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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.

I.Put + if the statement is true and put –  if it is false

1.   Іnventions  around  the 1930s didn`t change the lives  of people .

2.  When television images were first transmitted, viewers didn’t know exactly  what the image was.

3.  The television was demonstrated at the Royal Institute in 1926.

4.  The first televised pictures were sent over the ocean in 1924.

5.   In 1927, images were sent from the UK to America, and later, to a ship 1,500 miles out to sea.

6.  The first TV- sets were sold  in 1928.

7.   The  price of the first TV-sets  was about £1000 in today’s money .

 

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.

8.People used different ways … long before the 1900s

   a. to heat food                                b. to keep  boil food 

   c. to keep food cool and fresh       d.  to keep fresh food

 9.  Home fridges weren’t invented until … .

    a. before 1913 in the USA           b.  after 1913 in the USA     

    c. until 1915 in the USA              d.  until 1913 in the UK 

 10.  … increased from 5,000 in 1921 to 750,000 in 1926.    

    a. Sales of the popular car  model   b. Rent of the popular fridge model

    c. Sales of the popular ‘Frigidaire’ model d. Amount of the popular fridge model

 11. … people were less interested in fridges than Americans.

     a. English               b. Scotsmen            c. Welsh               d. British

 12. But fridges were heavily… , and their advantages were described in detail.

     a. spoken about      b. discussed            c. described          d. advertised

 13. Soon, more … were sold, and the price decreased .

     a. gadgets               b. appliances           c.  tools                d. equipment

 

 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.

 III. Match  the word combinations

14. the polygraph      a. forces

15. Californian policeman        b. the truth

16.  a machine   c. lies

17.  experts           d. a lie detector

18. invention   e. John Larson

19. detect    f. that measured

20. police    g. believed

21. tell    h. is well-known

 

 

 

Frogs in love: Romeo and Juliet

Romeo the frog spent ten years alone in a museum in Bolivia. He is a Sehuencas frog, and for a long time, scientists at the museum thought that Romeo was the only Sehuencas frog in the world. A lot of these frogs have died because of deforestation, and a deadly disease has taken the lives of many others. The scientists wanted to find a mate for Romeo. They even set up a profile for him on Match.com!

In 2018, some scientists went to the Bolivian forests to look for a partner for Romeo. They looked in many streams, but they couldn’t find any frogs. They grew tired, wet and disappointed. They decided to check one more stream before going home. And then, they found a Sehuencas frog beside a waterfall. This frog was male, but they returned the next day and found four more frogs, two male and two female. One of the females was the right age to mate. The conservationists called her Juliet.

The scientists didn’t let Romeo and Juliet meet at first. They needed to check that Juliet didn’t have a disease. But finally, they put the two frogs together. At first, Romeo seemed nervous, but soon he swam to Juliet and then he did a funny dance, shaking his toes. Then he put his arms and legs around her and made a really loud call.

Juliet hasn’t laid any eggs yet, but scientists hope she will. That way, they can learn more about these frogs and help to protect them in the forest. But they know it won’t be easy. For frogs to mate, the temperature and the water quality must be perfect. They also only mate when it is raining, so the scientists had to put special rain equipment in their tank. However, the scientists aren’t too worried if Romeo and Juliet don’t mate, because they have the four other frogs. And they are happy that Romeo isn’t lonely any more!

IV. Choose the correct answer

22. Where did Romeo ten years?

 a. at the stadium in Bolivia   b. in the hospital in Bulgaria

 c. in a museum in Bolivia  d. in a memorial complex in Bolivia

23. What did the scientists at the museum think about Romeo?

 a. Romeo was the only Sehuencas frog in the world.

   b. Romeo wasn`t the only Sehuencas frog in the world.

 c. Romeo was the only Sehuencas frog in Bolivia.

 d. Romeo was the only Sehuencas singer in the world.

 24. What did the scientists want to do for Romeo ?

1. They wanted to build the house.
2. They wanted to call him.
3. They wanted to find a friend.
4. They wanted to find a mate.

25. Where did the scientists find a mate for Romeo?

 a. in the forest      b. near the river

 c. beside a pond   d. beside a waterfall

26. Why didn’t the scientists let Romeo and Juliet meet at first?

 a. They wanted to check that Juliet didn’t have a disease.

 b. Romeo needed to check that Juliet didn’t have a virus.

 c. Juliet needed to check that Romeo didn’t have a disease.

 d. They needed to check that Romeo didn’t have a disease.

27. How did Romeo meet Juliet  at first?

 a. He was nervous .  b. He was angry.

 c. He did a funny dance.  d. He made a really loud call.

28. When did Juliet lay eggs?

a. a month ago   b. a year ago

          c. hasn`t laid yet   d. not long ago

 

29.Why have these frogs died ?

1. Because of overeating.
2. Because of dirty water.
3. Because of deforestation, and a deadly disease has taken the lives of many others.
4. Because of heating effects.

 

30. What kind of water must be for frogs to mate?

1. The water must be cool and clean.
2. The temperature and the water quality must be perfect.
3. The water must be tasty.
4.  The water must be salty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keys

 

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
-	-	+	-	-	+	+	C	A	C
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
D	D	B	D	E	F	G	H	C	A
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
B	C	A	D	D	A	C	C	C	B

 

 

Answers

 

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30