4000 Essential English Words 2 » Unit 17: Henry Ford’s Famous Car

Word List
  • aim [eim] n.
    An aim is a goal someone wants to make happen.
    → My aim is to become a helicopter pilot.
  • attach [əˈtætʃ] v.
    To attach is to put two things together.
    → I attached the socks to the clothesline to dry.
  • bet [bet] v.
    To bet is to risk money on the result of a game or a business.
    → How much will you bet that your horse will win?
  • carriage [ˈkærɪdʒ] n.
    A carriage is a vehicle pulled by a horse.
    → We took a carriage ride in the park.
  • classic [ˈklæsɪk] adj.
    If something is classic, it is typical.
    → The athlete made a classic mistake-he started running too soon.
  • commute [kəˈmjuːt] v.
    To commute is to travel a long distance to get to work.
    → I usually commute to work on the train.
  • confirm [kənˈfəːrm] v.
    To confirm is to make sure something is correct.
    → Winning the game confirmed that James was a good player.
  • criticize [ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz] v.
    To criticize is to say you do not like someone or something.
    → He criticized his wife forspending too much money.
  • differ [ˈdɪfər] v.
    To differ is to not be the same as another person or thing.
    → I differ from my brother: he is short, while I am tall.
  • expense [ɪksˈpens] n.
    An expense is the money that people spend on something.
    → She wrote down all the expenses for her trip.
  • formal [ˈfɔːrməl] adj.
    If something is formal, it is done in an official way.
    → It was a formal dinner, so we wore our best clothes.
  • height [haɪt] n.
    Height is how tall someone or something is.
    → My height is 168 centimeters.
  • invent [ɪnˈvent] v.
    To invent something is to create something that never existed before.
    → My grandfather has invented some interesting things.
  • junior [ˈdʒuːnjər] adj.
    If someone is junior in their job, they do not have a lot of power.
    → When she started at the company, she was only a junior manager.
  • labor [ˈleɪbər] n.
    Labor is the act of doing or making something.
    → Building the house took a lot of labor.
  • mechanic [məˈkænɪk] n.
    A mechanic is someone who fixes vehicles or machines.
    → We took the car to the mechanic to be fixed.
  • prime [praɪm] adj.
    If something is prime, it is the most important one.
    → Dirty air is a prime cause of illness.
  • shift [ʃɪft] v.
    To shift to something is to move into a new place or direction.
    → He shifted to the other side of the table to eat his breakfast.
  • signal [ˈsignəl] n.
    A signal is a sound or action that tells someone to do something.
    → The coach blew his whistle as a signal to begin the game.
  • sincere [sɪnˈsɪər] adj.
    When people are sincere, they tell the truth.
    → He sounded sincere when he apologized to me.
Exercise 1

Choose the right word for the given definition.

  1. to create something for the first time
    • a. aim
    • b. signal
    • c. mechanic
    • d. invent
  2. most important
    • a. differ
    • b. junior
    • c. prime
    • d. commute
  3. to move
    • a. attach
    • b. shift
    • c. bet
    • d. confirm
  4. cost
    • a. carriage
    • b. expense
    • c. height
    • d. labor
  5. typical
    • a. classic
    • b. criticize
    • c. formal
    • d. sincere
Exercise 2

Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.

  1. I started the job as low-level manager at the bank.
    j_ _ _ _ _
  2. The nurse measured how tall I am.
    my h_ _ _ _ _
  3. Building the house took many hours of work.
    l_ _ _ _
  4. Marcus gave a truthful apology after making the mistake.
    s_ _ _ _ _ _
  5. We are going to take a ride in a horse-pulled vehicle.
    c_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Exercise 3

Check (V) the sentence with the bolded word that makes the better sense.

    • ____ a. It is a good idea to bet your money on silly things.
    • ____ b. You should go to a mechanic if you have a problem with your car.
    • ____ a. Drivers use signals to make their cars go faster.
    • ____ b. You should attach a stamp to a letter before you mail it.
    • ____ a. If you and your date differ too much, you might not like each other.
    • ____ b. When you confirm the results of the test, you make them better.
    • ____ a. It is O.K. to wear sandals to a formal party.
    • ____ b. Teachers often criticize lazy students.
    • ____ a. People must pay attention to signals when they are driving.
    • ____ b. When you visit a mechanic they will sell you a new car.
    • ____ a. You should wear nice clothing if you go to a formal event.
    • ____ b. Good friends like to criticize each other.
    • ____ a. Husbands and wives who differ are often very busy people.
    • ____ b. If you commute to work, you have to travel a certain distance.
    • ____ a. It is a good idea to confirm your plans before you travel.
    • ____ b. If you attach a large sign to your door, no one will see it.
    • ____ a. If your aim is to learn how to swim, you must get in the water.
    • ____ b. Everyone commutes in math class.
    • ____ a. People who have an aim to succeed are very lazy.
    • ____ b. When you bet money, you might lose it.
Answer Key
Exercise 1
  1. d
  2. c
  3. b
  4. b
  5. a
Exercise 2
  1. junior
  2. height
  3. labor
  4. sincere
  5. carriage
Exercise 3
  1. b
  2. b
  3. a
  4. b
  5. a
  6. a
  7. b
  8. a
  9. a
  10. b
Answer Key
Henry Ford’s Famous Car

My name is Henry Ford, and I invented a car called the Model T. I used to watch carriages on the streets. They fascinated me. Then I got a job as a junior mechanic. My father criticized me. He wanted me to run the farm. But I did not shift my plans.

Then I worked for the Detroit Auto Company. But I wanted to make cars using less labor. That way, there would be fewer expenses. I started the Ford Motor Company in 1903. At first, the company did not do well. But many people were betting on my success. I also had a sincere aim to make a car that anybody could buy.

Then, in 1908,1 introduced the Model-T in a formal ceremony. It confirmed that I was right: it was possible to build a car my way!

The Model T differed from other vehicles. Workers could attach different parts for cars or trucks. This saved time. One Model T could be put together in 93 minutes. All of them had the same classic design. They were all the same size and height. The prime reason for doing this was to save money.

Over 19 years, I sold over 15 million Model Ts. This sent a signal to other companies. People would buy cars to commute to work if the price was low enough.

Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions.

  1. What is this story about?
    • a. How Ford attached cars and engines
    • b. How Ford aimed to build a better car
    • c. Why Ford shifted away from carriages
    • d. Why Ford bet on the gasoline engine
  2. How did the Model T change other car companies?
    • a. It confirmed that their expenses were large.
    • b. It made workers criticize their bosses about their labor.
    • c. It created a signal for them to start making cheaper cars.
    • d. It forced car companies to bet on Ford’s success.
  3. In paragraph 1, we can infer that ________.
    • a. Ford had a very formal childhood
    • b. Ford differed in thought from his father
    • c. Ford was not of great height
    • d. Ford’s father was sincere
  4. According to the passage, all the following are true EXCEPT ________.
    • a. the Model-T had a classic design
    • b. people would use cars to commute if they weren’t expensive
    • c. Ford worked as a junior mechanic
    • d. the first vehicle from the Ford Motor Company was a truck
  5. What was the prime reason for making the Model T with one design?
    _____________
Answer Key
Answer Key
Reading Comprehension
  1. b
  2. c
  3. b
  4. d
  5. The prime reason was to save money.
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