UNIT 4
1
GETTING READY
Task I
Look at the timeline and listen to the audio. Number the four
inventions in the order in which they are described (1-4).
1
4
3
2
2
GETTING READY
Task II
Listen again. Fill in the details of the four inventions. Choose the
inventors’ names from the box.
Percy Spencer
Spencer Silver
Dr. John Pemberton
Frank Epperson
George de Mestral
Alexander Fleming
No. 1
No. 2
Who discovered it?
Dr. John Pemberton
Spencer Silver
How was it
invented?
The doctor was trying to
create a tonic for patients
suffering from headaches. He
changed his recipe many
times to find the right
combination.
The chemist invented a new
glue that was both strong
enough to adhere paper to a
surface and weak enough
that the paper could be easily
removed.
What is it used for? Originally used as medicine, it
was quickly adopted as a
beverage.
3
It is the glue that is found on
the back of Post-it Notes
today.
GETTING READY
Task II
Listen again. Fill in the details of the four inventions. Choose the
inventors’ names from the box.
Percy Spencer
Spencer Silver
Dr. John Pemberton
Frank Epperson
George de Mestral
Alexander Fleming
No. 3
No. 4
Who discovered it? Percy Spencer
Frank Epperson
How was it
invented?
As a child, Frank
Epperson left a drink on
his porch, and during the
night, it froze. Later, he
utilized his mistake to
develop frozen treats.
While in a lab, Percy Spencer
noticed that his candy bar had
melted. He realized that energy
waves from a device were
causing food to heat up.
What is it used for? The microwave oven is now used Popsicles are a popular
as a way to warm food.
summertime refreshment.
4
GETTING READY
Audio Transcripts:
No. 1
In 1886, Dr. John Pemberton of Atlanta, Georgia, formulated a tonic to cure
headaches. At first, the syrup was only carried at a local drugstore, but by the
turn of the century, it was being sold throughout the United States and Canada as
a soft drink. This invention is no longer considered medicine and is now a
worldwide sensation!
No. 2
Spencer Silver, a chemist, made a glue that could be used to attach papers
and be easily removed. No one was interested in the substance, but his
colleague Arthur Fry later found the perfect application for it. Fry was frustrated
with paper bookmarks that fell out of books, so he used Silver’s idea to create a
sticky note card. In 1980, the company they worked for began producing this
product, and the rest is history.
5
GETTING READY
Audio Transcripts:
No. 3
One day, scientist Percy Spencer noticed something unusual: a candy bar in
his pocket had melted even though he hadn’t felt anything hot. He discovered
that a device that generated energy waves was responsible. He stuck a few corn
kernels next to the machine out of curiosity—and they popped into popcorn! This
gave him the inspiration for developing a new appliance in 1945. Now people use
it to cook up meals in minutes.
No. 4
Frank Epperson was just a kid when he made the discovery of a lifetime in
1905. One night, he accidentally left a drink outside with a stirring stick in the
glass. The drink froze overnight, and he was able to enjoy an interesting treat.
After he grew up, this childhood blunder inspired him to create an innovative icecold dessert that everyone loves today.
6
VOCABULARY DRILL
A. Listen Up
Look at the following chindōgu inventions. Fill in the blanks with words
from the audio.
Although this invention
For women who have
may never be
tried to put on makeup
patented by any
2. _________
during the morning rush,
this may not seem like a(n) country, the dog wig
prototype
1. _________
useless creation. All 3. _________ has started
a new trend in puppy
you need to do is fasten
fashion. These colorful
the device behind your
wigs come in almost any
head, put the stencil over shape imaginable and are
a very 4. _________
feasible style
your mouth, and then
option for your beloved
apply your favorite lipstick.
pet!
7
Using some
creativity parents
5. _________,
can get their infants to
help with chores while
they crawl. Though most
baby clothes have little or
utility
no 6. _________,
The
Baby Mop assists with
housecleaning during
the course of normal
activities!
VOCABULARY DRILL
Audio Transcripts:
I’m reporter Wendy Schiller, and I’m attending an exhibition of
chindōgu, which is Japanese for the art of weird and useless
inventions. Let’s interview a few artists. Hello, sir. Can you tell us
the history of chindōgu?
Male Artist:
It started in the 1980s, when the amateur inventor Kenji Kawakami
had the idea of celebrating brilliant inventions that had little or no
utility. A new movement was born!
Wendy:
Thanks for the explanation. Now let’s meet the artist standing next
to you. (pause) Pardon me. Would you like to demonstrate your
creation?
Female Artist: Sure. This fork can prevent overeating. Whenever it senses that
you’ve consumed too many calories, an alarm goes off.
Wendy:
Who would ever use that?
Female Artist: That’s the point. Chindōgu items are invented for the sake of
creativity. We only have a few rules: it has to be feasible to use,
you have to produce a prototype but can’t get it patented, and it
can’t be made simply for amusement.
Wendy:
Well, we’ve seen how ingenious the idea of chindōgu really is.
Reporting live, I’m Wendy Schiller.
Wendy:
8
VOCABULARY DRILL
B. Word Focus: Synonyms for Create
Can you determine the usage of the words in orange? Choose the
appropriate word for each sentence.
Fast Facts About Inventions:
1. In the 1820s, Louis Braille originated / produced a method that enabled blind
people to read by using their sense of touch.
2. Toyota devises / manufactures the highest volume of vehicles of any
automaker in the world.
3. The Chinese originally developed / formulated fireworks for celebrations and to
ward off evil spirits. Later, they were adapted for military use.
4. Secretary Bette Graham manufactured / invented the first type of correction
fluid that could be used to cover up typing mistakes.
9
VOCABULARY DRILL
C. Speak Out Loud
Rank the inventions below from 1–10 (most important to least
important). Discuss the reasoning behind your rankings with the
suggested vocabulary.
10
CONVERSATION CORNER—REVIEW
A. Word Groups
Circle the choice that has a different meaning from the word or phrase
in bold.
1. out of order
a. faulty
b. broken
c. operational
d. out of commission
2. annoyance
a. irritation
b. distress
c. enjoyment
d. frustration
3. trigger
a. cause
b. provoke
c. spur
d. prevent
4. backbreaking a. effortless
b. demanding
c. tiring
d. exhausting
5. ingenious
b. awkward
c. inventive
d. innovative
a. creative
11
CONVERSATION CORNER—REVIEW
B. Understand from the Context
Match the sentences.
1. Liz is always acting like a drama
c
queen. _____
a. It’s really troublesome to tighten.
2. This helmet is a real pain in the
a
neck. _____
b. The oil deposit under their house
made them extremely wealthy.
3. Samantha’s children nagged her to
d
let them eat junk food. _____
c. She reacts to every situation in an
exaggerated manner.
4. The family hit the jackpot this year.
b
_____
d. They irritated her by constantly
complaining about her rules.
5. When the founder retired, there
wasn’t anyone left to carry on his
f
legacy. _____
e. Their bites are bothering me!
6. I’m so sick of being tormented by
these mosquitoes! _____
e
f. No one was capable of building on
his previous successes.
12
CONVERSATION CORNER—REVIEW
C. Multiple Choice
Circle the answers.
1. What exaggeration does Bradley make?
a. Taking the stairs might result in a heart attack.
b. He has difficulty breathing because he ran up
four flights of stairs.
c. Nagging is an effective way to get help from
someone.
d. Intensive labor tired out the king’s servants.
13
CONVERSATION CORNER—REVIEW
C. Multiple Choice
Circle the answers.
2. What is Courtney’s opinion about laziness?
a. Lazy people often exaggerate their fatigue.
b. Laziness cannot be attributed to inventions.
c. Laziness can be a motivator for inventiveness.
d. Lazy people would never walk up a flight of stairs.
14
CONVERSATION CORNER—REVIEW
C. Multiple Choice
Circle the answers.
3. What is TRUE about the first passenger elevator?
a. Otis’s sons constructed it according to their
father’s plans.
b. The elevator didn’t rely on laborers for its
operation.
c. Modern elevators adopted its brake system
design.
d. The device was invented for one particular
person.
15
CONVERSATION CORNER—REVIEW
C. Multiple Choice
Circle the answers.
4. Why does Bradley want to become an elevator
engineer?
a. He would be able to secure a high income in
that profession.
b. He would be assured of always having an
elevator to ride.
c. He may win the contest held by Otis Elevator
Company.
d. He would like to copy the Otis business model.
16
EXPRESSION PLAZA
A. Overreacting
•
•
•
•
be / act like a drama queen
make too much of (something)
blow (something) out of proportion
go overboard
Rewrite the parts in bold using the expressions. Do not repeat any of
your answer choices.
1. Whenever my daughter doesn’t get her way, she starts kicking and screaming.
Whenever my daughter doesn’t get her way, she acts like a drama queen.
→_______________________________________________________________
2. Most bloggers exaggerate what they write about.
Most bloggers blow things out of proportion.
→_______________________________________________________________
3. You should stop dwelling on your breakup so much.
You should stop making too much of your breakup.
→_______________________________________________________________
17
EXPRESSION PLAZA
B. Talking About Annoyances
(something / someone)
be (such) an annoyance
be a (total) pain in the neck
get on (one’s) nerves
(someone)
be / get fed up with
(something / someone)
Fill in the appropriate expressions.
getting on my nerves because it always beeps at the
1. My faulty alarm clock is
__________________
wrong time.
such an annoyance Not only is it difficult to apply, but it
2. This stain spray is
__________________!
also doesn’t work well.
was fed up with
3. Todd __________________
his battered old car, so he decided to purchase a
brand-new one.
18
EXPRESSION PLAZA
C. Describing Financial Success
Suddenly Becoming Rich
• hit the jackpot
• hit pay dirt
• strike it rich
Making Lots of Money
• make a killing
• make a fortune
• rake in the dough
With a classmate, practice talking about the situations below using the expressions above.
1. Someone marries into money or inherits a
family fortune.
2. Someone patents an invention that becomes a
top seller.
3. Someone wins a million dollars in a lottery.
4. Someone founds a very successful company.
19
Example:
A: Kimberly Conrad struck it rich
when she married Playboy
executive Hugh Hefner.
B: No kidding! Mr. Hefner has
made a fortune in the
magazine business, so she’ll
never have to work again.
EXPRESSION PRACTICE
A. Fill Out the Public Statement
Fill in the blanks with words or expressions from the audio.
To My Dear Fans,
I would like to thank those who have supported me despite the 1. ___________
accusations
made by my ex-wife. Unfortunately, the media has 2. ___________
the incident
blown
out of proportion I never 3. ___________
abused
completely ________________.
Mary Reeses, physically
or 4. ___________,
during our marriage. I believe she’s going through a tough time,
verbally
go overboard
which has caused her to 5. ________________
regarding this matter. I truly hope
a drama queen
that she’ll get professional help and stop acting like 6. ________________.
The
tabloids have 7. ________________
made too much of what happened. In the future, they should
get their facts straight before disrupting the lives of others.
Sincerely,
Joey Doe
20
EXPRESSION PRACTICE
Audio Transcripts:
Headlining our news today are accusations that actor Joey Doe verbally
abused his ex-wife repeatedly during the couple’s marriage. Mary Reeses, who
divorced Doe last May, claims that the star would often go overboard about
trivial things. When asked to comment, Doe immediately began blaming the
media for spreading lies and making too much of the stories told by his ex-wife.
He stated that the reporters had not checked their facts and that they had blown
the whole thing out of proportion. Later, he accused his wife of being nothing
more than a drama queen. This incident has already damaged Doe’s career. He
has been pulled out of three big-budget projects, and there is no word about
when he will return to acting.
21
EXPRESSION PRACTICE
B. Guess Who
Match the speaker with the appropriate statement.
• I’m growing tired of how unreliable my car is.
• Train delays really irritate me, especially when I’m already late.
• I can’t tolerate leaving early to arrive somewhere promptly
because I don’t have an automobile.
• The primary disadvantage of driving is getting stuck in traffic.
• I get annoyed by drivers who constantly honk their horns.
• In my opinion, public transportation has too many drawbacks.
• Not having a place to sit on a crammed bus makes me feel
uncomfortable.
22
EXPRESSION PRACTICE
Audio Transcripts:
Seth: Are you OK, Betty? You’re all sweaty.
Betty: I’m fine, Seth. I had to ride my bicycle today because my car broke down
again. It’s secondhand, and I’m getting fed up with it. It irritates me
whenever I have to take it to the mechanic.
Seth: I actually prefer riding my bicycle. After all, gas-fueled vehicles are
damaging the environment.
Betty: But leaving 30 minutes early so I can make it on time is such an
annoyance.
Seth: Driving still has its drawbacks, like getting stuck in a traffic jam. Nothing
gets on my nerves more than being trapped in a line of cars and listening
to drivers honk at each other.
Betty: Yeah. Generally, though, driving is much more convenient, particularly
when the weather’s bad.
Seth: What about public transportation? If I’m too exhausted to cycle, I just grab
the bus.
Betty: I’ve considered that, but they can be a pain in the neck too. What if the
bus arrives late, or all the seats are occupied and you have to stand the
entire way?
23
Seth: Maybe we should just never leave home! (laughs)
EXPRESSION PRACTICE
C. Complete the Report
Summarize the financial status of each client based on the audio. Use
the hints provided.
CLIENT PROFILES
George
Fairweather
The client’s bakery made a killing last year, but sales are
starting to decline, as customers have been cutting down their
expenditures on non-essential things.
(make a killing, decline, non-essential)
Leo Snellar
The client owns a company that manufactures scientific
instruments. He struck it rich with his invention of an
impressive laboratory microscope a few years earlier. His
booming business is raking in the dough.
(strike it rich, microscope, rake in the dough)
Steven Snorks
The client seems indifferent towards investing his savings. He
hit pay dirt with the sale of his business a while back, but
now he is insistent that he likes just being an auto mechanic.
(hit pay dirt, mechanic)
24
EXPRESSION PRACTICE
Audio Transcripts:
Jennifer:
Welcome to today’s meeting. I’d like to hear how our top clients are doing
financially. Simon, you begin.
Simon:
Sure. George Fairweather was our most successful client last year, but I’m
worried about where his business is heading. His bakery used to make a
killing, but due to the declining economy, consumers have stopped purchasing
non-essential items like desserts.
Jennifer:
What actions are you advocating he take?
Simon:
I suggested decreasing his staff, but he insisted that his employees keep their
jobs.
Jennifer:
OK. We’ll discuss his situation later. Joe?
Joe:
As you know, Leo Snellar hit pay dirt three years ago with his invention, the
Mighty Microscope. His manufacturing company, Leo’s Laboratory Instruments,
continues to rake in the dough.
Jennifer:
Great! Jenna?
Jenna:
Steven Snorks is doing OK. After he struck it rich many years ago with the
lucrative sale of his business, I encouraged him to invest in another promising
company. However, he seems to prefer working as a car mechanic.
Jennifer:
Let’s see if we can come up with an investment package that’s attractive to him.
25
GRAMMAR CHECKPOINT
Past Perfect
We can use the past perfect tense to tell a story or to explain how something
occurred in sequence. The past perfect is often used with the simple past.
A. Usage
To express the idea that something
happened before another past
action or a specific time
• I had to move because my landlord had
increased my rent.
• By 1873, over 2,000 Otis elevators had
been installed across the United States.
To indicate that something began
in the past and continued for a period
of time
• I had never realized what a total pain in
the neck it is to take the stairs until today.
• I wonder how long she had nagged him
about the stairs before he had it built.
To form reported speech after verbs
such as asked, said, thought, told,
and wondered
• Candy said that Mike had relocated to
Hong Kong.
• I thought they had discussed the terms
of the agreement.
26
GRAMMAR CHECKPOINT
Past Perfect
We can use the past perfect tense to tell a story or to explain how something
occurred in sequence. The past perfect is often used with the simple past.
B. Simple Past vs. Past Perfect
Simple Past
Past Perfect
We use the simple past to talk about
past events in the order they occur.
We look back from one time in the past
to tell what has happened previously.
• When Miles looked out the window, he
noticed someone stealing his car. He
called the police immediately.
• Before Christy met Harry, she had
never known what a real partnership
was like.
27
GRAMMAR CHECKPOINT
Past Perfect
We can use the past perfect tense to tell a story or to explain how something
occurred in sequence. The past perfect is often used with the simple past.
Usage Note
Signal words such as after, when, and before can be used with both simple past
and past perfect tenses depending on what is being emphasized in the context.
Examples:
• Timmy had studied Chinese before he visited Taiwan.
(emphasizes Timmy’s previous study of Chinese)
• Edmund asked for a second helping of rice before he had finished his first bowl.
(emphasizes the fact that Edmund hadn’t eaten all his rice)
28
GRAMMAR WORKOUT
A. Complete the Sentences
Fill in the correct tenses of the verbs. Some blanks may have more
than one possible answer.
had already settled
got
1. By the time we ___________
(get) to the meeting, we ___________ (already
settle) our differences.
had worked /
worked
2. Anne was suffering from fatigue because she ___________
(work) too much
overtime.
had launched /
launched (launch) an investigation on the incident before the
3. The police ___________
reported (report) the news.
national TV ___________
eaten / ate (eat) the seafood dish, she ___________
broke
4. After Momhad
___________
(break) out
in a terrible rash.
had expired (expire) on March 31, so he ___________
couldn’t board (not
5. His passport ___________
board) the airplane.
asserted
6. In yesterday’s announcement, the restaurant owner ___________
(assert) that
improved (improve) their hygiene standards.
they had
___________
29
GRAMMAR WORKOUT
B. Match
Match the sentence parts.
1. I had asked Nancy to write up an estimate
of the building costs, ______
d
a. until the doctor informed her that her
surgery had been successful.
2. Bill said he hadn’t passed by the wharf
______
c
b. I had no idea they were talking about this
impressive mansion!
3. Although Sheila had immediately offered to c. the first time he visited San Francisco.
compensate him for the damage, ______
f
4. When they said they owned a cottage,
______
b
d. but she didn’t get the information to me
before the meeting.
5. Eunice wasn’t able to breathe a sigh of
relief ______
a
e. when a hurricane destroyed her roof.
6. Alice had just purchased the house
______
e
f. Kent didn’t accept until months later.
30
GRAMMAR WORKOUT
C. Correct the Mistakes
Fix the ten errors in the passage. There may be more than one
possible answer.
The Wampanoag Indians lived in Massachusetts for thousands of years when the
had lived
Pilgrims had landed at Plymouth Rock. Conditions in the New World were demanding, and
landed
within a year, the newcomers lose 46 people. Luckily, the Wampanoag have noticed their
had lost / lost
had noticed / noticed
troubles and introduced suitable crops to them. In the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims having
had
their first decent harvest. Until this time, they never known prosperity, and they are now
were
had never known
hopeful about the future. To celebrate, they decide to have a party and invite the
decided
Wampanoag. Each year, another celebration was held on the anniversary of that feast. By
the 1860s, Thanksgiving has become an official national holiday. Historians are uncertain
had become
about whether or not America’s ancestors had been having turkey at the first Thanksgiving.
had had / had
Today, it’s impossible to have a Thanksgiving meal without including this symbolic dish.
31
READING─PRE-READING TASK
Scan the article below. Write the paragraph number (1-4) next to the matching main
idea. There are two extra choices.
3
Numerous devices are
invented in Japan every year.
4
Germans have an excellent
education system, especially
when it comes to science.
1
Israel is striving to prove
that it can innovate as well
as larger countries.
The Japanese are most
concerned about the future
of robots.
Most countries work hard to
be considered inventive.
2
32
Throughout history,
Germans have been
responsible for the invention
of many useful things.
READING
It’s hard to imagine that televisions had been unavailable to the
public until 100 years ago, but now we can carry portable phones in
our pockets. Inventions will continue to change the world, and
countries will pull out all the stops to be the most innovative.
p.40
33
READING
GERMANY
Germany had proved its inventiveness long before the modern era. Many
inventions that are used every day, including the printing press and the gaspowered engine, can be attributed to German inventors. Also notable are their
breakthroughs in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Have a headache? Aspirin,
one of the most commonly used medicines in the world, was created in this
northern European nation. Break a bone? It’s because of German ingenuity that we
have X-rays. Unsurprisingly, when education systems are ranked, Germany’s
science programs are frequently placed in the top ten.
p.40
34
READING
JAPAN
For years, Japan has been second only to the US in the number of patents filed.
Hundreds of thousands of patent applications, from the bizarre to the practical, are
submitted each year in this Asian country. Japanese inventors show a talent for the
imaginative, but they are perhaps most well-known for their obsession with robots.
The robot teacher Saya was an immediate worldwide sensation when “she” was
launched. Saya can fluently speak multiple languages and is able to recognize if
students make mistakes. One Japanese inventor has even devised a robot with 24
“fingers” that can shampoo, condition, and blow-dry a person’s hair.
p.40
35
READING
ISRAEL
Despite being one of the smallest countries on the planet, Israel is working
earnestly to prove that it can be a center for innovation, especially in the technology
sector. Israel is already the birthplace of the USB flash drive, a device that has
become synonymous with convenient digital storage. Furthermore, network security
companies in Israel have gained the reputation of being the best in the industry. In
order to spur more development, the Israeli government invests a large percentage
of the nation’s GDP* in research. Thanks to these funds, Israel boasts one start-up*
company for every 1,800 people. With all of these independent businesses, this
Middle Eastern country is sure to be at the forefront of future technological
advancements.
p.40
For Your Reference
* GDP: gross domestic product;
the total value of the goods and
services produced by a 36
country
For Your Reference
* start-up: a new
small business
READING
Without these countries, we wouldn’t have access to many of the
conveniences and luxuries that we enjoy today!
p.40
37
READING
Discussion
Patent systems have been in use in various countries for
hundreds of years. The first patents only granted an inventor
exclusivity of rights for a few years, but modern ones can last for
decades. Do today’s patents give too few or too many rights to their
owners? Are there some things that shouldn’t be allowed to be
patented?
38
READING ─AFTER YOU READ
A. Complete the Sentences
Fill in the blanks with words or expressions from the article. Use the
hints to help you.
p.34
p.35
1. There have been many breakthroughs
___________ in cancer research during the past
decade; however, the medical community is still far from finding a cure.
p.36
(important new discovery)
pharmaceutical
2. Because the number of elderly people is increasing, the ___________ industry
is creating drugs that tackle their health ailments. (relating to the production of
medicine)
be attributed to
3. The current fad of 3D movies can ___________ the release of the film Avatar.
(be credited to)
p.37
submitted by the deadline.
4. Applications won’t be accepted if they’re not ___________
(send for consideration)
p.38
at the
forefront of the electric car market.
5. Japanese automobile companies are ___________
Other nations are behind them in terms of development. (in a leading position)
39
READING ─AFTER YOU READ
B. Use the Adjectives
Change the words below into adjectives by using the suffixes
provided.
innovate
digit
-al
medical
digital
sensational
technological
note
ingenuity
obsession
medicine
synonym
sensation
technology
-able
-ive
notable
innovative
obsessive
40
-ous
ingenious
synonymous
READING ─AFTER YOU READ
B. Use the Adjectives
Finish the passage using the adjectives you created. There may be
more than one possible answer.
It would be hard to find someone who doesn’t own an MP3 player. Many believe
ingenious music-related product ever created. What’s most
it is the most 1. ___________
2. ___________
about the first MP3 player, which was produced in 1998, is that it
notable
could store just six songs! Over the years, companies have become more
synonymous
3. ___________
innovative with their devices. However, it is the iPod that is 4. ___________
with the term “MP3 player” today. Sales of the first generation iPods were
sensational and the new versions are still the dominant MP3 players on the
5. ___________,
obsessive about upgrading whenever
market. In fact, many Apple fans are 6. ___________
technological advances Apple makes
the latest model is released. Certainly, the 7. ___________
in the world of MP3 players will help the company continue to lead the industry.
41
READING ─AFTER YOU READ
C. Classification
Write G for Germany, J for Japan, or I for Israel next to the matching
description.
_____
G 1. The country is responsible for the invention of what is usually used to
treat headaches.
I
_____
2. The government invests a large amount of money in small enterprises to
boost the economy.
_____
G 3. Scientific achievements are associated with the quality of the education
system here.
J
_____
4. Computer system innovations are some of this country’s most notable
contributions.
J
_____
5. The bulk of this nation’s inventions take care of tasks that humans would
normally complete.
42
WRITING SKILLS
Unity and Coherence
In a unified paragraph, every sentence should be related to the topic.
Look at this topic sentence: The brains of scientists and inventors usually have
the most activity occurring on the right side.
Now read the following sentences.
1. An individual whose right brain is dominant seems to be organized and goal
oriented.
2. The brain is continuously active, never stopping even for a moment.
Sentence 1 refers to the topic and sentence 2 does not.
43
WRITING SKILLS
Unity and Coherence
In a coherent paragraph, sentences should logically flow from one idea to the next.
1 Right-sided thinkers are devoted to solving problems. 2 They are often at risk
of collapsing due to an intense workload. 3 Sometimes, they get so focused on
resolving other people’s issues that they overwork themselves.
In this paragraph, sentence 2 should be placed after sentence 3.
44
WRITING SKILLS
Task
Write the letter of the sentence next to the main idea it develops.
Topic Sentence
Supporting Idea
1. Helen Keller overcame being blind and deaf to graduate college with
honors.
c, f
2. Sybilla Masters became the first official female inventor in 1715, but
women had been inventing before without recognition.
a, e
3. Gunpei Yokoi created the Game Boy, one of Nintendo’s best-selling
devices.
b, d
a. Her patent was unfairly issued in her
husband’s name, as women weren’t
allowed to own patents.
b. Since its release in 1980, the game has
sold over 118 million units!
c. Anne Sullivan taught her how to speak
and read Braille, preparing her for further
academic accomplishments.
d. Before this moneymaker, he invented The
Ultrahand, the first toy the company ever
manufactured.
e. She created a method to preserve corn, a
common dish for American people.
f. By age seven, she had invented over 60
signs that enabled her to communicate
with others.
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WRITING SKILLS─BEFORE YOU WRITE
Visit the site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro to research the topics
below. Write four related sentences about each topic.
The Creation of Velcro
1. George de Mestral, a Swiss electrical engineer, was
inspired to invent Velcro in 1948 after picking off seeds
that were hooked into his pants.
2. De Mestral had noticed that the seeds were strongly
attached to the loops of the fabric.
3. At first, he copied this design idea using cotton, but it
weakened quickly, so he began using synthetic fibers
instead.
4. Because of this and other delays, it took ten years to
create a process that worked. He received a patent for
his invention in 1955.
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WRITING SKILLS─BEFORE YOU WRITE
Visit the site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro to research the topics
below. Write four related sentences about each topic.
The Uses of Velcro
1.
Amazingly, a two-inch-square piece of Velcro is strong
enough to support a 175-pound person.
2.
Because of this strength, Velcro was used to hold
together a human heart during the first artificial heart
surgery.
3.
As Velcro is both durable and easy to use, it is often
used as a replacement for buttons or zippers.
4.
It is especially popular to apply to clothing designed for
those who do not have the skills to use more
complicated fasteners, such as children or the elderly.
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WRITING SKILLS─WRITE IT UP
Complete the passage. Then write another 120-word essay about the
uses of Velcro. Make sure the flow of your piece is coherent.
Taking a Cue from Mother Nature
George de Mestral, a Swiss electrical engineer, invented Velcro in 1948. He
returning from a hunting trip and finding seeds hooked into his
was inspired after ___________________________________________________
pants.
He had noticed that the seeds were strongly attached to the loops of the
__________________________________________________________________
fabric
__________________________________________________________________.
He realized this idea could be an effective method of fastening clothes. At first, he
but it weakened quickly, so he began using
copied the design using cotton, _________________________________________
synthetic
fibers instead
_____________________________________________.
Then he had to create a
special loom to weave the Velcro. _______________________________________
Because of this and other delays, it took ten
__________________________________________________________________
years
to come up with a process that worked. He received a patent for his invention
__________________________________________________________________.
in
1955
Now, people all over the world use Velcro!
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WRITING SKILLS─WRITE IT UP
Complete the passage. Then write another 120-word essay about the
uses of Velcro. Make sure the flow of your piece is coherent.
Velcro Is Amazing!
As Velcro is sturdy and simple, it has many practical uses. Amazingly, a two__________________________________________________________________
inch-square piece of Velcro is strong enough to support a 175-pound person.
__________________________________________________________________
Because of this strength, Velcro was used to hold together a human heart during
__________________________________________________________________
the first artificial heart surgery. In addition, it’s easy to use, so it often replaces
__________________________________________________________________
buttons or zippers. It is especially popular to apply to clothing designed for those
__________________________________________________________________
who do not have the skills to use more complicated fasteners, such as children
__________________________________________________________________
or the elderly. Look to see which items you own that are attached with Velcro—
__________________________________________________________________
you might be surprised at how many you find!
__________________________________________________________________
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The
End
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