Reading comprehension II Teacher: Omar Eduardo

Velandia Puerto
DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN

After reading, choose which is the appropriate heading to the paragraphs according to
their content.
Edison, Bell, The Wright Brothers… sure, their inventions changed the world, but they
never seemed to create anything for children.
Inventing for kids gives money to inventors but it also provides a great satisfaction; so,
which are the top five inventions for kids? Read and find out.

TOY BALLONS SEAT CARS HULA HOOPS

HULA HOOPS

1. In 1958, after hearing about Australian children playing with bamboo hoops during gym
class, Richard Knerr and Arthur “Spud” Melin decided to recreate the bamboo hoops from
cutting-edge plastic called Marlex. The rest of the story, their company made a craze that
swept the nation, with 40 million pieces were sold in the first year alone.

SEAT CARS

2. When car seats were first created, they were designed to keep children from crawling
around the car. Today models are designed to prevent the fatality resulting from a crash in
half when used properly, saving hundreds of lives every year in the process.

TOY BALLONS

3. Starting our list of inventions is the toy balloon. The first toy balloons were made from
animal intestines! Toy balloons are made from latex since early 19 th century. Thankfully,
manipulating animal entrails is no longer a part of the balloon-making process.