Thomas Edison: The Man Who Lit Up the World

Lexile: 730 | Grade: 4

Passage

Thomas Edison was a curious boy who asked lots of questions. He was born in 1847 in Ohio and liked to take things apart just to see how they worked. Sometimes, he even built new things from the pieces.

As he got older, Thomas worked hard to turn his ideas into real inventions. He didn’t always get things right on the first try—in fact, he failed many times. But he kept trying, which became one of his greatest strengths.

One of his most famous inventions was the electric light bulb. Before that, people used candles or oil lamps to light their homes. Edison's light bulb made it possible for cities and houses to be safely lit with electricity.

He also created the phonograph, which could record and play back sound, and helped improve early motion picture cameras. In total, Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents for his inventions.

Even though he faced challenges, Edison never gave up. His curiosity, creativity, and hard work changed the world forever.

Questions

Q1: What is this passage mostly about?

  • A. A boy who loves playing outside.
  • B. The invention of oil lamps and candles.
  • C. Thomas Edison and the inventions he created.
  • D. How electricity is made.

Q2: What happened after Thomas Edison worked on the light bulb?

  • A. People stopped using electricity.
  • B. Cities and homes were able to use safe electric light.
  • C. He moved to Ohio to become a teacher.
  • D. He stopped inventing new things.

Q3: What does the word 'patents' mean in the sentence: 'Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents for his inventions'?

  • A. Mistakes he made
  • B. Books he wrote
  • C. Legal papers that protect inventions
  • D. Schools he attended

Q4: What can we tell about Thomas Edison based on this passage?

  • A. He gave up easily when things got hard.
  • B. He was curious and never stopped trying.
  • C. He liked only one invention the most.
  • D. He didn’t like to work on new ideas.

Q5: Why did the author write this passage?

  • A. To show that electricity is dangerous
  • B. To describe how oil lamps were invented
  • C. To explain why inventors should give up after failing
  • D. To inform readers about Thomas Edison and how he changed the world

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is this passage mostly about?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage focuses on Edison's inventions and how his work changed the world.

Q2: What happened after Thomas Edison worked on the light bulb?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The passage explains that Edison’s invention helped bring electric lighting to homes and cities.

Q3: What does the word 'patents' mean in the sentence: 'Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents for his inventions'?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: In context, 'patents' refers to official documents that protect a person’s right to their invention.

Q4: What can we tell about Thomas Edison based on this passage?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The passage says he failed many times but kept working, showing he was determined and curious.

Q5: Why did the author write this passage?

✅ Correct Answer: D

💡 Reasoning: The passage informs readers about Edison’s life and inventions and highlights his impact on the modern world.