Lesson 10
Thomas Alva Edison
Special English
Online Lecture
Textual Exercise
GLOSSARY
Assistant :
a person who helps or supports somebody
Bet : to
risk money on a race or an event by trying to predict the result
Bulb : the
glass part that fits into an electric lamp to give light.
Cigar : a
roll of dried tobacco leaves that people smoke like a cigarette but bigger and
without paper around it.
Filament :
a thin wire that produce light when electricity is passed through it.
Gramophone
: record player.
Inventor :
a person who has invented something.
Invention :
a thing or an idea that has been invented.
Job : work
for which someone receives regular payment.
Typewriter
: a machine that produces writing similar to print.
Employ : to
give somebody a job to do payment.
(Employer)
: a person or company that pays people to work for them.
Hatch : to
come out of eggs (young bird / fish , insect)
Improve :
to become better than before.
(Improvement)
: the act of making something better.
Born : to
come out of your mother’s body at the beginning of your life.
Laboratory
: a room or building used for scientific research.
Experiment
: scientific test that is carried out to gain new knowledges.
Telegraphy
: the process of sending messages by telegraph.
Extremely :
to a very high degree.
EXERCISE
1. 1. Read and Learn
A. Learn these phrases.
1. A lot of time
2. A large sum of money
3. in order to
4. turn off
5. talking machine
B. Fill in
the blank spaces using the phrases given above in their correct forms.
1. Scientists and inventors
spend …………… to invent new things.
2. Alexander Fleming worked very
hard ……….. find out penicillin mould.
3. General Lefferts offered
Edison ……………. to buy his new invention.
4. The modern gramophone is a
type of ……………… invented by Thomas Alva Edison.
5. Mr. Vajpayi’s house was
absolutely dark because all the lights had been ………………
Answer :
1. Scientists and inventors spend a lot of time to invent new things.
2. Alexander Fleming worked very hard in order to find out penicillin mould.
3. General Lefferts offered Edison a large sum of money to buy his new invention.
4. The modern gramophone is a type of talking machine invented by Thomas Alva Edison.
5. Mr. Vajpayi’s house was absolutely dark because all the lights had been turn off.
2. Comprehension
A. Answer
the questions given below.
(In not
more than three or four sentences each)
(i) What was
young Tom doing one day? Why was he doing so?
Ans. One day young Tom was sitting on eggs to hatch. He was doing so to find if he could also hatch like duck or hen.
(ii) When
did Tom start his experiments?
Ans. At the age of eight, Tom started his experiments.
(iii) Why
did young Edison lost many of his jobs?
Ans. Young Edison lost many of his jobs as he spent a lot of time in experimenting in order to find new things.
(iv) What
was Edison’s first important invention?
Ans. Edison's first important invention was a machine for sending messages.
(v) How did
Edison get the money he needed for starting a laboratory and a factory?
Ans. Edison got the money he needed for starting a laboratory and factory to sell his new invention to General Lefferts.
(vi) What
is a talking machine? What is a ‘talkie’?
Ans. A talking machine is one that can talk. The modern gramophone is an improvement on this talking machine. A 'talkie' is a talking machine, a modern cinema.
(vii) Why
did the Americans turn off their electric lights for a while when Edison died?
Ans. The Americans turned off their electric lights for a while when Edison died in order to respect him. Edison was the inventor of of electric bulb.
B. Read the following sentences and tick true
(T) or (F) false.
(i) Thomas Alva Edison is the inventor of gramophone and electric bulb. ( )
(ii) Edison was born in England. ( )
(iii) Edison
made telegraphy more useful.
(iv) General
Lefferts offered 40,000 dollars to buy Edison’s new invention.
(v) Edison’s
most important and useful invention is electric bulb.
(vi) Edison
produced the first ‘talkie’ or talking picture in 1915.
Answer.
(i) Thomas Alva Edison is the inventor of gramophone and electric bulb. (T)
(ii) Edison was born in England. (F)
(iii) Edison made telegraphy more useful. (T)
(iv) General Lefferts offered 40,000 dollars to buy Edison’s new invention. (T)
(v) Edison’s most important and useful invention is electric bulb. (T)
(vi) Edison produced the first ‘talkie’ or talking picture in 1915. (F)
3. Word Power
A. Write
one word for every clues given below:
1. A person
who helps somebody. assistant.
2. A person
who has invented something. ………………
3. A thin
wire that produces light when the electricity passes through it …………..
4.
Scientific test that is carried out to gain new knowledge…………….
5. To a
very high degree.
6. A
machine that produces writing similar to print……………….
7. The
person who gives somebody a job to do for payment……………..
Answer:
1. A person who helps somebody. assistant.
2. A person who has invented something. - Inventor.
3. A thin wire that produces light when the electricity passes through it - Filament
4. Scientific test that is carried out to gain new knowledge - Experiment.
5. To a very high degree. -Extreme.
6. A machine that produces writing similar to print - Typewritter.
7. The person who gives somebody a job to do for payment -Employer.
B. Use the
following words in the sentences given below:
Intelligent experiments messages
Telegraph operator respect
1. Edison learnt telegraphy and started working
as a……………
2. We can
send more …………………. Through telegraph.
3.
Americans ………………. Edison because of his contribution as a scientists.
4. Edison’s
mother knew that he was very ………………
5. Madam
Curie did several …………………. As a scientist.
Answer:
1. Edison learnt telegraphy and started working as a telegraph operator
2. We can send more messages through telegraph.
3. Americans respect Edison because of his contribution as a scientists.
4. Edison’s mother knew that he was very intelligent.
5. Madam Curie did several experiments as a scientist.
4. Grammar in Use
A. Form
nouns ending in ‘-er’ from the verbs in the list given below and give their
meanings in the way the example does. You can use a dictionary or ask your
teacher.
Speak suffer sweep teach drive observe
borrow employ build rule
Example:
A B C
Suffer suffered one
who suffers
drive driver one
who drives a car. Motor cycle, scooter etc.
Sweep sweeper one who cleans and sweeps
teach teacher one who teaches the students
drive driver one who drives a car, bus etc.
observe observer one who observe the things and persons
borrow borrower one who get s money
employ employer one who gives employ to somebody
build builder one who builds a house, road etc.
rule ruler one who governs state, nation etc.
B. Write ten meaningful sentences from this table:
|
The young man Ram and Gopal The team The two brothers |
Worked hard Practiced everyday
Played very cleverly |
In order to |
Win the match
Come first |
Answer:
1. The young man worked hard in order to come first.
2. Ram and Gopal practiced everyday in order to win the match
3. The team practiced everyday in order to win the match.
4. The two brothers worked hard in order to come first.
5. Ram and Gopal played very cleverly in order to come first.
6. The team played very cleverly in order to win the match.
7. Ram and Gopal worked hard in order to come first.
8. The young man played very cleverly in order to win the match.
9. The young man practised every day in order to win the match.
10. The two brothers played very cleverly in order to win the match.
C. Re-arrange
the words in the following sentences and rewrite them to make meaningful
sentences. Use capitals wherever necessary:
(a) jobs/
lost / Edison / many /
(b) the /
bet / is / what?/
(c) his / worked
/ till/ the very end/ Edison / hard / of / life./
(d) was /
lucky / father / how / your./
(e)
surprised / very / am / I/./
Answer :
(a) Edison lost many jobs.
(b) What is the bet?
(c) Edison worked hard till the very end of his life.
(d) How lucky was your father!
(e) I am very surprised./
5. Lets Talk
Talk to
your partner and say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ and tick the correct option:
1. Scientist
and inventors have made the greatest contribution to mankind.
2.
Education is necessary for all.
3.
Telephone was invented by Graham Bell.
4. Oxygen
is not essential for living beings.
5. We
should hurt animals.
6. Playing
and exercise are not good for health.
7. We
should always try to speak the truth.
8. Always
help your friends and neighbours.
Answer :
1. Scientist and inventors have made the greatest contribution to mankind. (Yes)
2. Education is necessary for all. (Yes)
3. Telephone was invented by Graham Bell. (Yes)
4. Oxygen is not essential for living beings. (No)
5. We should hurt animals. (No)
6. Playing and exercise are not good for health. (No)
7. We should always try to speak the truth. (Yes)
8. Always help your friends and neighbours. (Yes)
6. Let’s Write
Write a
paragraph on:
1 .
Electric bulb 2.
Gramophone
7. Let’s Do It
Take a
cotton pad. Soak it in water and put some gram seeds on it. Watch the seeds bud
out in a day or two. You will have to wet the cotton pad every day.
(Record
what you observe everyday for five days.