LESON 6A, GRAMMAR (SB Page 33)
1) SPEAKING Which invention do you think has been most important in history? Say why.
Answers Students’ own answers
Changing the way the world communicates
In March 1876, the Scottish scientist Alexander Graham Bell called his assistant Thomas Watson and said, ‘Mr Watson, come here, I want to see you.’ These are thought to have been the first words ever spoken on a telephone. We don’t know for sure because other scientists were experimenting with similar ideas, but Alexander quickly registered his idea and now he is widely reported to be the inventor of the telephone.
Today, it is estimated that there are more phones in the world than people! It is estimated that there are more than 8.5 billion mobile phones in a world that has a population of around 8 billion people. Even more people may have phones in the future, so Alexander’s invention was truly remarkable.
It is believed that Alexander became interested in studying sound because both his wife and his mother were deaf. Although he is most famous for inventing the telephone, he also invented a device that could be used to detect hearing problems. It has often been remarked that Alexander did not like to have a telephone in his study because it disturbed him from his work! Perhaps that is why he was able to invent other things too, including an early metal detector and a device to detect icebergs in the sea.
Not everybody believes Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone. An Italian inventor called Antonio Meucci was widely reported to have invented a telephone in 1856, 20 years before Alexander. The Italians did not have enough money to develop his invention, however, and although Italians claim Meucci is the true inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell is the name forever associated with a device that has become a vital part of our lives.
2) Read the article about Alexander Graham Bell and list four pieces of information about the inventor that we are not completely sure are true.
ANSWER:
The First Words Spoken on a Telephone. The statement that Bell's words "Mr Walson, come here, I want to see you" were the first spoken on a telephone is not definitively verified, as other scientists were also experimenting with similar ideas at the time.
Bell's Interest in Studying Sound. It is believed that Bell became interested in studying sound because both his wife and his mother were deaf, but this is not definitely confirmed.
His Preference Regarding Telephones. The remark that Bell did not like lo have a telephone in his study because it disturbed him from his work is noted as an opinion ("It has often been remarked") rather than a verified fact.
Claim of Invention by Antonio Meucci. The assertion that Antonio Meucci invented a telephone in 1856 and that Italians claim he is the true inventor of the telephone.
3 Match sentences 1–3 from the text with patterns a–c in the Grammar box below.
1 These are thought to have been the first words ever spoken on a telephone.
2 It is believed that Alexander became interested in studying sound because ...
3 He is widely reported to be the inventor of the telephone.
Answers 1 c 2 a 3 b
Grammar box
Impersonal passive structures
We can report people’s beliefs and opinions using verbs such as say, think, believe, know, claim, estimate, expect and a passive structure. There are three patterns:
a. for present or past belief: it + passive (be + past participle) + that clause
b. for present belief: subject + passive (be + past participle) + to-infinitive
c. for present belief about a past event: subject + passive (be + past participle) + perfect infinitive (to have been + past participle)
4) Rewrite the sentences using the first pattern (a) from the Grammar box.
1. People say that other scientists invented the telephone.
It is said that other scientists invented the telephone.
2. Experts expect that more people will own phones in the future.
It is expected that more phones will be owned in the future.
3. Some people have suggested that young people should not have mobile phones.
It has been suggested by some people that young people should not have mobile phones.
5) Rewrite the sentences using patterns b and c from the Grammar box.
1. People say that a scientist called Elisha Gray invented the phone at the same time as Alexander Graham Bell.
A scientist called Elisha Gray is said to have invented the phone at the same time as Alexander Graham Bell.
2. Initially, people thought the telephone was only for rich people.
Initially, the telephone was thought to be just for rich people.
3. Experts have estimated that the majority of people in the world own a smartphone.
It has been estimated that the majority of people in the world now own a smartphone.
