Unit 5.

INVENTIONS

LANGUAGE FOCUS
Phonetics
Stress patterns: compound nouns and noun groups:
'Greenhouse, light 'house, 'answering machine ...
Grammar
- Gerunds and infinitives
You can use a backup to retrieve your data in the event malfunction.
Blankets are needed for keeping warm since heating is no use.
- The present perfect
He has left three messages on my answering machine but I'm not home, so please tell him to call me at
my grandparents' house.
Vocabulary
Words and phrases related to inventions
economical, patent...
I. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in
pronunciation in each of the following questions.
1. A. economical B. laptop C. collapse D. obvious
2. A. interested B. processed C. compounded D. extended
3. A. Velcro B. consume C. telephone D. composer
4. A. invention B. patent C. portable D. imitate
5. A. principles B. headphones C. earbuds D. contests
II. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of
primary stress in each of the following questions.
1. A. bulky B. tablet C. release D. fabric
2. A. portable B. submarine C. principle D. imitate
3. A. automatic B. accidential C. discovery D. innovation
4. A. innovative B. development C. original D. experiment
5. A. popularity B. manufacturer C. technological D. imagination
III. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the
following sentences.
1. Joseph Priestley was 18th-century clergyman and scientist fascinated by chemistry, electricity, optics and
A B C
many other subjects.
D
2. The first fully operational telegraph ran from 1839 between Paddington and West Drayton railway station in
A B C
London, but at first it was slow to catch on.
D
3. Carbon fibre is one of many inventions developed by military that are incredibly useful for us all.
A B C D
4. After the invention of the electric motor - which transforms rotation into electrical power - the next step was
A B C D
to find a device to drive it.
5. Invention of penicillin is credited to Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming in 1928, when he discovered that
A B
certain mold could kill bacterias.
C D
IV. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following sentences.
1. In 1886 in the United States, a pharmacist named Dr. John Pemberton tried to invent a medicine because he
wanted a cure for ____.
A. headache B. headaches C. a headache D. the headaches
2. Both inventors and engineers look for ways to improve things in areas like health, food, safety, transportation,
aerospace, electronics, ____, and the environment.
A. communication B. communicative C. communicator D. communicating
3. The European Patent Convention, which was implemented in 1977, created a European Patent Office that can
issue ____ European patent.
A. a B. an C. the D. no article
4. The first American ____ the propelling of a boat by steam was William Henry, a gunsmith of Lancaster,
Pennsylvania.
A. attempt B. to attempt C. attempting D. attempted
5. ____ with the internet, which is a system of linked computer networks, the worldwide web was invented by
British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee.
A. Not to confuse B. Not to be confused C. To be not confused D. Confused
not to be
6. The carbon dioxide gas given ____ by the fermenting vat was known as "fixed air".
A. off B. away C. out D. up
7. In 1772, Priestley published ____ description of how to make carbonated water, using sulphuric acid and
chalk.
A. an B. its C. a D. each
8. Priestley found he could dissolve the gas in the water and that it ____ a refreshing drink - of a kind that met
the approval of his clean-living, religious-minded friends.
A. makes B. made C. has made D. was made
9. ____ was Giovanni Luppis, an officer in the army of the Austrian empire, who first came up with the idea of
a self-propelled anti-ship weapon.
A. That B. There C. It D. He
10. The bicycle as we know it today was originally developed as the "safety bicycle", because other bikes ____
were extremely dangerous.
A. at the time B. at a time C. for a time D. for the time
11. Charles Macintosh, an amateur chemist, was experimenting with coal-tar naphtha, a chemical waste product,
and realized that it was a powerful solvent that ____ a solution from rubber.
A. will make B. would made C. can make D. could make
12. The invention of the telephone ____ the beginning of a new era in communication technology.
A. mark B. marks C. marked D. marking
13. It is the classical Athenians who can probably lay claim ____ the invention of commercial advertising as we
know it today.
A. to B. for C. of D. with
14. Ever ____ the invention of the hydrogen bomb, attempts have been made to harness the power of nuclear
fusion for peaceful purposes.
A. from B. since C. with D. for
15. The late 1800s and early 1900s ____ excitement over a wide array of inventions and developments.
A. brought B. have brought C. used to bring D. would bring
16. The invention of printing on paper provided a technology ____ which information could be stored over the
long term.
 A. under B. with C. for D. in
17. In the late 1970s, James Dyson designed a bagless vacuum cleaner which would not lose suction as it ____
up dirt.
A. picks B. picked C. is picking D. was picking
18. Since it was invented, the Dyson vacuum cleaner ____ one of the most popular brands in the UK.
A. becomes B. have become C. has become D. became
19. Throughout History Inventions ____ the world and the lives of people many times through history.
A. change B. have changed C. will change D. had changed
20. Vinton G. Cerf founded the InterNetworking Group in 1972 and this ____ the birth-year of the Internet.
A. has been since recognized as B. has been recognized since as
C. has since been recognized as D. has since been as recognized
21. The earliest computers were developed during World War II for processing ballistic numbers and numeric
analytics, but the thought of having machines ____ difficult mathematics can be traced back to England in the
years around 1800.
A. calculate B. calculating C. calculated D. to calculate
22. Some inventions make bigger impact on the public than ____, and some inventions quickly become part of
everyday life.
A. another B. other C. the other D. others
23. Chemical engineer, Doctor Robert G Bryant works for NASA's Langley Research Center and ____
numerous inventions.
A. patents B. has patented C. is patented D. has been patented
24. A patent invention is protected by law ____ only particular people or companies have the right to make or
sell it.
A. in order for B. in order to C. so that D. such that
25. Ever since the first prehistoric stone tools, ____ have lived in a world shaped by invention.
A. human B. humans C. humanity D. humankind
26. In the course of ____ why suction pumps would lift water only about 9 metres, Evangelista Torricelli
identified air pressure and invented the barometer.
A. investigate B. investigation C. investigating D. investigated
27. The key ____ inventive success often requires being in the right place at the right time.
A. for B. of C. in D. to
28. An invention developed ____ one purpose will sometimes find use in entirely different circumstances.
A. in B. with C. by D. for
29. A: "What do you think is the invention that has changed the world?"
B: “____”
A. You see. Everything can be changed. B. I think, the light bulb by Edison.
C. None of such things should be considered. D. The world must be changing fast.
30. A: "The Internet is the greatest invention of all time, isn't it?"
B: “____”
A. I don't think so, many other inventions have really changed our life.
B. Yes, the Internet helps us buy things we need online.
C. Sure, the number of netizens is growing larger and larger every day.
D. Actually, I don't use the Internet much for my business.
V. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s)
in each of the following sentences.
1. It was not until 1959, twenty-one years after Carlson invented xerography, that the first convenient office
copier using xerography was unveiled.
A. Known B. published C. popular D. common
2. The first American to propel a boat by steam successfully was John Fitch. Fitch was a frequent visitor at the
home of Henry, and probably got the idea of building a steamboat from him.
A. make B. drive C. board D. launch
3. It's hard to credit just one person with the invention of television, but it's indisputable that John Logie Baird
was the first to transmit moving pictures.
A. without doubt B. questionable C. always true D. permanent truth
4. Inventor, a person who brings ideas or objects together in a novel way to create an invention, something that
did not exist before.
A. practical B. interesting C. traditional D. unusual
5. As industry and commerce have become increasingly global in character, pressure has increased to harmonize
patent systems.
A. balance B. standardize C. popularize D. develop
VI. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the
following sentences.
1. Inventors are skilled at spotting ways to improve a situation or process.
A. Inventors are keen on spotting ways to improve a situation or process.
B. Inventors are practical in spotting ways to improve a situation or process.
C. Inventors are well-known for spotting ways to improve a situation or process.
D. Inventors are professionally trained to spot ways to improve a situation or process.
2. Scientists and inventors have made significant contributions to the lives of the common people.
A. Significant contributions have been made by scientists and inventors to the live of the common
people.
B. Scientists and inventors had contributed significantly to the lives of the common people.
C. The lives of the common people have been significantly constructed by scientists and inventors.
D. The contributions which scientists and inventors made to the lives of the common people was
significant.
3. Shockley's book describes the research leading to the invention of the transistor.
A. Shockley's book is a means of describing the invention of the transistor.
B. It is the invention of the transistor that is described in Shockley's book.
C. The research leading to the invention of the transistor is described in Shockley's book.
D. A description of the research leading to the invention of the transistor makes Shockley's book.
4. The more often ideas come together, the more frequently invention occurs.
A. Whenever more ideas come together, it comes to the occurrence of inventions.
B. The number of inventions that occur increases when a number of ideas come together.
C. It is only when more ideas come together that inventions occur more frequently.
D. The frequency of invention occurrence is decided by how often ideas come together.
5. Watt spent much time and money in making experiments, but nothing he tried succeeded.
A. Although Watt spent much time and money in making experiments, nothing he tried succeeded.
B. Despite his failure after trial and trial, Watt spent much time and money in making experiments.
C. As Watt spent too much time and money in making experiments, nothing he tried succeeded.
D. If Watt hadn't spent much time and money in making experiments, anything he tried would have
succeeded.
VII. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences given.
1. Engineering is a process for developing solutions to problems. Inventing is a process for creating things that
didn't exist before.
A. The difference between Engineering and Inventing lies in the process they are conducted.
B. Engineering finds solutions to problem, while inventing creates things not ever existing.
 C. Engineering focuses on developing solutions to problems, but inventing centers on creating new
things.
D. The result of engineering is the development of solutions to problems, but that of inventing is the
creation of new things.
2. Inventors' and engineers' initial ideas rarely solve a problem. Instead, they try different ideas, learn from
mistakes, and try again.
A. Instead of trying to solve a problem, inventors' and engineers' initial ideas are to try different ideas,
learn from mistakes, and try again.
B. Rarely do inventors' and engineers' initial ideas solve a problem rather than try different ideas, learn
from mistakes, and try again.
C. Because inventors' and engineers' initial Ideas rarely solve a problem, they try different ideas, learn
from mistakes, and try again.
D. Even though inventors' and engineers' initial ideas rarely solve a problem, they try different ideas,
learn from mistakes, and try again.
3. The story of each invention is interwoven with that of the life of its inventor. The lives of inventors furnish
materials of the highest educative value.
A. The story of each invention is interwoven with that of the life of its inventor, whose lives furnish
materials of the highest educative value
B. The story of each invention is interwoven with that of the life of its inventor, because his/her life
furnishes materials of the highest educative value.
C. The story of each invention is interwoven with materials of the highest educative value furnished by
the life of its inventor.
D. Materials of the highest educative value furnished by the life of the inventor are interwoven with the
story of each invention.
4. Michael Faraday was employed by the Royal Institution. There, he investigated the connections between
electricity, magnetism and motion.
A. Michael Faraday was employed by the Royal Institution, where he investigated the connections
between electricity, magnetism and motion.
B. When Michael Faraday was employed by the Royal Institution, he investigated the connections
between electricity, magnetism and motion.
C. The Royal Institution employed Michael Faraday to investigate the connections between electricity,
magnetism and motion.
D. After he investigated the connections between electricity, magnetism and motion, Michael Faraday
was employed by the Royal Institution.
5. Dr. Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven. The invention happened by accident.
A. Dr. Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven as an accident.
B. The microwave oven was Dr. Percy Spencer's accidental invention.
C. The invention of the microwave oven by Dr. Percy Spencer was an accident.
D. Dr. Percy Spencer's invention of the microwave oven was made in an accident.
VIII. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase
that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
Cheap and reliable electric lighting was a holy grail for 19th-century inventors. But didn't Thomas
Edison get there first? No! He was beaten (1) ____ it by Britain's very own Joseph Swan, working out of his (2)
____ lab at his house in Gateshead, Swan got his (3) ____ - and started manufacturing and selling his bulbs - in
1880. He developed a tiny lament that used (4) ____ treated cotton, and set it inside an oxygen-free vacuum (5)
____ it wouldn't catch fire when it glowed white-hot.
Swan's first bulbs lasted little more than 12 hours but, unlike gas lamps, there was no name or dirty
smoke and they soon (6) ____ on. The impresario Richard d'Oyly Carte (7) ____ the opportunity to make his
new Savoy Theatre in London stand (8) ____ - and when it opened the following year it was the first public
building in the world (9) ____ electrically throughout. D'Oyly Carte even took to the (10) ____ himself -
holding a glowing bulb aloft, he ceremoniously broke it in front of the audience to prove it was safe.
1. A. by B. to C. at D. with
2. A. private B. privately C. privacy D. privates
3. A. rights B. ownership C. patent D. possession
4. A. special B. specialty C. specially D. specialist
5. A. so B. so that C. than D. rather than
6. A. took B. came C. carried D. caught
7. A. provided B. passed C. offered D. seized
8. A. away B. by C. out D. up
9. A. to light B. to be lit C. to have lit D. that lit
10. A. floor B. step C. stage D. forum
IX. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of
the questions.
Try to imagine what life would be like if there were no electric lights, no television, or no cars. What if
you had no running water to take a shower and no refrigerator to keep your food cold? Life would be tough
without these great inventions.
Since ancient times, people have been inventing new machines, materials, and ways of doing things. The
people who come up with new things are called inventors. Sometimes an inventor makes an invention to solve
a problem. Sometimes an inventor discovers something new by accident.
Everyone probably has his or her favorite inventions. One great invention was the printing press. A
German named Johannes Gutenberg in the 1400s invented a press that made it easy to print books. Books
became much more common after the invention of the printing press. The books helped other inventors make
new things.
The invention of the steam engine around 1700 led to the Industrial Revolution. Inventors made many
new machines that were powered by steam engines. They invented locomotives, steamboats, and all kinds of
factory machines.
Another great invention, the internal combustion engine, led to the invention of automobiles in the late
1800s. Inventors made better and better internal combustion engines. These are the engines we use today in
cars, trucks, buses, and airplanes.
The discovery of electricity led to many wonderful inventions. Many scientists studied electricity. An
American inventor named Thomas A. Edison invented the electric lamp, phonograph, and other things that ran
on electricity in the late 1800s.
New things are invented today faster than ever before. Inventors are making new kitchen appliances,
toys, computers, video games, telephones, and all kinds of other things.
1. The passage mainly ____.
A. lists the inventions made since ancient times
B. describes how inventors work to invent things
C. explains why inventions have been made so far
D. talks about some of the most significant inventions
2. The phrase "come up with" in the passage almost means ____.
A. see B. find C. invent D. produce
3. Which of the following is associated with Industrial Revolution?
A. the printing press B. the discovery of electricity
C. the steam engine D. the internal combustion engine
4. The words "These" in the passage refers to ____.
A. inventors B. internal combustion engines
 C. automobiles D. many wonderful inventions
5. The phrase "ran on" is closest in meaning to ____.
A. used B. created C. consumed D. stored
X. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of
the questions.
There are certain inventions and creations that people are aware of every day. There are, however, very
few creations that we use our whole lives without ever thinking about or even seeing. But that is exactly what
the London sewers are. Their crcator, Joseph Bazalgette, may be remembered as more of an engineer than an
inventor, but what he developed in London - the largest and most forward-thinking sewage system the world
had ever seen - changed life in the city completely.
There was a sewage system in place beforehand, but all it did was transfer waste straight into the
Thames. It was basically one massive open sewer pipe. By all accounts it created a truly awful smell, reaching
its peak during the Great Stink of 1858. Even more worryingly, it caused serious health problems, such as
cholera, because it contaminated the city's drinking supply. Something had to be done, and Bazalgette was the
man to do it.
His solution was phenomenal: a new waste system that would divert the sewage eastwards away from
the river and pump it out to sea. By 1865 most of the system was working, the main intercepting sewers used
318 million bricks and measured over 80 miles in length. To do all that work above ground would have been
one thing, but to create it underground was something else altogether. The intricate maze of sewer pipes more
than 100 years old was just unbelievable. And the most amazing thing is that it still functions today.
The reason is that when Bazalgette designed the tunnels, he estimated how much the population of
London would increase in the next 100 years and worked out how large the tunnels would need to be to meet the
needs of the future and keep the system flowing, which is why the sewers are still in working order today, and
why in our eyes it should be seen as a huge inventing achievement.
1. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
A. The efforts to save the dirty Thames
B. A creation that has changed Londoners' lives
C. The problems of the sewage system in London
D. The disadvantages to the invention of Bazalgette
2. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1?
A. Bazalgette is more talented as an engineer than an inventor.
B. Bazalgette's invention receives public awareness.
C. Bazalgette's invention has few effects on Londoners' lives.
D. Bazalgette's creation did not receive adequate acknowledgment.
3. The word "their" in the passage is closest in meaning to ____.
A. creations B. lives' C. sewers' D. inventions'
4. According to paragraph 2, what was the problem with the previous sewage system in London?
A. It took a lot of money to maintain. B. It released all the waste straight into the sea.
C. It caused bad smells and health problems. D. It was damaged badly during the Great Stink.
5. The phrase "by all accounts" in the passage is closest in meaning to ____.
A. beyond beliefs B. according to many C. without doubt D. by all means
6. The word "contaminated” in the passage is closest in meaning to ____.
A. polluted B. purified C. contained D. released
7. The word "intricate" in the passage mostly means ____.
A. confusing B. complicated C. simplified D. interesting
8. Why was Bazalgette's invention impressive?
A. It took a hundred year to finish. B. It was 80 miles long.
C. It requires a lot of materials. D. It redirected the waste to the sea.
9. The word "which" in the passage refers to Bazalgette's ____.
A. estimation B. tunnels C. population D. needs
10. The system created by Bazalgette can still function these days because ____.
A. he used more bricks than necessary B. he predicted the situation far in the future
C. the system was unbelievably intricate D. the system was underground