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Benjamin Franklin was self-educated, which means that
he was too poor to go to school and therefore got a good
education. As a boy he helped his father to make candles,
which were thought to look more romantic that electric lights.
When he was twelve Benjamin was so interested in reading
that he gave up eating in order to buy books. Franklin was
a plump, well-rounded man who invented almost as many
things as Jefferson, including silkworms, the Franklin stove,
and bifocals. He also made it possible for congressmen to
send their letters free, which later became as the Franklin
Privilege. When Franklin was seventy, he was sent to Paris
to see what he could do to improve relations with the French,
and he is said to have done extremely well despite his age.
Thomas Jefferson is best known as the author of
Declaration of Independence, which is responsible for two
holidays: July Fourth and Declaration Day. Although he was
the author of this important document, he failed to secure a
copyright.
Jefferson was not only a statesman but an inventor. His
many inventions include dumb-waiter. An extremely versatile
person, he was also an architect. Jefferson made a great
contribution to American political philosophy. He believed that
all men are created equal. Deeply religious, Jefferson was for
a time a minister to France. In his spare time he was a farmer
and an aristocrat.
Questions:
1. Why didn't Franklin go to school?
2. What did he do for congressmen?
3. Who is the author of Declaration of Independence?
4. Did Thomas Jefferson fail to secure a copyright of
Declaration?
5. What other American Presidents do you know?
Vocabulary:
self-educated — самообразованный
candle — свеча
bifocals — двухфокусные очки
silkworm — парашют
to improve — улучшать
to secure — сохранять
contribution — вклад
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