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Inventions

Reading Comprehension

A lot of people say that science is not their ‘thing’, but common inventions wouldn't have been possible without science.

From the earliest tools to the current digital advances, these are some of the inventions that have changed our world and transformed the way we live. Many of them are essential for us.

Human inventions and technologies have completely changed our lives. Most of these inventions were invented by numerous people. Our world has many innovative thinkers that continue to create and develop.

Below is a list of those inventions that have definitely made a difference in our world. They truly are revolutionary.

Wheel

The invention of the wheel has been very important for technology in general. The wheel made it possible to transport heavy things. The invention of the wheel has been credited to the Elamites because their sculptures are the earliest to show

Compass

The compass was invented more than 2000 years ago. The first were made in Han dynasty China (20 BC – 20 AD). The compass was later used for navigation. Some historians suggest that the Arabs introduced the compass from China to Europe. Some suggested the compass was transmitted from China to Europe and the Islamic world via the Indian Ocean. However, some scholars proposed an independent European invention of the compass.

Automobile

Automobile – In 1885, Karl Benz developed a petrol or gasoline automobile. This is also considered to be the first "production" vehicle. In 1913, the Ford Model T, created by the Ford Motor Company five years before, became the first automobile to be mass-produced on a moving assembly line. By 1927, Ford had produced over 15,000,000 Model T automobiles.

Petrol

A yellowish-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. It is commonly refined into various types of fuels. Unfortunately, the use of petrol as fuel causes global warming.

Airplane

Airplane – Airplanes come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Airplanes are used for  recreation, transportation of goods and people and are available for military services. The first airplane was invented and flown in 1903 by the Wright brothers. The Boeing 707, the first widely successful commercial jet, was in service for more than 50 years, from 1958 to at least 2013.

One thing that is clear after reading about these inventions, is our constant desire to improve and develop. Human beings have achieved so much and come so far. Our world is a wonderful place, let’s be proud of our inventions.

Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Vocabulary Activity

Read the text again and find the words that match these definitions.

  1. Any instrument of manual operation:
  2. The act of inventing:
  3. Radically new or innovative:
  4. A rotating instrument:
  5. An instrument for determining directions:
  6. Ready for use:
  7. Absolutely necessary; indispensable:
  8. To get or attain by effort:
  9.  To bring into a more desirable or excellent condition:
  10. Feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something:

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Listening activity

The Wheel: great invention that changed history.

Watch this video and decide if the following sentences are true or false.

Question 1

1. The wheel is one of the oldest inventions of humanity.

Question 2

2. Wheels are only necessary for cars and bicycles.

Question 3

3. According to archeaologists, the wheel was invented in Mesopotamia 5000 years ago.

Question 4

4. Human beings used tree trunks to move heavy things.

Question 5

5. Potter’s need carriages to work easier and faster.

Question 6

6. Thanks to the wheel, animals move weight with less effort.

Question 7

7. Human beings are surrounded by wheels everywhere.