Indian, Malay and European food, and the prices are quite reasonable. 1. A. large B. dirty C. small D. clean 2. A. live B. lives C. are living D. lived 3. A. lot B. lots C. many D. much 4. A. is B. will be C. were D. are 5. A. in B. on C. at D. for

The invention of the phonograph happened quite by accident. Thomas Edison moved to Menlo Park, New Jerry in 1876, where he established an industrial research laboratory. There, Edison was working on a carbon telephone transmitter to improve the existing Bell telephone system.

          In that laboratory a year later, Edison invented the phonograph while he was trying to improve a telegraph repeater. He attached a telephone diaphragm to the needle in the telegraph repeater; in this way, he was able to reproduce a recording that could be played back. After he made some improvements to the machine, he tested it. He recited “Mary Had a Little Lamb” into the machine and played his voice back to a very surprised audience.

1.  In what year did the invention of phonograph occur?

       A. 1876                    B. 1877                C. 1878       D. the article does not say

2. Where was Edison working to improve the existing Bell telephone system?

          A. on a telephone  B. on a transmitter C. in a telephone system. D. in a laboratory

3.  What was Edison working on when he created the phonograph?

       A. A telegraph repeater                                    B. A telegraph diaphragm

       C. A telephone repeater                                   D. A telephone diaphragm

4. What does “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A. improvements            B. machine            C. telegraph          D. phonograph