The idea of using steam for driving stationary machinery originated in the early centuries. For a long time, no one seemed to have thought of using steam for transportation purposes. In the earlier historical records, there is mention of "heat engines," which were used for organ blowing, the turning of spits1, and like purposes. But from this early date till the 17th century, practically no progress was made in the use of steam. Though men had experimented with steam up to this time with more or less success, the world is chiefly indebted for the developed type of the steam engine to James Watt and George Stephenson.
James Watt, who secured the position as a maker of scientific instruments in the University of Glasgow, proposed an idea for improving the existing steam engine, which was used for pumping mines. For a long time, owing to a lack of money, he had difficulty in establishing the merits of his improvements. Finally, he formed a partnership with Matthew Boulton, a wealthy and energetic man who lived at Birmingham, England. They began the manufacture of steam engines at Birmingham, under the firm name of Boulton and Watt. This partnership was very successful. Watt supplied the inventions; Boulton furnished the money and attended to the business.
Before the time of Watt, the steam engine was exclusively a steam pump—slow and wasteful of fuel. Watt made it a quick, powerful, and efficient engine, requiring only a fourth as much fuel as before. Under his first patent, the engine was still used only as a steam pump; but his later improvements adapted it for driving stationary machinery of all kinds. The commercial success of his engine was soon fully established.
George Stephenson further modified Boulton and Watt Company's creation. Stephenson initiated the use of steam for carrying passengers and goods. In September 1825, the first train passed over the road. It consisted of thirty-four cars weighing, all told, ninety tons. The train was pulled by Stephenson's engine, operated by Stephenson himself, with a signalman riding on horseback in advance. The train moved off at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour, and on certain parts of the road it reached a speed of fifteen miles per hour. The trial was a complete success.
Which idea can be drawn from the author's development of the events that led to the successful use of a steam engine to carry passengers and goods?
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The first trial of a train run by Watt’s steam engine was a failure as it used too much fuel and moved too slowly.
In the beginning, Watt used his invention only as a steam pump, but later, he developed it to run machinery as well.
Watt's improvement of the steam pump and Stephenson's modifications to Watt's steam engine led to the creation of a powerful and efficient engine.
Lack of money forced Watt to form a partnership with wealthy Boulton and they began to manufacture engines under the name of Boulton and Watt.
Watt's improvement of the steam pump and Stephenson's modifications to Watt's steam engine led to the creation of a powerful and efficient engine.
How does the introduction of Watt's and Boulton's partnership impact the development of the steam engine?
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The partnership provided James Watt with the opportunity to convert the simple steam pump into a steam engine that could be used for transportation.
The partnership provided James Watt with the opportunity to create a complex steam pump that could be used for organ blowing, the turning of spits, and as a steam engine.
Watt’s and Boulton's partnership led to the commercial success of the steam engine that was used for driving passengers and stationary machinery of all kind.
Watt's and Boulton's partnership led to a combination of innovation and money that was needed for the development of an efficient steam engine.
Watt's and Boulton's partnership led to a combination of innovation and money that was needed for the development of an efficient steam engine.
here is only one reason why all grown-up people do not play with toys; and it is a fair reason. The reason is that playing with toys takes so very much more time and trouble than anything else. Playing as children means playing is the most serious thing in the world; and as soon as we have small duties or small sorrows we have to abandon to some extent so enormous and ambitious a plan of life. We have enough strength for politics and commerce and art and philosophy; we have not enough strength for play. This is a truth which every one will recognize who, as a child, has ever played with anything at all. My journalistic work, which earns money, is not pursued with such awful persistence as that work which earned nothing.
Take the case of blocks. If you publish a book tomorrow, your work may be laborious, but it is fundamentally frivolous. It is not serious as the work of a child piling one block on the other is serious; for the simple reason that if your book is a bad book, no one will ever be able ultimately and entirely to prove to you. Whereas if the balance of block is a bad balance of blocks, it will simply tumble down. And if I know anything of children, they will work to build again. Whereas, if I know anything of authors, nothing would induce you to write your book again, or even to think of it again if you could help it.
How does the author view playing with toys?
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He argues that it is more important than journalistic work.
He believes it is waste of time that does not produce results.
He thinks that adults enjoy playing as much as children do.
He considers it an endeavor that shows persistence.
He argues that playing with toys is a serious and important activity, but it requires more time and effort than other pursuits.
In the 1930s, Ralph Metcalfe was known as the fastest human in the world. He was born on May 29, 1910, in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was in high school, he rose to fame as a track athlete. He won four Olympic medals: one gold medal, two silver medals, and one bronze medal. He won the gold medal for the 4x100 meter relay at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. A rock to his fellow athletes, Metcalfe helped his teammates overcome the challenges they faced at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
He retired from sports in 1936, but his passion for sports led him to coach students for ten years at Xavier University in New Orleans. Between 1949 and 1952, he was the head of the Illinois State Athletic Commission. Metcalfe served as a US Congressman from 1971–1978. Even today, he is a great inspiration to athletes all over the word.
Which detail best conveys the author's perspective about the topic?
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"Ralph Metcalfe was known as the fastest human in the world"
"He won four Olympic medals: one gold medal, two silver medals, and one bronze medal."
"Between 1949 and 1952, he was the head of the Illinois State Athletic Commission."
"A rock to his fellow athletes, Metcalfe helped his teammates"
"Ralph Metcalfe was known as the fastest human in the world"
Biologists have found that about 10 percent of animal species may sometimes breed with other species. This means that two animals of different species can produce offspring. Scientists have discovered more of these animals in the last 25 years. One example of a hybrid animal is the mule, which is a cross between a donkey and a horse.
It is more difficult for hybrid species to survive in the wild, however. Occasionally, species that are too different genetically might mate in nature. Many babies that come from the different species are unable to reproduce. This means that the hybrid species cannot grow in number. Zorses, which are a hybrid of a horse and a zebra, and mules, are two examples of species that cannot reproduce. Another problem that hybrid species have is that they face competition from the members of their parent species.
There are also positive things about producing hybrid species in the wild. Hybrids may develop adaptations to conditions that neither of their parents was able to live in. This could happen because of new gene combinations being produced in hybrids. Scientists have studied the adaptation of hybrid species using sunflower and honeysuckle plants.
Two common species of sunflower are the common sunflower and the prairie sunflower, and both species only grow in moist soil. Their hybrids can grow in desert climates and salt marshes, however. When parent sunflowers were planted in the desert, they failed to survive. Results of the studies done with plants are comparable to similar things that have happened in animals. The studies of animal and plant hybrids could help us discover how humans have adapted.
How does the author develop his or her point of view in the passage?
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by stating that studying animal and plant hybrids could help explain adaptation in humans
by describing the problems faced in producing hybrid animals and plants in the wild
by showing how hybrid species are forced to compete with their parent species for survival
by explaining how a lion needs to mate with a tiger in order to produce a liger
The author develops their point of view by describing the problems faced in producing hybrid animals and plants in the wild, as well as by stating that studying animal and plant hybrids could help explain adaptation in humans.
What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?
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to describe the plants and animals of different hybrid species that can mate
to explain the meaning of hybrid species and their advantages and disadvantages
to discuss the possibilities of having more hybrid plants and animals in deserts
to explain the difficulties faced by hybrid plants and animals in surviving