Ann Makosinski: Power from the Palm of Your Hand

Lexile: 740 | Grade: 4

Passage

Ann Makosinski was just 15 years old when she invented something amazing—a flashlight that runs on body heat. That means no batteries, no solar power—just the warmth from your hand!

Ann, who is from Canada, had a friend in the Philippines who didn’t always have electricity. That made it hard to study at night. Ann wanted to help, so she looked for a way to create light without needing a plug or battery.

She learned about special materials that can turn heat into electricity. After many tests, she built a flashlight that turned her idea into reality.

In 2013, Ann won an award at the Google Science Fair for her invention. She became famous around the world as a young inventor with a big idea.

But Ann didn’t stop there. She began working on more inventions and encouraging other young people—especially girls—to become scientists and problem-solvers.

Ann’s story shows that with curiosity, care, and creativity, even teens can change the world.

Questions

Q1: What is the main idea of this passage?

  • A. Flashlights are important tools for school.
  • B. Ann Makosinski used science to help people without electricity.
  • C. You should always carry a flashlight in your backpack.
  • D. The Philippines is very dark at night.

Q2: Why did Ann want to create a special flashlight?

  • A. She was afraid of the dark.
  • B. She wanted to win a prize.
  • C. Her friend needed light to study where there was no electricity.
  • D. She wanted to sell it in stores.

Q3: What does the word 'inventor' mean in this passage?

  • A. Someone who reads books
  • B. Someone who builds new ideas into real things
  • C. Someone who teaches science in school
  • D. Someone who works at a library

Q4: What happened after Ann built her flashlight?

  • A. She gave up science to play sports.
  • B. She won an award and kept inventing more things.
  • C. She forgot about the flashlight and lost interest.
  • D. She moved to the Philippines to study electricity.

Q5: What lesson can we learn from Ann’s story?

  • A. You need a lot of money to invent something.
  • B. Adults are better at solving problems than kids.
  • C. Even young people can make a difference with creativity and care.
  • D. You must be perfect to win awards.

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the main idea of this passage?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The passage focuses on Ann’s invention and how it helped solve a real-world problem.

Q2: Why did Ann want to create a special flashlight?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage explains her friend’s challenge inspired Ann to solve the problem using science.

Q3: What does the word 'inventor' mean in this passage?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: Ann created something new to solve a problem, which makes her an inventor.

Q4: What happened after Ann built her flashlight?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: After her invention, she won a prize and kept working on inventions, inspiring others.

Q5: What lesson can we learn from Ann’s story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage shows how Ann used her ideas to help others and encourages kids to do the same.