On January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born on MIlk Street in the town on Boston, Massachusetts !

e was the youn"est son amon" the se#enteen chil$ren o% Josiah Franklin, a can$le maker &he whole %amily worke$ in the little sho', makin" can$les %rom the %at o% shee' (oun" Franklin $i$ not like the smell o% can$les an$, when no one was watchin", o%ten le%t the sho' to "o $own to the harbor Because Boston was the lar"est 'ort in the )merican colonies, youn" Ben was able to see shi's %rom e#ery nation !e tells us in one o% his later writin"s that he ha$ *a hankerin" %or the sea+ I% his %ather ha$ allowe$ it, he woul$ ha#e le%t Boston an$ become a sailor Josiah Franklin "rew #ery an"ry with this troublesome son !e re%use$ to let him "o to sea but he "a#e him his choice between makin" can$les an$ workin" in the sho' o% his brother James, a 'rinter Ben chose 'rintin" an$ si"ne$ a 'a'er that re,uire$ him to work %or his brother until he ha$ reache$ the a"e o% twenty two Ben was a #ery "oo$ 'rinter !e learne$ #ery ,uickly how to mana"e the 'resses an$ 'ut letters to"ether to make wor$s !e like$ the 'rintsho' chie%ly because by workin" there he coul$ learn more about books !e became %rien$ly with other boys o% his own a"e who worke$ %or owners o% bookstores &hese boys o%ten lent him books at ni"ht, i% he woul$ 'romise to return them early the ne-t mornin" be%ore the sho's o'ene$ Many times, Ben sat u' the whole ni"ht rea$in" an$ stu$yin" because he was so ea"er to learn Since he ha$ not been able to "o to school %or e#ery lon", he ha$ to be his own teacher James "a#e his brother a be$ an$ his %oo$, but #ery little money !owe#er, Ben $i$ sa#e a %ew 'ennies to buy books. /hen he ha$ rea$ these books, he sol$ them an$ bou"ht others /hen the other 'rinters went out at noon to eat a hea#y meal in a restaurant, Ben remaine$ in the 'rintsho' eatin" #ery little an$ s'en$in" the rest o% his lunch time with book In 1701, James Franklin be"an to 'ublish a news'a'er, the 1ew 2n"lan$ 3ourant Ben ha$ tau"ht himsel% to write well by rea$in" "oo$ authors !e woul$ out $own his own thou"hts co'yin" the style o% a %amous writer, an$ then woul$ rea$ the authors books a"ain to see how e-act his imitation was !e be"an to write %or the 3ourant, 'reten$in" to be an$ ol$ woman calle$ *Silence 4o"oo$ + James 'rinte$ letters %rom Mrs 4o"oo$ in the 3ourant $urin" the s'rin" an$ summer o% 1700 &hese letters ma$e %un o% #arious 'eo'le an$ thin"s in Boston, an$ because o% them James was 'ut in 'rison 2#en thou"h he woul$ not tell the authorities who ha$ written the letters, James was release$

Because Ben was a%rai$ o% bein" name$ as the author o% the o%%ensi#e letters, he $eci$e$ to lea#e Boston an$ "o to 1ew (ork In those $ays, 1ew (ork was such a small city that it $i$ not ha#e a news'a'er In %act, there was only one 'rinter /hen Ben aske$ him %or a job, he sai$ he $i$ not nee$ hel' an$ a$#ise$ Ben to "o on to 5hila$el'hia, the lar"est city in the colonies at that time Ben arri#e$ in 5hila$el'hia with #ery little money &he %irst thin" he $i$ was to buy three lar"e loa#es o% brea$ !e 'ut two o% the loa#es un$er his arms, an$ ate the other one, walkin" u' the main street o% 5hila$el'hia an$ lookin" at all the buil$in"s an$ 'eo'le ) youn" woman who saw how stran"e an$ awkwar$ he looke$ lau"he$ at him Ben remembere$ this meetin" all his li%e6 4eborah 7ea$ the youn" woman, later became Mrs Benjamin Franklin Ben be"an to work %or /illiam 8eimer, a 'rinter !e soon became the best 'rinter in 5hila$el'hia 4urin" his %ree time, he or"ani9e$ a club Most o% the members were workers, an$ the club was name$ %or their workin" clothes, *&he :eather )'ron + &he members met e#ery Fri$ay e#enin" an$ talke$ about science, 'olities, literature, an$ 'hiloso'hy )t the en$ o% each meetin" the member $eci$e$ what they woul$ $iscuss the %ollowin" week in or$er to be able to 're'are by rea$in" about the chosen subject Ben 'ro'ose$ that *&he :eather )'ron+ establish a 'ublic library to which 'eo'le coul$ belon" by 'ayin" a small amount e#ery month %or the use o% the library room an$ new books &his was the %irst 'ublic library in )merica Books were e-'ensi#e in the colonies in those $ays an$ there were no ma"a9ines &he closest thin" to the mo$ern ma"a9ine was the almanac, a ty'e o% book 'ublishe$ e#ery year "i#in" in%ormation about the weather to e-'ect an$ much "oo$ a$#ice on 'lantin" an$ har#estin" cro's &he almanac also note$ the $ays when the sun woul$ be %ar north or south, when the moon woul$ be %ull, an$ when the ti$es woul$ be hi"h or low It inclu$e$, too, amusin" stories an$ news scattere$ amon" the items o% in%ormation Ben Frankiln be"an to 'ublish almanacs in 17;0 !e 'reten$e$ that they ha$ been written by a 'erson calle$ 7ichar$ Saun$ers *5oor 7ichar$, *as Frankiln calle$ him, an$ his almanacs soon were know all o#er the colonies &hese little 'am'hlets ha#e been translate$ into almost e#ery known lan"ua"e /hy was 5oor 7ichar$s )lmanac so 'o'ular< First, Frankiln was a scientist, an$ e#erythin" that he 'rinte$ about the stars an$ 'lanets was a correct In a$$ition to $e'en$able in%ormation, there were 'ieces o% #erse an$ many short, wise sayin"s 5oor 7ichar$ belie#e$ that 'eo'le shoul$ work har$, sa#e their money, li#e sim'ly, an$ be honest In all sorts o% ways he tau"ht the

'eo'le o% all the colonies that the way to buil$ a 'ros'erous country was to be absolutely honest an$ thorou"h in whate#er they $i$ !ere are some 'ieces o% a$#ice %rom 5oor 7ichar$s )lmanac. ) wor$ to the wise is su%%icient &he use$ key is always bri"ht I% you lo#e li%e, $o not waste time, %or that=s what li%e is ma$e o% One to$ay is worth two tomorrows 8ee' your sho' will kee' you I% you woul$ ha#e a %aith%ul ser#ant, an$ one that you like, ser#e yoursel% ) small leak will sink a "reat shi' I% you woul$ know the #alue o% money, "o an$ try to borrow some 2-'erience kee's a $ear school, but %ools will learn in no other 2arly to be$ an$ early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, an$ wise In 17;7 Benjamin Franklin was a name$ the o%%icial 'ostmaster o% 5hila$el'hia &his was an im'ortant job because sen$in" mail ,uickly an$ re"ularly woul$ hel' to unite the 'eo'le o% the colonies Franklin was 'ostmaster %or %ourteen years, an$ %or a while he was hea$ o% the 'ostal system %or all o% the thirteen colonies By 17>1, when he "a#e u' the job, the combine$ 'ost the o%%ices were able to show a lar"e 'ro%it &his was the %irst time the 'ostal ser#ice in )merica ha$ e#er ma$e any money )t the same time, Franklin was clerk o% the 5ennsyl#ania )ssembly, which ma$e laws the colony )lways thinkin" o% ways to make li%e better %or the citi9ens o% 5hila$el'hia, he 'lanne$ a %ire $e'artment, a 'olice %orce, an$ a school which later became the ?ni#ersity o% 5ennsyl#ania In a little book calle$ 5ro'osals 7elatin" &o &he 2$ucation O% (outh In 5ennsyl#ania Franklin $escribe$ some o% his i$eas Schools, he thou"ht, shoul$ be built near the e$"e o% towns, where there was 'lenty o% room %or 'lay &he schools shoul$ be built near ri#ers so that 'u'ils coul$ swim e#ery $ay &he 'u'ils shoul$ eat sim'le, health%ul meals to"ether in one $inin" room 1ature as well as e$ucation, intereste$ Franklin !e wante$ men to a''ly the laws o% nature in 'ractical ways an$ to corres'on$ with each other about what they ha$ $isco#ere$ concernin" 'lants, animals, a"riculture, an$ the weather Franklin himsel% wrote many letters to other colonists about scienti%ic matters

:ater, he establishe$ the )merican 5hiloso'hical Society, now a "reat scienti%ic or"ani9ation with members all o#er the worl$ &he "rou', when it be"an, inclu$e$ a "eo"ra'her, a mechanic, a mathematician, an$ a scientist Franklin o%%ere$ to be the secretary &he members met e#ery month an$ $iscusse$ letters that they ha$ recei#e$ %rom other members in #arious 'arts o% the country &he story o% Franklin@s kite is known e#erywhere !e ha$ been e-'erimentin" with electricity, an$ in 17>1 ha$ 'ublishe$ a 'a'er sayin" that electricity an$ li"htnin" were the same thin" Both were bri"ht, both were the same yellow color, both ma$e a noise, both ma$e crooke$ %lashes, an$ both woul$ 'ass throu"h metal In or$er to test his claim, he an$ his son took a kite ma$e o% silk Abecause it is stron"er than 'a'erB, an$ a$$e$ a lon" wire to the to' an$ a 'iece o% silk to the en$ o% the strin" with which he controlle$ the kite ) metal key was hun" where the silk an$ the strin" met &hey %lew the kite un into a thun$erstorm kee'in" themsel#es $ry un$er a roo% /hen the kite reache$ the storm clou$s, Franklin notice$ that all the loose 'arts o% his strin" be"an to stan$ u' an$ shake /hen the kite touche$ li"htnin", a s'ark ran $own the strin" to the key6 a rush o% electric s'arks be"an to a''ear on the key )s the strin" became wetter, the s'arks came %aster &hey were s'arks o% electricity :i"htnin" was in$ee$ electricity Franklin $eci$e$ to use this knowle$"e in a 'ractical way !e in#ente$ the li"htnin" ro$ &his is a lar"e 'iece o% metal set on the hi"hest 'art o% a buil$in", like the wire on the to' o% his kite &he ro$ is connecte$ with the "roun$ by a lon" wire I% li"htnin" struck the buil$in" 'rotecte$ by the ro$, it woul$ be cau"ht by the tall ro$ an$ woul$ run $own the wire into the "roun$ &here woul$ be no $an"er o% %ire Franklin also in#ente$ the *o'en+ or *Franklin+ sto#e Most 'eo'le in his time cooke$ %oo$ an$ heate$ their rooms with o'en %ires &his was not a "oo$ system, howe#er, because most o% the heat went u' the chimney instea$ o% out into the room ) 'erson stan$in" close to a %ire'lace in or$er to "et warm woul$ be hot on one si$e, col$ on the other, an$ woul$ 're#ent the heat %rom reachin" other 'eo'le Franklin=s sto#e was an o'en boma$e o% iron &he %ire was a built insi$e the bo- an$ a 'i'e carrie$ the smoke u' the chimney &he C%lues were arran"e$ so e%%iciently that Franklin=s sto#e woul$ heat a room with only oneD%ourth as much coal or woo$ as a %ire'lace It coul$ be 'ut either a"ainst the wall or in the mi$$le o% the room Franklin is remembere$ es'ecially %or his work in the %ormation o% the ?nite$ States o% )merica /hen the 7e#olution be"an, a committee o% %i#e men was

aske$ to write a 'a'er e-'lainin" to the worl$ their reasons %or the war with 2n"lan$ Franklin was one o% the members o% the committee In 1776, he an$ the other members o% the committee wrote the %amous 4eclaration o% In$e'en$ence Eery soon a%ter the 7e#olution be"an, Franklin was a sent as Minister to France !e was aske$ to 'ersua$e the French kin" to hel' the )merican cause &his was a $i%%icult task, %or the )mericans ha$ been $e%eate$ a"ain an$ a"ain $urin" the %irst year o% the war In 1777, when the 2n"lish Feneral Bur"oyne was a %orce$ to surren$er his whole army to the )mericans, the French "o#ernment $eci$e$ to enter the war Franklin, re'resentin" the new ?nite$ States si"ne$ the *&reaty o% 3ommerce an$ C )lliance+ with France In this treaty, France reco"ni9e$ the ?nite$ States as an in$e'en$ent country an$ a"ree$ to sen$ an army to )merica to hel' $e%eat the 2n"lish In 17G1, :or$ 3ornwallis surren$ere$ to the French an$ )merican armies at (orktown, Eir"inia )%ter the war, Franklin staye$ in 2uro'e to make the 'eace treaty with 2n"lan$ &his treaty, si"ne$ in 17G;, was a #ery %a#orable to the ?nite$ States Franklin was "la$ the war was o#er !e belie#e$ that there was *ne#er a "oo$ war or a ba$ 'eace + John )$ams )lso %rom Massachusetts, an$ the secon$ 5resi$ent o% the ?nite$ States, may ha#e been ri"ht when he sai$ that Franklin=s re'utation was "reater than that o% the %amous 'hiloso'hers an$ scientists :eibnit9 an$ 1ewton6 the warlike 8in" o% 5russia, Fre$erick the Freat6 or the re%ormer an$ writer, Eoltaire In March, 17G>, 3on"ress recalle$ Franklin, who ha$ ser#e$ his country abroa$ %or ei"ht years, an$ a''ointe$ &homas Je%%erson )merican )mbassa$or to France in Franklin=s 'lace In acce'tin" the a''ointment, Je%%erson sai$ that thou"h he mi"ht %ollow Franklin, neither he nor any man coul$ really re'lace him )lmost as soon as Franklin returne$ to 5ennsyl#ania, he was electe$ 5resi$ent o% the 2-ecuti#e 3ouncil o% that new state &his o%%ice resemble$ that o% "o#ernor to$ay !e $i$ not want to work in 'ublic ser#ice any more, but he %elt that he coul$ not $isa''oint those who wishe$ him to ser#e in this way, an$ so he acce'te$ the 'osition 4urin" this time, Franklin or"ani9e$ one o% the %irst antiDsla#ery societies in the worl$ !e wrote an$ si"ne$ the %irst 'rotest a"ainst sla#ery e#er sent to the 3on"ress o% the ?nite$ States

Franklin was an honore$ member o% e#ery im'ortant scienti%ic society in the worl$ !e e-chan"e$ letters with such %amous 'hiloso'hers an$ scientist as 4a#i$ !ume, the Scottish 'hiloso'her, 4r Jose'h 5riestly, the 2n"lish scientist6 an$ 2$mun$ Burke, the 2n"lish statesman )s an ol$ man, Franklin remaine$ acti#e in his own country=s "o#ernment /hen a con#ention met in 5hila$el'hia to write a constitution that woul$ more closely unite the thirteen ,uarrelin" states, he hel'e$ to "ui$e these meetin"s e#en thou"h he was the ei"htyDone years ol$ Franklin was success%ul in many %iel$s !e contribute$ a "reat $eal to the $e#elo'ment o% science, he was a brilliant journalist, an$ he was always intereste$ in im'ro#in" the wel%are o% mankin$ !e encoura"e$ 'ublic e$ucation, an$ was one o% the "reatest statesmen o% his country !e $i$ more than any other )merican o% his $ay to make )merica res'ecte$ in the ol$ countries or 2uro'e /hen he $ie$ in )'ril, 17H0, he was uni#ersally mourne$ &he small town o% 3oncor$ Massachusetts is %amous as the scene o% one o% the %irst battles in the )merican 7e#olutionary /ar &hese &horeau was born in 1G17 an$ there he s'ent most o% his li%e, sel$om tra#elin" #ery %ar away 3oncor$ later became %amous as a home %or 'hiloso'hers, but &horeau was the only real nati#e amon" them6 the others cane there %rom $i%%erent 'laces &horeau=s %ather was 'art French6 his mother was the $au"hter o% a 1ew 2n"lan$ minister (oun" &horeau was tou"h an$ stron", but not han$some6 he ha$ a short bo$y, lon" le"s, an$ a bi" nose, his manners were e-tremely awkwar$ &hou"h the %amily wasn=t wealthy, they sent youn" !enry to the local 3oncor$ )ca$emy, where, as he sai$, he was *%itte$, or rather ma$e un%it, %or colle"e + !owe#er, he success%ully com'lete$ his e$ucation at !ar#ar$ 3olle"e in 1G;7, at the early a"e o% twenty !e $i$ not like to %ollow an or"ani9e$ course o% stu$y but 're%erre$ to s'en$ many hours in the library where the care%ul rea$in" o% books became the basis o% his e$ucation 2#en as a youn" man, he showe$ lo#e %or a %ree, sim'le li%e In some o% his colle"e 'a'ers he wrote a"ainst the *blin$ lo#e o% wealth,+ an$ state$ that a man shoul$ work only one $ay $urin" the week an$ *kee' the rest o% it %or joy an$ won$er+ I not %or "ettin" money, 'ro'erty, or 'ower !e consi$ere$ work a 'oor way to s'en$ one=s time, an$ belie#e$ that such e%%ort was a %oolish when com'are$ with enjoyment o% nature &horeau=s %ather earne$ his li#in" by makin" 'encils )%ter colle"e &horeau assiste$ his %ather %or while in the an$ $e#elo'e$ his style still %urther

Fershwin=s last serious work was 5or"y an$ Bess, base$ on the 'lay 5or"y, by 4ubose !eywar$, a writer %rom 3harleston, South 3arolina 5art o% the twenty months that Fershwin $e#ote$ to 're'arin" 5or"y an$ Bess was s'ent in 3harleston, listenin" to 1e"ro music there, the music o% the 1e"roes ha$ always %ascinate$ him, 'articularly as material %or the sta"e 5or"y an$ Bess is a true )merican o'era It tells a story about 'eo'le who seem #ery real an$ who are shown in moments o% "reat emotion /hen Fershwin=s bio"ra'her, 4a#i$ 2wen tol$ him that 5or"y an$ Bess was better than anythin" else he ha$ $one, Fershwin answere$. *I=m "la$ you think so, %or I really belie#e that now I=m be"innin" to com'ose + 3ritics like$ the o'era when it a''eare$ in 1J;>, althou"h they were not sure just how they shoul$ ju$"e it &he show ran %or 100 'er%ormances, an$ was only mo$erately success%ul Its 'rinci'al melo$ies were arran"e$ %or orchestra an$ 'laye$ aroun$ the country, an$ the 'ublic "ra$ually became %amiliar with the music In 1JK0, when a new 'ro$uction o% the o'era was 'resente$, it was recei#e$ enthusiastically both in 1ew (ork an$ in other cities In 1J;> an$ 1J>6 5or"y an$ Bess was 'er%orme$ in numerous cities in 2uro'e an$ South )merica by an )merican com'any It was so 'o'ular that it remaine$ %or a whole week at :a Scala in Milan &he 2uro'eans like$ its unusual music, an$ the o'era e#en tra#ele$ as %ar as 7ussia Fershwin $i$ not li#e to see the trium'h o% the work that he consi$ere$ his best creation !e $ie$ in 1J;7 at the early a"e o% ;J, ha#in" brou"ht a new lan"ua"e to serious music in )merica an$ ha#in" enriche$ )merican 'o'ular music with $o9ens o% un%or"ettable melo$ies L?2S&IO1S )14 2M273IS2S Benjamin Franklin 2M273IS2S A. Decide which item best completes each unfinished sentence. 1. When Franklins father allowed him to choose a trade, he. a b c :e%t Boston to become a sailor Became a can$le marker Be"an to work as a 'rinter in his brother@s sho'

2. Franklin was educated.

a b c

)t home by 'ri#ate teachers By rea$in" an$ stu$yin" $urin" all his %ree time )t !ar#ar$ 3olle"e

3. ames Franklin, !ens brother, was imprisoned because.. a b c !e 'rinte$ Ben@s letters makin" %un o% #arious 'eo'le in Boston !e re%use$ to 'ay his ta-es !e 'rinte$ articles in &he 3ourant a"ainst the British "o#ernment

". #he $%eather Apron& was a club or'ani(ed to discuss a b c &he manu%acture or a'rons In$ian 'roblems Science, 'olities, literature an$ 'hiloso'hy

). *oor +ichards Almanac was. a b c ) 'am'hlet containin" use%ul in%ormation, 'ieces o% #erse an$ short wise sayin"s ) book about the li%e o% 7ichar$ Franklin, Ben@s "ran$%ather ) 'am'hlet $escribin" Franklin@s e-'eriments with the kite an$ the sto#e

,. Franklins e-periment with the kite a b c /as unsuccess%ul because the win$ broke the strin" an$ the kite was lost 5ro#e$ that li"htnin" was electricity 5ro#e$ that a sto#e was better than an o'en %ire'lace %or heatin" a room

.. Franklin was a member of the committee which.. a b c /rote the 4eclaration o% In$e'en$ence 5roteste$ a"ainst the war with 2n"lan$ 7e%use$ to sin" the new 3onstitution

/. Franklin went to France.

a b c

&o esca'e ser#in" in the 7e#olutionary )rmy &o arran"e %or the sale o% his sto#e in 2uro'e &o 'ersua$e the French kin" to hel' the )merican cause

0. After 1eneral !ur'o2ne surrendered his whole arm2 to the Americans, France. a b c 7ushe$ to the ai$ o% the British %orces 7e%use$ to inter%ere in this war between 2n"lan$ an$ the ? S 7eco"ni9e$ the in$e'en$ence o% the ? S an$ sent an army to hel' $e%eat the 2n"lish Franklin or'ani(ed one of the first

13. a b c

)thletic clubs in the ? S )nti I sla#ery societies in the worl$ 5olitical clubs %or women At the a'e of /1, Franklin

11. a b c

7etire$ to the country to %ish an$ hunt /ent to li#e in 2uro'e !el'e$ to "ui$e the meetin"s o% the 3on#ention in 5hila$el'hia which met to write a constitution that woul$ more closely unite the thirteen states 4n the e2es of 5urope, Franklin.

12. a b c

/as a symbol o% )merican $emocracy /as a %ailure as an ambassa$or /as a %oolish ol$ man

!. 6hoose for each blank a noun related to the italici(ed word. 2-am'le. ) 'erson who teaches is a teacher 1 0 ; ) 'erson who in#ents new machines is an NNNN ) 'erson who stu$ies or teaches 'hiloso'hy is a NNN ) 'erson workin" in the 'ro%ession o% journalism is a NNNNN

K > 6 7 G J

) 'erson who con$ucts scienti%ic e-'eriments is a NNNN ) 'erson who belie#es in the 'rinci'les o% $emocracy is a NNNN ) 'erson who settles in a colony is a NNNNN ) 'erson who is in#ol#e$ in 'olitics is a NNNNN ) 'erson who has stu$ie$ mathematics is a NNNNN ) 'erson who 'rints news'a'er, ma"a9ines, an$ a 'am'hlets is a NNNNNNNN

10 ) 'erson who e$ucates stu$ents is an NNNNN