Unit 4 Inventions and Inventors
Lesson 14
Exercise 1.3
The first paper was made in China in 105 AD
by a man called Cai Lun,
The oldest pieces of paper still existed were
made in about 150 AD,
For over 500 year the art of making paper was
limtted to China.
In 610,papermaking was introduced into Japan,
and then into central Asia in about the year 750
Paper made its first appearance in Egypt
in about 800
but it was not produced there until the year 900
Kites were known in China about 3,000 years ago.
They were used in battles to transport supplies
to soldiers who were in danger.
Wheelbarrows were invented in the Han dynasty
They were used by builders
to carry heavy supplies.
In a battle,
wheelbarrows were used to carry injured
or dead soldiers.
Gunpowder was discovered by the Chinese
who used it for making fireworks
hundreds of years ago,
It was probably introduced into Europe
from the Middle East.
Umbrellas were invented by the Chinese.
They were made from oiled paper and bamboo.
Red and yellow umbrellas
were used by higher class,
and blue umbrellas were used
by the common people.
Soccer was developed in England
in the 12th century.
But hundreds of years before this
-around 200 BC-a similar game was played
at the beginning of the Han dynasty in China.
Magic squares are a very old type
of number puzzle.
They were invented in China
before the end of the 1st century AD.
In a magic square,
no matter from which direction
you add up the numbers,the result is the same.
Exercise 2.2
Tea-drinking was first recorded in China
around 2737 BC.
By the time of the Tang Dynasty,
tea was China's national drink.
Tea was planted in gardens and palaces.
In the 8th century BC,
Tea was introduced to Japan.
Later,it was taken to Europe.
According to Chinese tradition,
silk was used as long ago
as the 27th century BC.
According to tradition,
silk-making was discovered by Xilingshi,
the 14-year-old bride of the Emperor Huang Di,
The secret of silk was guarded successfully
for centuries.
In about 300 AD
the secret was discovered by Japan,
and later India.