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On January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born on MIlk Street in the town on

Boston, Massachusetts !e was the youn"est son amon" the se#enteen

chil$ren o% Josiah Franklin, a can$le maker &he whole %amily worke$ in the

little sho', makin" can$les %rom the %at o% shee'

(oun" Franklin $i$ not like the smell o% can$les an$, when no one was

watchin", o%ten le%t the sho' to "o $own to the harbor Because Boston was the

lar"est 'ort in the )merican colonies, youn" Ben was able to see shi's %rom

e#ery nation !e tells us in one o% his later writin"s that he ha$ *a hankerin" %or

the sea+ I% his %ather ha$ allowe$ it, he woul$ ha#e le%t Boston an$ become a

sailor

Josiah Franklin "rew #ery an"ry with this troublesome son

!e re%use$ to let him "o to sea but he "a#e him his choice between makin"

can$les an$ workin" in the sho' o% his brother James, a 'rinter Ben chose

'rintin" an$ si"ne$ a 'a'er that reuire$ him to work %or his brother until he

ha$ reache$ the a"e o% twenty two

Ben was a #ery "oo$ 'rinter !e learne$ #ery uickly how to mana"e the

'resses an$ 'ut letters to"ether to make wor$s !e like$ the 'rintsho' chie%ly

because by workin" there he coul$ learn more about books !e became

%rien$ly with other boys o% his own a"e who worke$ %or owners o% bookstores

&hese boys o%ten lent him books at ni"ht, i% he woul$ 'romise to return them

early the ne-t mornin" be%ore the sho's o'ene$ Many times, Ben sat u' the

whole ni"ht rea$in" an$ stu$yin" because he was so ea"er to learn Since he

ha$ not been able to "o to school %or e#ery lon", he ha$ to be his own teacher

James "a#e his brother a be$ an$ his %oo$, but #ery little money !owe#er, Ben

$i$ sa#e a %ew 'ennies to buy books. /hen he ha$ rea$ these books, he sol$

them an$ bou"ht others /hen the other 'rinters went out at noon to eat a

hea#y meal in a restaurant, Ben remaine$ in the 'rintsho' eatin" #ery little

an$ s'en$in" the rest o% his lunch time with book

In 171, James Franklin be"an to 'ublish a news'a'er, the ew 2n"lan$

3ourant Ben ha$ tau"ht himsel% to write well by rea$in" "oo$ authors !e

woul$ out $own his own thou"hts co'yin" the style o% a %amous writer, an$

then woul$ rea$ the authors books a"ain to see how e-act his imitation was

!e be"an to write %or the 3ourant, 'reten$in" to be an$ ol$ woman calle$*Silence 4o"oo$+

James 'rinte$ letters %rom Mrs 4o"oo$ in the 3ourant $urin" the s'rin" an$

summer o% 17 &hese letters ma$e %un o% #arious 'eo'le an$ thin"s in

Boston, an$ because o% them James was 'ut in 'rison 2#en thou"h he woul$

not tell the authorities who ha$ written the letters, James was release$

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'eo'le o% all the colonies that the way to buil$ a 'ros'erous country was to be

absolutely honest an$ thorou"h in whate#er they $i$

!ere are some 'ieces o% a$#ice %rom 5oor ichar$s )lmanac.

) wor$ to the wise is su%%icient

&he use$ key is always bri"ht

I% you lo#e li%e, $o not waste time, %or that=s what li%e is ma$e o%

One to$ay is worth two tomorrows

8ee' your sho' will kee' you

I% you woul$ ha#e a %aith%ul ser#ant, an$ one that you like, ser#e yoursel%

) small leak will sink a "reat shi'

I% you woul$ know the #alue o% money, "o an$ try to borrow some

2-'erience kee's a $ear school, but %ools will learn in no other

2arly to be$ an$ early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, an$ wise

In 17;7 Benjamin Franklin was a name$ the o%%icial 'ostmaster o% 5hila$el'hia

&his was an im'ortant job because sen$in" mail uickly an$ re"ularly woul$

hel' to unite the 'eo'le o% the colonies Franklin was 'ostmaster %or %ourteen

years, an$ %or a while he was hea$ o% the 'ostal system %or all o% the thirteen

colonies By 17>1, when he "a#e u' the job, the combine$ 'ost the o%%ices

were able to show a lar"e 'ro%it &his was the %irst time the 'ostal ser#ice in)merica ha$ e#er ma$e any money

)t the same time, Franklin was clerk o% the 5ennsyl#ania )ssembly, which

ma$e laws the colony )lways thinkin" o% ways to make li%e better %or the

citi9ens o% 5hila$el'hia, he 'lanne$ a %ire $e'artment, a 'olice %orce, an$ a

school which later became the ?ni#ersity o% 5ennsyl#ania

In a little book calle$ 5ro'osals elatin" &o &he 2$ucation O% (outh In

5ennsyl#ania Franklin $escribe$ some o% his i$eas Schools, he thou"ht, shoul$

be built near the e$"e o% towns, where there was 'lenty o% room %or 'lay

&he schools shoul$ be built near ri#ers so that 'u'ils coul$ swim e#ery $ay

&he 'u'ils shoul$ eat sim'le, health%ul meals to"ether in one $inin" room

ature as well as e$ucation, intereste$ Franklin !e wante$ men to a''ly the

laws o% nature in 'ractical ways an$ to corres'on$ with each other about what

they ha$ $isco#ere$ concernin" 'lants, animals, a"riculture, an$ the weather

Franklin himsel% wrote many letters to other colonists about scienti%ic matters

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:ater, he establishe$ the )merican 5hiloso'hical Society, now a "reat scienti%ic

or"ani9ation with members all o#er the worl$ &he "rou', when it be"an,

inclu$e$ a "eo"ra'her, a mechanic, a mathematician, an$ a scientist Franklin

o%%ere$ to be the secretary &he members met e#ery month an$ $iscusse$

letters that they ha$ recei#e$ %rom other members in #arious 'arts o% the

country

&he story o% Franklin@s kite is known e#erywhere !e ha$ been e-'erimentin"

with electricity, an$ in 17>1 ha$ 'ublishe$ a 'a'er sayin" that electricity an$

li"htnin" were the same thin" Both were bri"ht, both were the same yellow

color, both ma$e a noise, both ma$e crooke$ %lashes, an$ both woul$ 'ass

throu"h metal

In or$er to test his claim, he an$ his son took a kite ma$e o% silk Abecause it is

stron"er than 'a'er, an$ a$$e$ a lon" wire to the to' an$ a 'iece o% silk to

the en$ o% the strin" with which he controlle$ the kite ) metal key was hun"

where the silk an$ the strin" met &hey %lew the kite un into a thun$erstormkee'in" themsel#es $ry un$er a roo% /hen the kite reache$ the storm clou$s,

Franklin notice$ that all the loose 'arts o% his strin" be"an to stan$ u' an$

shake /hen the kite touche$ li"htnin", a s'ark ran $own the strin" to the key

a rush o% electric s'arks be"an to a''ear on the key )s the strin" became

wetter, the s'arks came %aster &hey were s'arks o% electricity

:i"htnin" was in$ee$ electricity

Franklin $eci$e$ to use this knowle$"e in a 'ractical way !e in#ente$ the

li"htnin" ro$ &his is a lar"e 'iece o% metal set on the hi"hest 'art o% a buil$in",

like the wire on the to' o% his kite &he ro$ is connecte$ with the "roun$ by alon" wire I% li"htnin" struck the buil$in" 'rotecte$ by the ro$, it woul$ be

cau"ht by the tall ro$ an$ woul$ run $own the wire into the "roun$ &here

woul$ be no $an"er o% %ire

Franklin also in#ente$ the *o'en+ or *Franklin+ sto#e

Most 'eo'le in his time cooke$ %oo$ an$ heate$ their rooms with o'en %ires

&his was not a "oo$ system, howe#er, because most o% the heat went u' the

chimney instea$ o% out into the room ) 'erson stan$in" close to a %ire'lace in

or$er to "et warm woul$ be hot on one si$e, col$ on the other, an$ woul$

're#ent the heat %rom reachin" other 'eo'le Franklin=s sto#e was an o'en bo-ma$e o% iron &he %ire was a built insi$e the bo- an$ a 'i'e carrie$ the smoke

u' the chimney &he C%lues were arran"e$ so e%%iciently that Franklin=s sto#e

woul$ heat a room with only oneD%ourth as much coal or woo$ as a %ire'lace It

coul$ be 'ut either a"ainst the wall or in the mi$$le o% the room

Franklin is remembere$ es'ecially %or his work in the %ormation o% the ?nite$

States o% )merica /hen the e#olution be"an, a committee o% %i#e men was

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aske$ to write a 'a'er e-'lainin" to the worl$ their reasons %or the war with

2n"lan$ Franklin was one o% the members o% the committee

In 1776, he an$ the other members o% the committee wrote the %amous

4eclaration o% In$e'en$ence

Eery soon a%ter the e#olution be"an, Franklin was a sent as Minister toFrance !e was aske$ to 'ersua$e the French kin" to hel' the )merican cause

&his was a $i%%icult task, %or the )mericans ha$ been $e%eate$ a"ain an$ a"ain

$urin" the %irst year o% the war In 1777, when the 2n"lish eneral Bur"oyne

was a %orce$ to surren$er his whole army to the )mericans, the French

"o#ernment $eci$e$ to enter the war Franklin, re'resentin" the new ?nite$

States si"ne$ the *&reaty o% 3ommerce an$ C )lliance+ with France In this

treaty, France reco"ni9e$ the ?nite$ States as an in$e'en$ent country an$

a"ree$ to sen$ an army to )merica to hel' $e%eat the 2n"lish

In 17G1, :or$ 3ornwallis surren$ere$ to the French an$ )merican armies at

(orktown, Eir"inia )%ter the war, Franklin staye$ in 2uro'e to make the 'eace

treaty with 2n"lan$ &his treaty, si"ne$ in 17G;, was a #ery %a#orable to the

?nite$ States Franklin was "la$ the war was o#er

!e belie#e$ that there was *ne#er a "oo$ war or a ba$ 'eace+

John )$ams )lso %rom Massachusetts, an$ the secon$ 5resi$ent o% the ?nite$

States, may ha#e been ri"ht when he sai$ that Franklin=s re'utation was

"reater than that o% the %amous 'hiloso'hers an$ scientists :eibnit9 an$

ewton the warlike 8in" o% 5russia, Fre$erick the reat or the re%ormer an$

writer, Eoltaire

In March, 17G>, 3on"ress recalle$ Franklin, who ha$ ser#e$ his country abroa$

%or ei"ht years, an$ a''ointe$ &homas Je%%erson )merican )mbassa$or to

France in Franklin=s 'lace In acce'tin" the a''ointment, Je%%erson sai$ that

thou"h he mi"ht %ollow Franklin, neither he nor any man coul$ really re'lace

him

)lmost as soon as Franklin returne$ to 5ennsyl#ania, he was electe$ 5resi$ent

o% the 2-ecuti#e 3ouncil o% that new state &his o%%ice resemble$ that o%

"o#ernor to$ay

!e $i$ not want to work in 'ublic ser#ice any more, but he %elt that he coul$not $isa''oint those who wishe$ him to ser#e in this way, an$ so he acce'te$

the 'osition

4urin" this time, Franklin or"ani9e$ one o% the %irst antiDsla#ery societies in the

worl$ !e wrote an$ si"ne$ the %irst 'rotest a"ainst sla#ery e#er sent to the

3on"ress o% the ?nite$ States

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Franklin was an honore$ member o% e#ery im'ortant scienti%ic society in the

worl$ !e e-chan"e$ letters with such %amous 'hiloso'hers an$ scientist as

4a#i$ !ume, the Scottish 'hiloso'her, 4r Jose'h 5riestly, the 2n"lish scientist

an$ 2$mun$ Burke, the 2n"lish statesman

)s an ol$ man, Franklin remaine$ acti#e in his own country=s "o#ernment

/hen a con#ention met in 5hila$el'hia to write a constitution that woul$ more

closely unite the thirteen uarrelin" states, he hel'e$ to "ui$e these meetin"s

e#en thou"h he was the ei"htyDone years ol$

Franklin was success%ul in many %iel$s !e contribute$ a "reat $eal to the

$e#elo'ment o% science, he was a brilliant journalist, an$ he was always

intereste$ in im'ro#in" the wel%are o% mankin$ !e encoura"e$ 'ublic

e$ucation, an$ was one o% the "reatest statesmen o% his country !e $i$ more

than any other )merican o% his $ay to make )merica res'ecte$ in the ol$

countries or 2uro'e /hen he $ie$ in )'ril, 17H0, he was uni#ersally mourne$

&he small town o% 3oncor$ Massachusetts is %amous as the scene o% one o% the

%irst battles in the )merican e#olutionary /ar &hese &horeau was born in

1G17 an$ there he s'ent most o% his li%e, sel$om tra#elin" #ery %ar away

3oncor$ later became %amous as a home %or 'hiloso'hers, but &horeau was the

only real nati#e amon" them the others cane there %rom $i%%erent 'laces

&horeau=s %ather was 'art French his mother was the $au"hter o% a ew

2n"lan$ minister (oun" &horeau was tou"h an$ stron", but not han$some he

ha$ a short bo$y, lon" le"s, an$ a bi" nose, his manners were e-tremely

awkwar$

&hou"h the %amily wasn=t wealthy, they sent youn" !enry to the local 3oncor$

)ca$emy, where, as he sai$, he was *%itte$, or rather ma$e un%it, %or colle"e+

!owe#er, he success%ully com'lete$ his e$ucation at !ar#ar$ 3olle"e in 1G;7,

at the early a"e o% twenty !e $i$ not like to %ollow an or"ani9e$ course o%

stu$y but 're%erre$ to s'en$ many hours in the library where the care%ul

rea$in" o% books became the basis o% his e$ucation 2#en as a youn" man, he

showe$ lo#e %or a %ree, sim'le li%e In some o% his colle"e 'a'ers he wrote

a"ainst the *blin$ lo#e o% wealth,+ an$ state$ that a man shoul$ work only one

$ay $urin" the week an$ *kee' the rest o% it %or joy an$ won$er+ not %or

"ettin" money, 'ro'erty, or 'ower !e consi$ere$ work a 'oor way to s'en$one=s time, an$ belie#e$ that such e%%ort was a %oolish when com'are$ with

enjoyment o% nature

&horeau=s %ather earne$ his li#in" by makin" 'encils )%ter colle"e &horeau

assiste$ his %ather %or while in the an$ $e#elo'e$ his style still %urther

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ershwin=s last serious work was 5or"y an$ Bess, base$ on the 'lay 5or"y, by

4ubose !eywar$, a writer %rom 3harleston, South 3arolina 5art o% the twenty

months that ershwin $e#ote$ to 're'arin" 5or"y an$ Bess was s'ent in

3harleston, listenin" to e"ro music there, the music o% the e"roes ha$

always %ascinate$ him, 'articularly as material %or the sta"e 5or"y an$ Bess is

a true )merican o'era It tells a story about 'eo'le who seem #ery real an$who are shown in moments o% "reat emotion

/hen ershwin=s bio"ra'her, 4a#i$ 2wen tol$ him that 5or"y an$ Bess was

better than anythin" else he ha$ $one, ershwin answere$. *I=m "la$ you think

so, %or I really belie#e that now I=m be"innin" to com'ose+ 3ritics like$ the

o'era when it a''eare$ in 1;>, althou"h they were not sure just how they

shoul$ ju$"e it

&he show ran %or 10 'er%ormances, an$ was only mo$erately success%ul Its

'rinci'al melo$ies were arran"e$ %or orchestra an$ 'laye$ aroun$ the country,

an$ the 'ublic "ra$ually became %amiliar with the music In 1K, when a new'ro$uction o% the o'era was 'resente$, it was recei#e$ enthusiastically both in

ew (ork an$ in other cities

In 1;> an$ 1>6 5or"y an$ Bess was 'er%orme$ in numerous cities in 2uro'e

an$ South )merica by an )merican com'any It was so 'o'ular that it

remaine$ %or a whole week at :a Scala in Milan &he 2uro'eans like$ its

unusual music, an$ the o'era e#en tra#ele$ as %ar as ussia

ershwin $i$ not li#e to see the trium'h o% the work that he consi$ere$ his

best creation !e $ie$ in 1;7 at the early a"e o% ;, ha#in" brou"ht a new

lan"ua"e to serious music in )merica an$ ha#in" enriche$ )merican 'o'ularmusic with $o9ens o% un%or"ettable melo$ies

L?2S&IOS )4 223IS2S

Benjamin Franklin

223IS2S

A. Decide which item best completes each unfinished sentence.

1. When Franklins father allowed him to choose a trade, he.

a :e%t Boston to become a sailor

b Became a can$le marker

c Be"an to work as a 'rinter in his brother@s sho'

2. Franklin was educated.

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a )t home by 'ri#ate teachers

b By rea$in" an$ stu$yin" $urin" all his %ree time

c )t !ar#ar$ 3olle"e

3. ames Franklin, !ens brother, was imprisoned because..

a !e 'rinte$ Ben@s letters makin" %un o% #arious 'eo'le in Boston

b !e re%use$ to 'ay his ta-es

c !e 'rinte$ articles in &he 3ourant a"ainst the British "o#ernment

". #he $%eather Apron& was a club or'ani(ed to discuss

a &he manu%acture or a'rons

b In$ian 'roblemsc Science, 'olities, literature an$ 'hiloso'hy

). *oor +ichards Almanac was.

a ) 'am'hlet containin" use%ul in%ormation, 'ieces o% #erse an$ short wise

sayin"s

b ) book about the li%e o% ichar$ Franklin, Ben@s "ran$%ather

c ) 'am'hlet $escribin" Franklin@s e-'eriments with the kite an$ the

sto#e. Franklins e-periment with the kite

a /as unsuccess%ul because the win$ broke the strin" an$ the kite was

lost

b 5ro#e$ that li"htnin" was electricity

c 5ro#e$ that a sto#e was better than an o'en %ire'lace %or heatin" a

room

. Franklin was a member of the committee which..a /rote the 4eclaration o% In$e'en$ence

b 5roteste$ a"ainst the war with 2n"lan$

c e%use$ to sin" the new 3onstitution

/. Franklin went to France.

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a &o esca'e ser#in" in the e#olutionary )rmy

b &o arran"e %or the sale o% his sto#e in 2uro'e

c &o 'ersua$e the French kin" to hel' the )merican cause

0. After eneral !ur'one surrendered his whole arm to theAmericans, France.

a ushe$ to the ai$ o% the British %orces

b e%use$ to inter%ere in this war between 2n"lan$ an$ the ?S

c eco"ni9e$ the in$e'en$ence o% the ?S an$ sent an army to hel'

$e%eat the 2n"lish

1. Franklin or'ani(ed one of the first

a )thletic clubs in the ?S

b )nti sla#ery societies in the worl$

c 5olitical clubs %or women

11. At the a'e of /1, Franklin

a etire$ to the country to %ish an$ hunt

b /ent to li#e in 2uro'e

c !el'e$ to "ui$e the meetin"s o% the 3on#ention in 5hila$el'hia whichmet to write a constitution that woul$ more closely unite the thirteen

states

12. 4n the ees of 5urope, Franklin.

a /as a symbol o% )merican $emocracy

b /as a %ailure as an ambassa$or

c /as a %oolish ol$ man

!. 6hoose for each blank a noun related to the italici(ed word.2-am'le. ) 'erson who teaches is a teacher

1 ) 'erson who in#ents new machines is an NNNN

) 'erson who stu$ies or teaches 'hiloso'hy is a NNN

; ) 'erson workin" in the 'ro%ession o% journalism is a NNNNN

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K ) 'erson who con$ucts scienti%ic e-'eriments is a NNNN

> ) 'erson who belie#es in the 'rinci'les o% $emocracy is a NNNN

6 ) 'erson who settles in a colony is a NNNNN

7 ) 'erson who is in#ol#e$ in 'olitics is a NNNNN

G ) 'erson who has stu$ie$ mathematics is a NNNNN

) 'erson who 'rints news'a'er, ma"a9ines, an$ a 'am'hlets is a

NNNNNNNN

10) 'erson who e$ucates stu$ents is an NNNNN