English Base

Test 010

Reading Practice: Thomas Edison and the Light Bulb

Reading Text

Thomas Edison was a famous American inventor. In the nineteenth century, people used wax candles and gas lamps to light their dark homes at night. These old lamps were dangerous because they could start fires and produced thick smoke. Edison wanted to invent a safe, cheap electric light bulb. He worked in his laboratory in New Jersey with a team of hardworking assistants. They tested thousands of different materials to find the best thin thread, called a filament. Finally, in October 1879, Edison succeeded using a special carbon thread. His glass bulb glowed brightly for over forty hours without breaking. Soon, electric lamps illuminated city streets and private houses. Edison's bright invention changed modern life forever.

Comprehension Test

Question 1. Who was Thomas Edison?

✗ IncorrectEdison was an inventor, not a ship captain.

✓ CorrectThe text states: "Thomas Edison was a famous American inventor."

✗ IncorrectEdison worked on scientific technology, not music.

✗ IncorrectHe was an American inventor, not a king.

Question 2. What did people use before electric lights?

✓ CorrectThe text states: "people used wax candles and gas lamps to light their dark homes."

✗ IncorrectLasers did not exist in the 19th century.

✗ IncorrectSolar panels were not used.

✗ IncorrectThey used candles and gas lamps before electric lights.

Question 3. Why were old candles and gas lamps dangerous?

✓ CorrectThe text says: "they could start fires and produced thick smoke."

✗ IncorrectCandles and lamps were hot, not cold.

✗ IncorrectLamps did not produce music.

✗ IncorrectBears are not mentioned in the text.

Question 4. What did Edison want to invent?

✓ CorrectThe text says: "Edison wanted to invent a safe, cheap electric light bulb."

✗ IncorrectHe worked on lighting, not motor cars.

✗ IncorrectTelevisions were invented much later.

✗ IncorrectThe text focuses on his electric light bulb.

Question 5. Where was Edison's laboratory located?

✗ IncorrectHis laboratory was in America, not London.

✓ CorrectThe text states: "He worked in his laboratory in New Jersey."

✗ IncorrectParis is not mentioned in the text.

✗ IncorrectHis laboratory was on land in New Jersey.

Question 6. What is the thin thread inside a bulb called?

✓ CorrectThe text says: "the best thin thread, called a filament."

✗ IncorrectA battery stores power; the thread is the filament.

✗ IncorrectA needle is for sewing.

✗ IncorrectThe text specifically defines the thread as a "filament".

Question 7. In what month and year did Edison succeed?

✗ Incorrect1950 is the twentieth century, much later.

✓ CorrectThe text states: "Finally, in October 1879, Edison succeeded."

✗ Incorrect1700 was long before Edison's time.

✗ IncorrectThe invention happened in October 1879.

Question 8. What material did Edison use for the successful thread?

✓ CorrectThe text states: "using a special carbon thread."

✗ IncorrectWet rope cannot serve as an electric filament.

✗ IncorrectWool burns quickly; he used carbon thread.

✗ IncorrectThe text specifically names carbon thread.

Question 9. How long did the bulb glow brightly in that test?

✗ IncorrectIt glowed for over forty hours, not five seconds.

✓ CorrectThe text states: "glowed brightly for over forty hours without breaking."

✗ IncorrectTen minutes is much shorter than forty hours.

✗ IncorrectThe initial test lasted over forty hours.

Question 10. What places did electric lamps soon illuminate?

✓ CorrectThe text states: "illuminated city streets and private houses."

✗ IncorrectElectric lamps illuminated towns and homes.

✗ IncorrectStreets and homes were lit, not empty deserts.

✗ IncorrectLamps were placed on city streets and inside houses.
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