Тема / Топик по английскому языку:
Thomas Alva Edison

Most people know that Thomas Edison invented the first working light bulb, but they don’t know anything else about him. Edison had almost no formal schooling, yet he invented over 1 000 different things. Among Edison’s inventions are: the phonograph (record player), the movie camera and the movie projector.

Thomas Edison invented his electric light bulb in 1879, but there was still much work to do. No one knew how to use electricity outside of a laboratory before Thomas Edison. He and his workers had to create a safe electric system. First they had to build a factory. Then they had to build the dynamos (generators) to make the electricity. Next they had to send out the electricity.

To show people that he was serious, Edison began his project in New York City. By 1887, much of New York City had electricity. Edison founded the Edison Electric Light Company and continued to supply electricity to New York and other places.

Thomas Edison lived until 1931. He continued to invent all his life. After the War, he tried to invent a substitute for rubber because of the shortage that the war caused.

Thomas Edison was a true genius, but he never went to a college or university. The only time Edison attended school was when he was seven years old. He stayed for three months and never returned. Thomas Edison was a school dropout, yet he became one of America’s most famous and most honoured men.

Topical Vocabulary

- to invent a light bulb
изобрести электрическую лампочку
to have no formal schooling
не получить формального школьного образования
an invention
изобретение
a phonograph
фонограф
a movie camera
кинокамера
a movie projector
кинопроектор
- to use electricity outside of a laboratory
использовать электричество вне лаборатории
to create a safe electric system
создать безопасную электрическую систему
to send out the electricity
вывести электричество
- to found the Edison Electric Light Company
основать Электрическую компанию Эдисона
to supply electricity to New York
снабжать Нью-Йорк электричеством
- a substitute for rubber
заменитель резины
- to be a true genius
быть настоящим гением
to be a school dropout
быть выгнанным из школы
America’s most famous and most honoured man
самый известный и почитаемый человек Америки

Answer the questions:

  1. What are Edison’s inventions?
  2. What did he have to do before the electric bulb was useful to the public?
  3. What part did he play in supplying electricity to New York?
  4. What did he do during and after World War I?
  5. What education did he get?

Translate into English:

  1. Эдисон - один из самых известных и почитаемых людей в Америке.
  2. У Эдисона не было формального школьного образования; он никогда не посещал колледж или университет.
  3. Эдисон изобрел фонограф, кинокамеру и кинопроектор.
  4. Его главным изобретением была электрическая лампочка.
  5. До Эдисона электричество никогда не использовалось вне лаборатории.
  6. Ему нужно было создать безопасную электрическую систему.
  7. Эдисон основал Электрическую компанию, которая снабжала электричеством Нью-Йорк.
  8. Всю свою жизнь Эдисон изобретал.
  9. Эдисон был настоящим гением.