The Invention of the Phonograph — Questions and answers

Read the full story

What happened when Camila opened the Invention Encyclopedia?

Choices

  1. The lights in her room turned off.
  2. She saw a picture of her brother, Omar.
  3. The book started to speak to her.
  4. The room shimmered, and she was pulled into a swirling vortex of light. ✓

Answer: The room shimmered, and she was pulled into a swirling vortex of light.

From page 3

What was Thomas Edison's latest invention that he showed Camila?

Choices

  1. A pair of special spectacles.
  2. A time-traveling machine.
  3. The phonograph. ✓
  4. A machine to make brass devices.

Answer: The phonograph.

From page 5

According to Thomas Edison, why was the phonograph an important invention?

Choices

  1. To make communication slower and more private.
  2. To help people read more letters and books.
  3. To allow people to send their voice and listen to music anytime. ✓
  4. To record all the news from the Scientific American.

Answer: To allow people to send their voice and listen to music anytime.

From page 6

How did Thomas Edison's first phonograph record sound?

Choices

  1. By using special paper and ink.
  2. By making a needle create grooves on a thin sheet of tinfoil. ✓
  3. By capturing sound waves in a glass jar.
  4. By drawing pictures of sound on a cylinder.

Answer: By making a needle create grooves on a thin sheet of tinfoil.

From page 7

What idea did Camila have to improve the phonograph's cylinders?

Choices

  1. To use metal instead of tinfoil.
  2. To make them out of plastic for better sound.
  3. To use sand (silica) to make glass cylinders. ✓
  4. To make them smaller so they are easier to carry.

Answer: To use sand (silica) to make glass cylinders.

From page 8

How did Thomas Edison react to Camila's suggestion about using glass for cylinders?

Choices

  1. He told her it was a bad idea.
  2. He said it was brilliant and that she solved his biggest problem. ✓
  3. He laughed and said it was impossible.
  4. He ignored her and kept working on his machine.

Answer: He said it was brilliant and that she solved his biggest problem.

From page 9