What was the greatest invention/idea of the twentieth century?

Who invented a new spinning machine that could make thick, strong thread very fast, much faster than any other machine?

• James Watt

• Richard Arkwright

• Matthew Boulton

• Samuel Crompton

What was the main problem with the new factories opened by Arkwright?

• High prices for cloth

• Workers were paid very low wages and working conditions were very poor

• Factories were too small

• Machines were unreliable

Who invented a new style of steam engine that was faster, more reliable, and used less coal?

• Richard Arkwright

• James Watt

• Matthew Boulton

• Samuel Crompton

Watt’s new steam engine also revolutionised the workplace. Machines powered by steam could now be built to do work that had previously been done by _______.

• hand

• steam

• water

• wind

What was Humphrey Davy particularly concerned about?

• The dangers of working in coal mines

• The invention of the steam engine

• The discovery of penicillin

• The construction of bridges

By 1815, what caused many mining explosions?

• Dangerous gases underground being ignited by the flames of the candles used by miners

• Flooding of mines due to heavy rainfall

• Collapse of mine walls from weak supports

• Overuse of explosives for breaking rocks

What did Davy invent to improve underground lighting?

• The safety lamp

• The electric torch

• The carbide lamp

• The oil lantern

Who was born in 1781 and is known as 'The father of the railways'?

• George Stephenson

• James Watt

• Isambard Kingdom Brunel

• Richard Trevithick

What railway did Stephenson build in 1821?

• The Stockton and Darlington Railway

• The Great Western Railway

• The Liverpool and Manchester Railway

• The Midland Railway

What was a major problem with Stephenson’s steam trains?

• They were not good at climbing hills, so railway lines had to be built as flat as possible.

• They could only run on wooden tracks.

• They were powered by electricity, which was unreliable at the time.

• They were too slow to be useful for transportation.