Vocabulary
1. Prominent (adj)/ˈprɑːmənənt/ :famous; widely known; important
Ex: The Statue of Liberty is one of New York's most prominent sights
2. Inescapable (adj)
/ˌɪnɪˈskeɪpəbl/ :impossible to escape or avoid; inevitable
Ex: Eventually, the team had to face the inescapable fact that they failed.
3. Veratile (adj)
/ˈvərsətɪl/ :able to adapt to a number of different functions or activities
Ex: Her wide range of skills makes her a versatile member of our team.
4. Inexpensive (adj)
/ˌɪnɪkˈspɛnsɪv/ :not expensive; of a reasonable price
Ex: These clothes are really inexpensive.
5. Pervasive (adj)
/pərˈveɪsɪv/ :common and spreading widely throughout an area
Ex: In the early 1990's, cocaine became pervasive in the city.
Reading
One of the most prominent inventions of all time, which is an inescapable part of everyday life, is paper. Paper has applications in countless aspects of human life, and is one of the most versatile of all materials. It is inexpensive, easy to handle, and easily obtained.
Prior to the invention of paper, silk and bamboo were employed for the transmission of the written word. Unfortunately, both of these materials had their disadvantages, as silk was notoriously expensive at the time, and bamboo was far too unwieldy.
The origin of paper traces its roots back to the Han dynasty in China. After its invention, paper became pervasive in China, and its expansion to the rest of the world happened shortly thereafter. Realizing its value, the Chinese kept paper making techniques secret for many years. Nevertheless, they could not have possibly imagined the importance that paper would have in the future.
Like most things around us, we often take paper for granted.
1. Why is paper an "inescapable part of everyday life"?
2. What was used before the invention of paper?
3. Where did paper originate?
Discussion
2. How frequently do you use paper? Why?
3. What would the world be like without paper?
4. Are you concerned about the environmental effects of paper?
5. Do you recycle paper? What do you think are pros and cons of recycling paper?
6. Do you think paper will ever be replaced with another material? Why? Why not?
