Famous People

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions

1. Do you know when the electric light bulb was invented?

Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb, the modern

telephone, and motion pictures.

2. How did people send long distance messages before the

invention of fax machines and e-mail?
3. What is a phonograph?

Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847. He was

taught at home by his mother, a former teacher. At 15, he became a
telegraph operator. In 1868, he moved to Boston to work for the
Western Union Telegraph Company.

4. If you invent something, how can you protect your

invention so that other people can not steal your idea?
5. Do you think most inventors become very rich?

About 1864, Edison invented an automatic telegraph repeater, his

first invention. His first patent was for an electric vote recorder. By
1869, he was a partner in a New York electrical firm. He used the
money he made in that business to buy a factory in New Jersey. He
then hired several scientists to invent or improve on many products,
including the typewriter. This business was very successful and he
became wealthy. He sold the factory in 1875.
Edison made many improvements to the telegraph, which he then
applied to the telephone to make it more usable. In 1876, he set up
another factory in New Jersey and hired scientists to work on new
inventions under his direction.
From 1877 to 1931, Edison and his team of scientists made many
discoveries. In 1877, Edison invented the phonograph, which made
him a great deal of money. In 1878, he began working on an electric
light bulb. The Edison Electric Light Company was soon mass
producing these lights. He also came up with ways to generate and
distribute the electricity to power these light bulbs.
In 1895, Edison improved the motion picture projector, and the
Edison Company eventually produced more than 1,700 motion
pictures. During the First World War, he contributed 45 new
inventions to the war effort, including an underwater searchlight and

COMPREHENSION
A. True or False. Read the statements below. If the
statement is true, write T beside the sentence. If it is
false, write F. If it is false, correct the information.
1. Thomas Edison owned Western Union Telegraph.

a ship-telephone system.

2. Thomas Edisons mother was once a teacher.

In his lifetime, Edison took out over 1,000 patents on his inventions.

3. Thomas Edisons first invention was the electric light bulb.

He slept only four hours a night and often worked for two or three
days without stopping. He died on October 18, 1931, in West
Orange, New Jersey. Edisons laboratory buildings and equipment

4. Thomas Edison was a great inventor.

5. Thomas Edison was born in Italy.

have been preserved.

1
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Famous People
Thomas Edison
B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences.
1. What was Thomas Edisons first job?
2. What were two of Edisons earliest inventions?
3. Why did Edison hire several scientists when he bought his New Jersey factory?
4. How did Edison become a wealthy man?
5. After Edison invented the electric light bulb, what did his company start to do?
6. How did Edison contribute to the First World War effort?
7. List eight products that Edison either invented or improved.

VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined words in the following sentences.
1. Edison made improvements to the telephone to make it more usable.
a) smaller
b) easier to use
c) louder
2. He set up another factory in New Jersey.
a) looked for
b) closed
c) started
3. He came up with ways to generate and distribute electricity.
a) walked
b) created
c) bought
4. He came up with ways to distribute the electricity to power these light bulbs.
a) buy
b) create
c) send out
5. During the First World War, he contributed 45 new inventions to the war effort.
a) airplanes
b) telephone system
c) trying very hard to do something
B. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
_____ 1. invent
_____ 2. former
_____ 3. hire
_____ 4. partner
_____ 5. improve
_____ 6. wealthy
_____ 7. contribute
_____ 8. patent
_____ 9. a great deal of
_____ 10. preserve

a) official protection of ones invention

b) rich
c) a lot
d) keep in good condition
e) previous; from an earlier time
f) give; join with others in helping
g) create or make something new
h) a person who owns a business with someone else
i) employ; give work to
j) make better

DISCUSS
1. What did people use for light before the
invention of electric light bulbs?
2. Have you ever spent any length of time
without electricity? Describe your situation.
3. What personal characteristics do you think
many inventors share?
4. What do you think has been the greatest
invention in the last few centuries?
5. How long do you think a patent should
last?

C. Choose the correct word from the left column above to complete the following sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

If you take your medicine and get lots of rest, your health will _______________________ quickly.
Bill Clinton was a _______________________ president of United States.
Most famous actors are very _______________________ and own very expensive homes.
He wants to close the business, but his _______________________ wants to try and keep it open.
The ABC Company is planning to _______________________ 20 new workers. You should apply.

2
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Famous People
Thomas Edison

ANSWER KEY
Please note:
The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson (page 4).
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1. Individual answer
2. Before the invention of faxes and email, people sent long distance messages via the telegraph.
3. A phonograph is a piece of equipment used to play sound stored on a round disk called a record.
4. You can protect inventions from being stolen by obtaining a patent, which is a legally binding agreement that prevents
anyone from copying your idea.
5. Individual answer
READING COMPREHENSION
A. True or False
1. F
2. T

3. F

4. T

5. F

B. Written Answers
1. Edisons first job was as a telegraph operator.
2. Edisons earliest inventions included the automatic telegraph repeater and an electric vote recorder.
3. Edison hired several scientists to invent or improve on many products, including the typewriter.
4. Edison invented many products, like the phonograph, which made him a great deal of money.
5. After the lightbulb, the Edison Company improved the motion picture projector and eventually produced more than
1700 motion pictures.
6. During the First World War, Edison contributed 45 new inventions to the war effort, including an underwater
searchlight and a ship-telephone system.
7. telegraph repeater; phonograph; electric vote recorder; typewriter; light bulb; motion picture projector; underwater
search light; ship telephone system.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Match the meaning
1. b
2. c
B. Matching
1. g
9. c

2. e
10. d

C. Fill in the blanks

1. improve

3. b

4. c

5. c

3. i

4. h

5. j

2. former

3. wealthy

6. b

4. partner

7. f

5. hire

3
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8. a

Famous People
Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb, the modern telephone, and motion pictures.
Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847. He was taught at home by his mother, a former teacher. At
15, he became a telegraph operator. In 1868, he moved to Boston to work for the Western Union Telegraph
Company.
About 1864, Edison invented an automatic telegraph repeater, his first invention. His first patent was for an electric
vote recorder. By 1869, he was a partner in a New York electrical firm. He used the money he made in that
business to buy a factory in New Jersey. He then hired several scientists to invent or improve on many products,
including the typewriter. This business was very successful and he became wealthy. He sold the factory in 1875.
Edison made many improvements to the telegraph, which he then applied to the telephone to make it more usable.
In 1876, he set up another factory in New Jersey and hired scientists to work on new inventions under his
direction.
From 1877 to 1931, Edison and his team of scientists made many discoveries. In 1877, Edison invented the
phonograph, which made him a great deal of money. In 1878, he began working on an electric light bulb. The
Edison Electric Light Company was soon mass producing these lights. He also came up with ways to generate and
distribute the electricity to power these light bulbs.
In 1895, Edison improved the motion picture projector, and the Edison Company eventually produced more than
1,700 motion pictures. During the First World War, he contributed 45 new inventions to the war effort, including an
underwater searchlight and a ship-telephone system.
In his lifetime, Edison took out over 1,000 patents on his inventions. He slept only four hours a night and often
worked for two or three days without stopping. He died on October 18, 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey.
Edisons laboratory buildings and equipment have been preserved.

4
Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact info@esl-library.com for complete details.