English For Today chapter 9: Things that Have Changed Our Lives

Unit Nine

Things That Have Changed Our Lives

After we have studied this unit, we will be able to

• ask and answer questions
• participate in short dialogues and conversations on familiar topics
• read aloud texts with proper sounds, stress and intonation
• read and understand text materials
• write answers to questions
• write short paragraphs

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Lesson 1: The Wheel

Keywords: circular, rotate, axis, propeller, turbine, mobility, journey (v) vehicle, invention, civilisation

A . Look at the pictures and say which one is easier to move and why:

Figure

Description: Two pieces of luggage side by side. On the left, a flat suitcase with a carry handle on top and two clasps on the front. On the right, a trolley bag with an extendable handle at the top and small wheels at the base.

B . Read the text and answer the following questions:

Human beings have invented many important things so far. They have brought great civilization to the world through these inventions. Do you know which invention is the greatest? It is ‘the wheel’.

A wheel is a circular object. It can rotate around its axis and help easy movement of things across a surface.

Figure

Description: Three machines in a row. On the left, a wheel and axle: two wheels joined by a horizontal axle. In the middle, a propeller with broad curved blades around a central hub. On the right, a wind turbine with three long blades on a tall tower.

The wheels are, in fact, everywhere. They are on our cars, trains, planes, wagons and so on. Besides, they are on most of the factory and farm equipments. Fans, propellers, turbines are also other types of wheels.

So, the wheel is very important. We cannot imagine modern life without wheels. But do we know exactly who made the first wheel?

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Questions:

1. What is a wheel?
2. What can a wheel do?
3. Where can you find wheels?

C . Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the box. There are more words than necessary:

Although the wheel is a very (a) -------- invention, the history of its origin is unknown. Experts guess that the first wheel was developed from a circular object. The early man observed that a huge piece of stone could be rolled easily if it was (b) --------- in shape. Similarly, a heavy tree-trunk is (c) -------- to carry; but it can be rolled away with less effort. Even, a gigantic tree-trunk can be moved easily using other small and round trunks as rollers under it. Thus, early man took advantage of rolling objects and developed the (d) ------- wheel. Apart from its mechanical advantage, a wheel’s mobility has contributed (e) ------- to the civilisation.

D . Make as many correct sentences as you can using the substitution table. In the third column there are more items than necessary:

E . Have you ever travelled by bus or car? Do you have any experience of what happens if one wheel falls flat. If yes, give a description of your experience. If no, imagine such a situation, and write a paragraph on it.

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Lesson 2: The History of the Wheel

Keywords: invent, valley, ancient, further, pioneer, warfare

A . Look at the following pictures of wheels. They existed in different ages in history. Discuss with your partner and put ordinal numbers under them (in spelling, such as 'first', 'second', etc.,) beginning from the ancient to the modern times:

Figure

Description: Five wheels in a row, left to right: a flat grey stone disc with a central hole; an orange wooden wheel with spokes; a bicycle wheel with thin wire spokes; a black car tyre with a silver alloy rim; a pale wooden wheel with spokes. A blank line is printed below each wheel.

B . Read the following dialogue between the English teacher, Mr Ramis and a student Rubina:

Mr.Ramis : You know that the invention of the wheel has helped to create a new civilisation. But do you know who first used wheels?

Rubina : No, teacher. But I guess it may be the Greeks.

Mr.Ramis : The Greeks were pioneers in many things. But in this case, however, the Mesopotamians were the first. The oldest ever wheel was discovered in Mesopotamia. It was in 3500 B.C.

Rubina : Where is Mesopotemia?

Mr. Ramis : Well, Mesopotamia was in ancient Iraq. It was along the valley of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. After the Mesopotamians, the wheel was further improved by the Egyptians. They first made wheels with spokes. Then they used them on chariots around 2000 B.C.

Rubina : So, the wheel travelled to Egypt from Mesopotamia?

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Mr. Ramis : Exactly. But it travelled eastwards too. Wheels reached the Indus valley by 3000 B.C. But chariots with spoked wheels were made in ancient India in around 1500 B.C. They were used for war, hunting and racing.

Rubina : What about the Greeks,teacher? Didn't they use wheels?

Mr. Ramis : They definitely did. In 1500 B.C, the Greeks too learnt the idea of wheel-making from the Egyptians. They also made further improvements on it. Later, the Romans did the same too and produced a variety of wheeled vehicles.

C. Read the statements below and say whether they are True or False. If False, give the right answer:

1. The Greeks were the pioneers in developing spoked-wheels.
2. The earliest wheel was discovered in 2000 B.C.
3. The Egyptians first used wheels on chariots.
4. The Romans first used wheeled chariots for warfare.
5. The ancient Indians used wheels before the ancient Romans did.

D. Look at the following map of the ancient river-valley civilisations, their locations in the map, and how they are related to wheels. Discuss with your partner:

Figure: The Four Old-World River Valley Cultures

Labels: The Four Old-World River Valley Cultures; Shang China, Yellow R.; Mesopotamia, Tigris & Euphrates; Egypt, The Nile; India, Indus & Ganges; Yangzi; Bay of Bengal Description: Outline map of Europe, Africa and Asia showing four shaded river-valley regions: Egypt along the Nile in the west, Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates, India along the Indus and Ganges, and Shang China along the Yellow River, with the Yangzi also labelled further south-east. The Bay of Bengal is marked at the bottom.

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E. Listen to the text carefully and complete the following sentences with appropriate words:

U9, L2 E Listening text: 10

1. Shang China lies --------- the far east of India.
2. The Indus and Ganges valley is -------- the middle.
3. The Tigris and Euphrates valley lies -------- the Nile and the Indus-Ganges.
4. The Ganges flows ---------- the north of India.
5. The Bay of Bengal is ---------- the east coast of India.

F. Discuss in pairs and make as many 'Wh' questions as you can from the given answers below. First one is done for you:

1. i) Where does Mesopotamia lie? ii) Which countries does Mesopotamia lie between? Ans. Mesopotamia lies between India and Egypt.
2. ....................................................................? Ans. The Caspian Sea is on the north of Mesopotamia.
3. ....................................................................? Ans. The Nile falls into the Mediterranean Sea.
4. ....................................................................? Ans. The river Yangzi lies to the east of India.
5. ....................................................................? Ans. The Tigris and Euphrates run on the west of Mesopotamia.

G. Write a paragraph on the history of the wheel. Take your cues from the dialogue in section B:

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