Thomas Edison and the Invention of the Light Bulb

According to the text, when did Thomas Edison invent the household light bulb?

• in 1879

• in 1875

• in 1883

• in 1885

What purpose does the last paragraph of the text serve?

• It shows that Thomas Edison was a leading inventor.

• It shows that people's lives would be the same without the light bulb or electricity.

• It shows the perspective of a world without the light bulb or electricity.

• It shows how hard people's lives were without the light bulb.

The light bulb's invention inspired other inventors to make new electrical items. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion?

• "Imagine what your life would be like without light bulbs. You would have to keep a lot of candles at home. The streets would be sometimes so dark you probably would not go out after sundown."

• "Thomas Edison invented the first commercially successful light bulb in 1879. Ironically, barely anyone in America had access to electricity. They couldn't use the new invention."

• "The invention of the light bulb also led to the invention of other electrical items. Soon, refrigerators and electric heaters also helped people live more easily, and radios entertained people."

• "He helped develop power plants so that they could distribute electricity over wires to homes and businesses. Once electricity reached customers across the nation, everyone had light bulbs."

Based on the text, how did people's lives change after having access to electricity?

• People's lives had more problems than before access to electricity.

• People's lives were the same as before access to electricity.

• People's lives were more difficult than before access to electricity.

• People's lives were easier than before access to electricity.

What is the main idea of the text?

• Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and electricity, and these inventions changed the way people live.

• Power plants were developed to distribute electricity over wires to homes and businesses.

• People's activities were changed by the inventions of light bulbs and electricity.

• Thomas Edison and people were outdoors less because of the inventions of light bulbs and electricity.