Weird Inventions
Have you ever thought about inventing something? Did you worry that your idea
was too strange or unrealistic? Well, maybe you should think again.
Strange or unrealistic ideas never stopped Arthur Pedrick. Pedrick was a British
inventor. Originally a government clerk, he spent his retirement in the 1960s and 1970s
developing new and unusual ideas. Some of these ideas contradicted basic physics, but
that didn’t stop Pedrick. One of his strangest ideas was a plan to connect large tubes
from the continent of Australia all the way to Antarctica, a distance of 10,000 km! These
tubes would carry giant ice balls from Antarctica to Australia. This ice would then melt
in the Australian desert, and the water would be used in irrigation. Another of Pedrick’s
inventions was a radio-controlled golf ball. A golfer could change the speed and direction
of the golf ball by small flaps, controlled by computer chips. Using radio waves, the
golfer could also find lost golf balls. Arthur Pedrick had thousands of bizarre ideas for
inventions, most of which were never built.
Though many of Pedrick’s inventions were never developed, a lot
of other strange ideas were. In 1989, a company designed and sold a
theft-prevention device for expensive cars. As part of this device,
several tubes were attached to the bottom of a car. If someone
tried to steal the car, super hot flames would come out of the
tubes and burn the car thief. Some people who were not
thieves, however, were seriously injured. They accidentally set
off the device by walking past the car. Other strange inventions
include underwear for dogs and pens with drinkable ink. The
underwear keeps dogs from making a mess when they go out
for a walk. Also, if you are ever thirsty during a test, a pen with
drinkable ink would be very handy!
If you have an idea that seems a little out in left
field, don’t let that stop you from trying it. You’ll be in good
company.
Reading Comprehension
Choose the best answer.
1. What is the main idea of the reading?
a. Inventions are necessary for a good life. b. Some inventions are very strange.
c. Some devices can help reduce crime. d. Inventing something is easy.
2. What can be said about Arthur Pedrick?
a. He made a lot of money from his inventions.
b. He was a good scientist.
c. He was more interested in creativity than facts.
d. He was often bored.
3. According to the reading, how was Pedrick’s plan to bring water to Australia probably
unrealistic?
a. Australia doesn’t need water. b. Australia and Antarctica are too far away.
c. Tubes are not strong enough. d. The plan was too expensive.
4. What was the problem with the theft prevention device?
a. It was too big. b. It hurt other people besides thieves.
c. It didn’t work. d. Only bicycles could use it.
5. In the reading, what is implied when a dog “makes a mess”?
a. It goes to the bathroom. b. It spreads its food around.
c. It digs in the dirt. d. It has dirty hair.
ummarListening
Write your own short paragraph by answering the questions below.
1. What common inventions do you use every day?
2. Who is a famous inventor you can name?
3. Why is that person famous? What did he or she invent?
4. Why do you think people invent things?
5. If you could invent or create something, what would it be?
6. What would you like to invent?
7. How would this invention help people?
8. Do you think this will ever be invented?
9. Why or why not?

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