DICTATION 4

Thomas Alva Edison was a famous American inventor. He was born on the 11th of
February 1847. The seventh child of Samuel and Nancy Edison. Thomas wasn't a good
student. And he left school after only a few months. But he was interested in science
and technology from an early age. And he spent hours reading scientific books and
making things. He moved to New York City in 1869. And he soon made a lot of
money from his inventions 40,000 dollars. In 1871 he married Mary Stilwell, and in
1876. He opened a laboratory in a village called Menlo Park. A lot of people worked
for him and helped him with his inventions. His first great invention there was the
phonograph. A machine that could record and play sound. He also invented the electric
light bulb that people could use at home. His inventions made him very rich. His wife
died in 1884. But he married again in 1886. And his second wife moved to West
Orange in New Jersey. Edison built another big laboratory and factories. He worked
there until he died on the 18th of October 1931.