Reading: A Great Invention
The bicycle is a simple but useful invention. It was first made in the 19th century. Today,
many people around the world use bicycles to go to school, to work, or just for fun.
Bicycles are cheap, do not need petrol, and are good for the environment. They also help
people stay healthy because riding a bike is good exercise.
There are many kinds of bicycles now — mountain bikes, road bikes, and even electric
bikes!
✅ Questions:
1. When was the bicycle first made?
A. In the 18th century
B. In the 19th century
C. In the 20th century
D. In the 21st century
2. Why are bicycles good for the environment?
A. They are fast
B. They are made of plastic
C. They do not need petrol
D. They are heavy
➡️Đáp án: C
3. Which of the following is NOT a type of bicycle?
A. Road bike
B. Electric bike
C. Water bike
D. Mountain bike
4. What is one health benefit of riding a bicycle?
A. It helps you sleep more
B. It is good exercise
C. It makes you taller
D. It helps you read faster
II. READING
Three popular inventions from the 1920s
The 1920s was an exciting time for inventions. Some of the things invented around that
time changed the lives of millions of people, and some of those inventions are still widely
used today.
The television
The invention with the biggest impact was probably the television. It was invented by a
Scottish man, John Logie Baird. The first televised pictures were sent over a short
distance in 1924, and his invention was formally demonstrated at the Royal Institute two
years later. The pictures on the screen were not clear, but the viewers could see that they
were human faces, and they could see their eyes opening and closing. In 1928, images
were sent from Britain to America, and later, to a ship 1,500 miles out to sea. In the same
year, the first colour images were sent. The first ‘seeing-in sets’ were sold that same year.
For £25 (£1000 in today’s money), people in their homes could watch moving images
that were sent from a broadcasting station.
The fridge
Another invention that became popular in the 1920s was the home refrigerator. People
used different ways to keep food cool and fresh long before the 1900s, but home fridges
weren’t invented until 1913 in the USA. Home fridges became very popular in the USA
in the 1920s. Sales of the popular ‘Frigidaire’ model increased from 5,000 in 1921 to
750,000 in 1926. British people were less interested in fridges than Americans. They
thought that they were unnecessary because the weather in Britain was cooler. But fridges
were heavily advertised, and their advantages were described in detail. Soon, more
fridges were sold, and the price decreased.
The polygraph
Another interesting invention of the 1920s was the polygraph, or lie detector. It was
invented in 1921 by a Californian policeman, John Larson. He used the ideas of other
psychologists to make a machine that measured people’s heart rate, breathing and blood
pressure while they were asked questions. The experts believed that sudden changes in
these measurements showed that someone was lying. Although this invention is well-
known, it can’t really detect lies. Marston tried to use measurements from his polygraph
in a court case in 1923, but they weren’t accepted as evidence and never have been since
then. However, polygraphs are still used by some police forces and the FBI because many
people believe they work, so they tell the truth to avoid the machine.
New words:
- Demonstrate (v): chứng minh, giải thích
- A broadcasting station: đài phát thanh
- Refrigerator (n) : tủ lạnh
- Polygraph (n): máy phát hiện nói dối
- Psychologist (n) : nhà tâm lý học
- well-known : nổi tiếng
- measurement (n): đo lường
CHOOSE True (T) or False (F)
True False
1. When television images were first transmitted, viewers
didn’t know exactly what the image was.
2. The television was demonstrated at the Royal Institute in
1926.
3. Colour images were not possible until after the 1920s.
4. Television images were first sent across the Atlantic Ocean
in 1928.
5. People could buy television sets in the 1920s.
6. Home refrigerators were invented in the 1920s
7. Fridges became popular in the USA before they were
popular in the UK.
8. Some psychologists helped John Larson to build his
invention.
9. On some occasions, lie detectors have been used as
evidence in court.
III. Bài đọc (Gap-fill): My Weekend Adventure
Last weekend, I had a really (1)________ time! On Saturday, I went to the park with my
friends. We played games, had a picnic, and took funny photos.
After lunch, we saw a man doing (2)________ tricks. He could juggle and ride a
unicycle! It was so cool.
On Sunday, I helped my sister make chocolate (3)________. We used flour, eggs, sugar,
and cocoa. They were delicious!
My weekend was full of fun and (4)________ things. I can’t wait for the next one!
1. A. boring B. funny C. interesting D. cold
2. [Link] B. music C. magic D. House
3. [Link] B. noodles C. cupcakes D. pizza
4. A. exciting B. tired C. difficulf D. quiet
