"The Incredible Talking Machine"

Part A: Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

These are some of the names someone wrote in a logbook in Thomas Edison’s laboratory in 1877, after Edison and his assistants invented the first rudimentary machine for recording and playing back sounds.

What is the meaning of the word rudimentary as it is used in the sentence?

• basic

• mobile

• practical

• original

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CCSS.RI.7.4

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Part B: Which sentence from the article supports the answer to Part A? (Meaning of rudimentary)

• “The phonograph, his first invention to make him world-famous, is a perfect example.” (paragraph 2)

• “It was also the outcome of an amazing burst of inventiveness.” (paragraph 3)

• “When word of the invention spread, however, the outside world saw greater possibilities.” (paragraph 6)

• “But the primitive phonograph that Edison demonstrated for the editors of Scientific American that December remained exceedingly limited.” (paragraph 6)

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Which statement describes the central idea of “The Incredible Talking Machine”?

• Edison was dependent on his assistants and backers to be successful.

• Edison was never able to comprehend the full potential of his invention.

• Edison was more gifted at promoting his inventions than designing them.

• Edison was so impressed with his own invention that he ignored constructive

  criticism.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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Part B: Circle two pieces of evidence from the article that best support the answer to Part A (central idea of the article)

• “From the first, they thought it would be used to reproduce the human voice, but they had no clear idea of its exact purpose.” (paragraph 1)

• “At best, he thought, it might be an office machine allowing businessmen to dictate letters.” (paragraph 5)

• “Still, the editors were excited enough to publish an admiring bulletin about the device—a first shot that set off an avalanche of publicity.” (paragraph 7)

• “To him, the idea that his most cherished invention faced competition was unendurable.” (paragraph 8)

• “He dismissed ‘miserable dance and ragtime selections’ and described jazz as

  something for ‘the nuts.’” (paragraph 9)

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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Part A: How does the author of “The Incredible Talking Machine” mainly present information throughout the article?

• by presenting a cause and its effects

• by describing events in sequential order

• by explaining a problem and its solution

• by comparing and contrasting events

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CCSS.RI.5.5

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Part B

Which sentence from the article best supports the answer to Part A? (How does the author mainly present the information?)

• “If the paper were then pulled through the rollers again with the needle resting in the groove, the indentations would move the attached diaphragm . . . .”(paragraph 3)

• “It broke down frequently and required a trained technician’s constant attention.”

  (paragraph 7)

• “Ten years elapsed before Edison returned to the phonograph, only after a competitor developed a wax-coated cylinder that could be removed without ruining the recording . . . .” (paragraph 8)

• “The other phonograph companies introduced radios but Edison refused, wanting nothing to do with the medium’s inferior sound quality.” (paragraph 10)

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CCSS.RI.5.5

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CCSS.RI.7.5

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CCSS.RI.9-10.5