Can Opener
Okay, so the can-opener is not the world's most
baffling invention. It consists of a
simple turning wheel that cuts the can as it rolls around.
So when do you think the can opener was
invented? In ancient times?
The Middle Ages?
The Industrial Revolution? Nope—the can opener is much more recent than
that. It didn't come around until the
late 1800s. In fact, the electric can opener is less than
one-hundred years old.
If the can-opener is so simple, why did it take
so long for people to come up with it?
That's easy—a can-opener is pretty much useless if there are no cans that
need to be opened. The tin can, as
common as it seems today, wasn't invented until the 19th
century. And it changed the world.
Prior to tin cans, food spoiled very easily. Keep in mind that there were no refrigerators
at the time, only iceboxes. The cans
kept the food airtight, so germs couldn't get to it. The only drawback was that the first cans
were thick and heavy, and they had to be opened with a hammer. But then came the
can-opener...
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1) Which of the following most supports the main idea of
the passage?
a.
The first tin cans were thick and heavy.
b.
Tin cans were very difficult to invent.
c.
The electric can opener is less than 100 years old.
d.
The invention of the can opener was very significant.
2) In the first sentence of the above passage, which of the
following best describes the meaning of the word “baffling”?
a.
oldest
b.
simplistic
c.
mysterious
d.
artistic
3) Based on the above passage, when was the can opener
invented?
a.
during the Middle Ages
b.
at the start of the Industrial Revolution
c.
prior to Ancient Times
d.
after the start of the 19th century
4) Based on the above passage, why did it take so long for
people to invent the can opener?
a.
metal parts were too expensive
b.
tin cans weren’t invented yet
c.
it was easier to open cans with a hammer
d.
most people relied on electric can opener
5) At the start of the last paragraph in the above passage,
which word could be used to replace “spoiled”?
a.
melted
b.
sold
c.
rotted
d.
improved
Answer Key
1)
Which of the
following most supports the main idea of the passage?
a.
The first tin cans were thick and heavy.
b.
Tin cans were very difficult to invent.
c.
The electric can opener is less than 100 years
old.
d.
The invention of
the can opener was very significant.
2)
In the first
sentence of the above passage, which of the following best describes the
meaning of the word “baffling”?
a.
oldest
b.
simplistic
c.
mysterious
d.
artistic
3)
Based on the
above passage, when was the can opener invented?
a.
during the Middle Ages
b.
at the start of the Industrial Revolution
c.
prior to Ancient Times
d.
after the start
of the 19th century
4)
Based on the
above passage, why did it take so long for people to invent the can opener?
a.
metal parts were too expensive
b.
tin cans weren’t
invented yet
c.
it was easier to open cans with a hammer
d.
most people relied on electric can opener
5)
At the start
of the last paragraph in the above passage, which word could be used to replace
“spoiled”?
a.
melted
b.
sold
c.
rotted
d.
improved