Write the first letter of each answer in the box with the corresponding number at the bottom of the page.

1. Einstein’s _ D _ _ _ changed the way people thought about space, time and matter.

2. Einstein’s best subject at school was _ _ T _ _ M _ _ _ _ _.

3. Einstein did not want Germany to produce _ _ _ M _ C energy before America.

4. Einstein’s nationality was _ _ _ _ _ N.

5. It is said that Einstein became _ _ T _ _ _ _ T _ _ in science when he was given a compass as a present.

6. Einstein said that he _ _ V _ R found it easy to spell words in English.

7. In the 1930s Einstein went to live in _ _ _ _ _ C _.

8. Einstein was probably the greatest scientist of the _ W _ _ _ _ _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _ Y.

9. The General Theory of Relativity was probably Einstein’s most _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ T scientific achievement.

10. Einstein certainly could not be described as an _ _ D _ _ _ _ Y person.

11. Unfortunately, Einstein’s work was later used to develop _ _ C _ _ _ R

_ _ _ P _ _ S.

3.
BRAINSTORMING

Put these inventions into two columns – the best and the worst. There are two which appear in both columns:

bicycle

radio

nuclear weapons

plastic bag

computer

‘tetra-pak’ carton

penicillin

internal combustion engine

landmine

internet

light bulb

television

cat’s eye

car alarm

telephone

mobile phone

speed camera

Sinclair C5 electric car

 

The best inventions ever	The worst inventions ever

4. READING

Read the text below. Match (A-H) to (1-5). There are three choices you do not need to use.

FIVE STRANGEST INVENTIONS

(1) Dog –to – Human Language Translation Device

Keita Sato, President of Takara Co., invented Bow-Lingual, a computer-based automaticdog-to-human language translation device. The Bow-Lingual’s a two-piece set – a wireless microphone that attaches to your dog’s collar, and a walkie-talkie-looking handset with an LCD screen. Barks and yelps are transmitted to the handset, where their voiceprint is analysed and placed into one of six emotional categories: happy, sad, on guard, frustrated, needy, or assertive. Once the appropriate emotional state is determined, the Bow-Lingual randomly selects a phrase belonging to that category and displays it on the screen. So, if your pooch is determined to be on guard, maybe you’ll get “Are you my friend or my enemy?” If aggressive, perhaps the sentiment will be “I’m dominant”. You get the drift.

(2) Alarm Clock That Runs Away from You

Gauri Nanda (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) invented “Clocky”, an alarm clockthat runs away and hides if you don’t get out of bed on time. When the alarm sounds you can snooze one time. If you still don’t wake up, Clocky will jump off of the bedside table, and wheel away, mindlessly bumping into objects until he finds a spot to rest. You’ll have to get up and out of bed to silence his alarm. Clocky will find new spots every day in kind of a hide-and-seek game.

(3) Washing Machine for Cats and Dogs

The co-inventors of the Lavakan, Eduardo and Andres Diaz, decided in 1998 that their dogs deserved the same treatment that humans get from a shower massage. The side-loaded automatic pet washing machine is safer and less stressful for the animals than washing them by hand. It soaps, rinses and dries dogs and cats in less than half an hour. It has a series of conical nozzles that wash and massage beasts from every direction, while dirty and soapy waste is filtered through a hose at the bottom. Operators use Lavakan’s touch panel to choose the best wash cycle for the animal’s size and dermatological needs. Pesticide soaps, for example, require an extended wait period to kill fleas and ticks.

(4) Self – Performing Business Suit

Hyuk-ho Kwon Company of Seoul, Korea, invented this suit. The suit is made with fabric soaked in a chemical that contains scented micro-capsules, which pop and release the odour when the wearer moves – or gets bumped on a crowded subway train.

(5) Automobile Burglar Alarm Consisting of a Detection Circuit and a Flamethrower

Charl Fourie and Michelle Wong (Johannesburg, South Africa) invented an automobile burglar alarm consisting of a detection track and a flamethrower, to provide a deterrent to carjacking. With a rising crime rate, carjacking became a serious concern in South Africa. The Blaster car modification functions as a liquefies petroleum gas flamethrower; when a carjacking occurs, the driver steps on an additional pedal next to accelerator and flames erupt from outer sides of both front doors, “neutralizing” the assailant. The inventor claims it is unlikely to kill but would “definitely blind” the assailant. In South Africa, it is legal to use lethal force in self-defence if in fear of one’s life, and ownership of flamethrower is unrestricted.

This invention ________

A) was created in order to defend drivers from hijackers.

B) can be used to soap, rinse and dry dogs and cats.

C) helps protect your computer from cats.

D) should be implanted years afterwards in most cases.

E) can escape from you.

F) is used to enter ransom command and data.

G) smells nice.

H) can help understand dog’s barking and yelping.

5. READING