JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

Who wrote books before the invention of the printing press?

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts.as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

3. Gutenberg’s boyhood interest in _______________ led to his invention

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

Before Johann invented the printing press, he became a skilled _________

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

5. Gutenberg got the idea of his invention from ____________

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

6. Gutenberg was born in _________________________________

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

_____________________ copies of the Gutenberg Bible were produced in 1456.

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

How much money did Gutenberg earn from is invention?

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions

Another befitting title to the passage is _________________

JOHANN GUTENBERG

Imagine a world without books, newspapers, magazine and all other printed materials we take for granted today. People had none of these things before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. Although there were a few books available at that time, most people did not have access to them. Each book was handwritten by monks and it took months to produce a single copy. The books they produced were so rare and precious that they were locked away in monastery libraries.

Gutenberg was born in the German town of Mainz where his father was the master of the mint. The young boy was fascinated by the way the goldsmith stamped letters and figures on to coins. Eventually, he became a skilled metalworker himself.

Gutenberg was also interested in the handwritten books in the monastery library. He would spend hours poring over them and watching the monks laboriously copying the scripts as he watched, an idea came to him. Could a metalwork process be used to produce words on a page? Gutenberg’s idea was to cut the letters of the alphabet on individual blocks of metal which could then be moved round to form words. He invented a printing press in which metal letters were fitted into a frame to make up the words on a page.

Gutenberg was a poor man and he needed money to develop his idea. Therefore, he agreed to a proposal put to him by a cunning lawyer named Johann Fust. Fust offered to pay for the printing press, inks and papers Gutenberg needed if he could become Gutenberg’s partner.

In 1456, Gutenberg printed 300 copies of the famous Gutenberg Bible. This was the start of book publishing and should have made Gutenberg rich and famous.

But Fust was greedy, and decide to get rid of his partner. He demanded his money back. Gutenberg could not pay, so Fust seized his equipment and took over the business. Gutenberg did not earn any money from his invention and died penniless twelve years later.

Answer the following questions.

Gutenberg could not pay the money Fust requested because __________________________________