Lesson 2 bizarre inventions

Task 1. Answer the following question – what does the word ‘bizarre’ mean? Consult a dictionary if necessary.

Task 2. Work with your partner. Try to think of some really bizarre inventions you have ever heard of. You have about 5-8 minutes to prepare. Then present your ideas to the class.

Task 3.In fact, there are many “crazy” scientists who sometimes come up with bizarre inventions. You can find some of those below. Do you think they are strange?

Task 4.Match the inventions with their description / utility.

1. Self-warming Ice Cream Scoop	a) combination watch and lollipop holder. Keep ticking and take a licking
2. Time Pop	b) honey, isn't it your turn to change the parakeet?
3. Santa Detector	c) it's got a little cavity to put in a bic lighter. Hot idea!
4. Bird Diaper	d) with recorded messages, it sounds like your dog is talking! Sort of.
5. Talking Dog Collar	e) it's a stocking with an alarm that sounds when the stocking is filled.

Task 5. Check your knowledge of the following words and word combinations.

1. gadget	a. simple machine consisting of a bar that pivots on a fixed support
2. persuade	b. convince
3. rubbish dump	c. property, ownership
4. lever	d. small mechanical device or appliance
5. possession	e. strange , odd
6. eccentric	f. piece of land where waste materials are dumped

Task 6. Use these words and word combinations in your own sentences. Read some of your sentences to your partner and ask him to translate them.

Task 7. Read the text “Bizarre inventions”.

Bizarre inventions

Sadie Nine meets a man who has become a world authority on strange devices and gadgets... Maurice Collins lives in a slightly surreal world. He’s the authority on strange devices, in particular, antique gadgets. He's even written two books about the items that were designed to make life a little easier, for people living over a hundred or more years ago.

“I’ve just bought this item; it’s a match holder and striker, a cigar cutter and also a bell!” Maurice explains as he persuades Sadie to demonstrate how it works.

Maurice has been collecting these strange items for more than thirty years. He started off when his son was small, wondering around Victorian rubbish dumps looking for the ultimate antique lemonade bottle. “When I got the bottle, I began to look at other things. There were other bottles that were painted and the concept of items being sold across the shop counter in that period began to fascinate me. "I looked around and found a Victorian knife cleaner, a lemon squeezer, all very, very peculiar…”

Maurice is intrigued by the look of the items he collects. He likes objects that look very sculptural, are mechanical and also a little bit weird. He’s not even sure what some items are, so spends his time doing research at the Patent Office to try to identify them. Sometimes he has bought things that turn out to be totally different to what he thought they were.

Maurice’s collection is made up of time saving devices. “The pride of my collection is a teasmaid. To work it you set the alarm. The alarm goes off - it pushes a lever, which pushes a lever, which pushes another lever - causing a match to strike some sandpaper which then lights the heater and then boils the water. When it’s boiled, it pours into the teapot..!”

He has hundreds of contraptions in his north London home, which make it feel a bit like an antique parlour.

Many of his best items have now been lent out to museums. However not all of Maurice’s prized possessions are completely eccentric. Bletchley Park Museum in Milton Keynes boasts some of his more practical gadgets such as a mangle and one of the first ever food processors.

But collectors who have it all still want more; something very, very rare and very, very strange. Maurice talks of a ‘machine that tattooed deserters in 1810, with the letter ‘D’ on their forehead’ that he would like to own. Quite by surprise he hears news that suggests this machine has shown up…somewhere in Portobello Market.

Maurice could easily be way-laid by lots of curious items and strange knick knacks that Portobello market is famous for, but there is still no sign of the rare ‘Deserter Tattooing’ machine….until he suddenly gets a tip off. A specialist who deals in antique scientific instruments says he’s got one of them. Maurice tracks the machine down and sees a demonstration on how it works. It costs £2,800.So, for now, Maurice says: “I think I’ll have to start saving up my pennies…”

The images in this feature are taken from Maurice Collins' books Ingenious Gadgets and Eccentric Contraptions.

Task 8. Answer the questions.

1. Why does Maurice Collins live in a slightly surreal world? What is so peculiar about his hobby?

2. How long has Maurice been collecting his strange gadgets?

3. What is Maurice intrigued by?

4. What is the pride of his collection?

5. Are all of Maurice’s possessions completely eccentric?

6. What do you personally think about Maurice’s hobby? Would you also like to possess some of those strange things? Do you have any eccentric things at home? If you do, what are they?

Task 9. Find information in the text where it is said about:

- the antique lemonade bottle

- the look of Maurice’s items

- the teasmaid

Task 10. Write a summary of the text. In no more than 12 sentences, express the main idea and the general content of the text.

ADDITIONAL TASKS.

Task 1a. Work with a partner to read about some high-tech innovations. Complete the chart for your innovations.

	Student A	Student B
Product
Special features

Task 2a. Tell your partner about your texts. Complete all the parts of the chart.