Задание

Read the text and choose the correct options.

Thomas Edison

Childhood and Education

Thomas Edison, an American inventor, had a challenging start in life. He battled hearing problems due to a childhood illness called scarlet fever. His mother, a teacher, took on the role of his educator, providing him with homeschooling instead of sending him to a traditional school.

Getting a Job

Edison's path to his first job was quite unexpected. One day, he saved a 3-year-old boy from being hit by a train. The boy's grateful father offered Edison a job as a telegraph operator. At the age of 19, he got a new job that allowed him to work at night, so that he could conduct his experiments. But Edison’s commitment to his experiments sometimes led to unexpected consequences. One night, he accidentally spilled sulfuric acid, which seeped through the floorboards and onto his boss's desk below. This incident resulted in Edison losing his job.

First Invention

In 1877, Edison invented the phonograph. This remarkable machine could both record and play back sound, using a large horn to amplify the audio. This invention made Edison famous and marked the beginning of his career as an inventor.

The Electric Lightbulb

One of Edison's most iconic inventions was the electric lightbulb. He aimed to create a source of light that didn't rely on oils or gas. He developed a lightbulb that could stay lit using electricity for an astonishing 13 ½ hours. This invention revolutionized the world by providing a reliable and efficient source of indoor lighting.

Legacy and Impact

Thomas Edison passed away in 1931 at the age of 84. Almost everyone in the world has used at least one of his inventions, the electric lightbulb. Even today, nearly a century later, we continue to rely on his groundbreaking innovations.

1. What challenges did Thomas Edison face in his childhood?

2. How did Edison get his first job?

3. Why did Edison lose his job as a telegraph operator?

4. What was Edison's first invention?

5. What was Edison's aim in inventing the electric lightbulb?

6. What was the impact of Edison's inventions?