Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison

Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison

by ReadWorks

Thomas Edison and a phonograph

Thomas Edison, born in 1847, had a lot of trouble in school. He got poor grades and didn't
listen to the teacher. Instead, he would daydream. Perhaps he daydreamed about interesting
things he could make. His mother decided that she would teach Thomas at home. He started
reading as many books as he could to learn a lot about many different subjects.

Edison was most interested in learning how things were put together and how they worked.
He became a great student when he was able to study what interested him.

Thomas Edison went on to become a very famous inventor. He invented the motion picture
camera and the phonograph. He also improved the light bulb, electric motor, and typewriter.
He invented too many things to list! Edison created over 1,000 new things. His home and
laboratory in New Jersey is now a museum.
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 Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison - Vocabulary: improve

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word improve?

A. to make better
B. to get ready
C. destroy by fire

2. What is another meaning of the word improve?

A. to require
B. get better
C. speak softly

Please use each answer choice only once. Choose the one word that best
completes the sentence.

3. This means you have _____ your jogging time by two minutes.

A. improved
B. improvement
C. improves
D. improve
E. improving
F. improvements

4. I think lots of holes in the paper really _____ them.

A. improved
B. improvement
C. improves
D. improve
E. improving
F. improvements

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 Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison - Vocabulary: improve

5. It can take a long time for _____ to show up.

A. improved
B. improvement
C. improves
D. improve
E. improving
F. improvements

6. Veterinarians must stay up to date on the latest medical _____.

A. improved
B. improvement
C. improves
D. improve
E. improving
F. improvements

7. But _____ the environment involves more than controlling pollution.

A. improved
B. improvement
C. improves
D. improve
E. improving
F. improvements

8. To _____ your mood, think about what's on your plate.

A. improved
B. improvement
C. improves
D. improve
E. improving
F. improvements

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 Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison - Vocabulary: improve

9. Please write your own sentence using the word improve.

Answers will vary.

10. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word improve so that
you can use it when you write or speak?

Answers will vary.

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 Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. Thomas Edison worked on all of the following EXCEPT

A. the light bulb

B. the cotton gin
C. the motion picture camera
D. the phonograph

2. Edison's mother taught him at home because

A. he had done poorly at school.

B. there was no school nearby.
C. she knew he would be a great inventor.
D. she was the teacher for the whole town.

3. Based on the passage, it can be concluded that

A. Edison's teachers could tell he would be a great inventor.

B. Edison's mother did not think he would do anything important.
C. Edison's education had a great effect on his career.
D. Edison received very little education as a child.

4. Read the following sentences: "He got poor grades and didn't listen to the teacher.
Instead, he would daydream. Perhaps he daydreamed about interesting things he could
make."

The word daydream means

A. to fall asleep during the day

B. to draw things in a book
C. to imagine things inside your head
D. to play games with friends

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 Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison - Comprehension Questions

5. This passage is mostly about

A. Edison's work on the electric light bulb.

B. Edison's education and accomplishments.
C. Edison's relationship with his mother.
D. why Edison struggled in school.

6. Describe how Edison learned things after he stopped going to school.

7. Based on the passage, why would Edison's home and laboratory be turned into a
museum?

8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence.

Edison learned about how things were put together and how they worked _______ he
became a great inventor.

A. but
B. before
C. after
D. although

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 Famous Inventors - Thomas Edison - Comprehension Questions

9. Vocabulary Word: famous: well known by other people.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence:

Answers will vary.

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