Product Review: Battery Chargers
Steve Dawson
1 With the growth of the green movement, more people are recycling and reusing products instead of purchasing new ones. This has led to a renewed interest in rechargeable batteries. The most common complaint about rechargeable batteries is poor performance. Recharged batteries often fail to provide the same amount of power as new batteries. Our researchers tested three rechargeable battery brands found in most local stores to determine which battery and charger combination provides the most energy.
2 We conducted tests for battery strength and recharging capacity. First, we used each brand to operate a digital camera and a portable CD player. Digital cameras use large amounts of power for each picture taken, but portable CD players draw smaller amounts of power over a longer period. We determined the amount of power in each battery two ways. First, we counted the number of flashes from the camera. Second, we recorded the amount of playing time for the CD player. We then recharged the batteries and retested.
3 The first battery and charger combination tested was the Con Art 486. It’s the most costly brand, but the Con Art batteries’ performance with the camera was excellent. However, its performance with the CD player was below average. The batteries also require twenty-four hours to recharge completely. Once recharged, they performed at nearly the same level as before.
4 The second battery-charger combination tested was the Mao Tek 2G (pictured). It was the least expensive and its performance was rated as average for both devices. The recharge time was only about twelve hours. The recharged batteries performed as well as they did on the first tests.
5 The Charge! battery-charger combination, which is made by Green Company, was the final product tested. This charger is less expensive than the Con Art 486, but priced higher than the Mao Tek 2G. This unit requires at least twenty-four hours to recharge the batteries. The performance was below average for the camera, but the numbers for the CD player were excellent. After charging, we noticed a marked decline in battery power. The recharged numbers were below average in both devices.
6 We believe that the best buy is the Mao Tek 2G. It’s efficient and reasonably priced. Battery performance continues to be average after being recharged. Specialized users may want to purchase the Con Art 486. We would not recommend the Con Art 486 for everyday use. The Charge! charger is inefficient and overpriced. We would advise that consumers avoid this product.
Question
In paragraph 4 the author comments about the Mao Tek 2G as "the least expensive" and he says "its performance was rated as average..." Does the phrase "the least expensive" have a positive or negative connotation? Why?
Responses
A It is positive because people want to pay less, regardless of quality.It is positive because people want to pay less, regardless of quality.
B It is negative because "the least expensive" is another way to say "cheap."It is negative because "the least expensive" is another way to say "cheap."
C It is positive because, although it is the least expensive, it has average performance.It is positive because, although it is the least expensive, it has average performance.
D It is negative because most people equate quality with something that is more expensive.
C It is positive because, although it is the least expensive, it has average performance.
U sure
Sorry for the confusion, the correct answer is:
C It is positive because, although it is the least expensive, it has average performance.