Non-fiction: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

Famous Inventors
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison, born in 1847, had a lot of trouble in school. He got poor
grades and didnt listen to the teacher. Instead, he would daydream. Perhaps
he daydreamed about interesting things he could make. His mother decided that
she would teach Thomas at home. He started reading as many books as he
could to learn a lot about many different subjects.

Edison was most interested in learning how things were put together and
how they worked. He became a great student when he was able to study what
interested him.

Thomas Edison went on to become a very famous inventor. He invented

the motion picture camera and the phonograph. He also improved the light bulb,
electric motor, and typewriter. He invented too many things to list! Edison
created over 1,000 new things. His home and laboratory in New Jersey is now a
museum.

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Questions: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

Name: ____________________________

Date:______________________

1. Thomas Edison worked on all of the following EXCEPT

a.
b.
c.
d.

the light bulb

the cotton gin
the motion picture camera
the phonograph

2. Edisons mother taught him at home because

a.
b.
c.
d.

he had done poorly at school.

there was no school nearby.
she knew he would be a great inventor.
she was the teacher for the whole town.

3. Based on the passage, it can be concluded that

a.
b.
c.
d.

Edisons teachers could tell he would be a great inventor.

Edisons mother did not think he would do anything important.
Edisons education had a great effect on his career.
Edison received very little education as a child.

4. Read the following sentences: He got poor grades and didnt listen to the
teacher. Instead, he would daydream. Perhaps he daydreamed about
interesting things he could make.
The word daydream means
a.
b.
c.
d.

to fall asleep during the day

to draw things in a book
to imagine things inside your head
to play games with friends

5. This passage is mostly about

a.
b.
c.
d.

Edisons work on the electric light bulb.

Edisons education and accomplishments.
Edisons relationship with his mother.
why Edison struggled in school.

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Questions: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

6. Describe how Edison learned things after he stopped going to school.

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

7. Based on the passage, why would Edisons home and laboratory be turned
into a museum?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence.
Edison learned about how things were put together and how they worked
_______ he became a great inventor.
a. but
b. before
c. after
d. although

9. Read the following sentence.

Thomas Edison began home schooling because he had done poorly in
school.
Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence
you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you.
1. Who? Thomas Edison
2. What? _____________________________________________________
3. Why? ______________________________________________________

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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Questions: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

10. Vocabulary Word: famous: well known by other people.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________
________________________________________________________________

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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Answers: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

Teacher Guide and Answers

Passage Reading Level: Lexile 640

Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines or illustrates
a concept or topic
Passage Summary: This passage describes how Thomas Edison became a
famous inventor, and some of the inventions he created.

1. Thomas Edison worked on all of the following EXCEPT

a.
b.
c.
d.

the light bulb

the cotton gin
the motion picture camera
the phonograph

2. Edisons mother taught him at home because

a.
b.
c.
d.

he had done poorly at school.

there was no school nearby.
she knew he would be a great inventor.
she was the teacher for the whole town.

3. Based on the passage, it can be concluded that

a.
b.
c.
d.

Edisons teachers could tell he would be a great inventor.

Edisons mother did not think he would do anything important.
Edisons education had a great effect on his career.
Edison received very little education as a child.

4. Read the following sentences: He got poor grades and didnt listen to the
teacher. Instead, he would daydream. Perhaps he daydreamed about
interesting things he could make.
The word daydream means
a.
b.
c.
d.

to fall asleep during the day

to draw things in a book
to imagine things inside your head
to play games with friends

5
2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Answers: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

5. This passage is mostly about

a.
b.
c.
d.

Edisons work on the electric light bulb.

Edisons education and accomplishments.
Edisons relationship with his mother.
why Edison struggled in school.

6. Describe how Edison learned things after he stopped going to school.

Suggested answer: Edison was taught by his mother. He read as many
books as he could on many subjects. He studied things that interested
him.
7. Based on the passage, why would Edisons home and laboratory be turned
into a museum?
Suggested answer: Edisons home and laboratory were turned into a
museum because he was very famous and invented many important
things. He invented over 1,000 things, so there would be many things to
see at the museum.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence.
Edison learned about how things were put together and how they worked
_______ he became a great inventor.
a.
b.
c.
d.

but
before
after
although

9. Read the following sentence.

Thomas Edison began home schooling because he had done poorly in
school.
Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence
you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you.
1. Who? Thomas Edison
2. What? began home schooling
3. Why? because he had done poorly in school

6
2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Answers: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

10. Vocabulary Word: famous: well known by other people.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.

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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.