Edison Tried and Tried Again
Edison Tried and Tried Again
Thomas Edison was a scientist. He was
born in 1847. He invented many things. One
was a light bulb that could stay lit for hours.
Edison worked very hard. He tried many
times to get the light bulb right. Some people
say it took 1,000 tries. Edison was asked how
he felt about that. He was happy. He said he
knew 999 things that do not work. Edison did
not give up.
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Edison Tried and Tried Again
Name:
Date:
Directions: For questions 1-4, circle the correct answer.
1. Which scientist and inventor is this passage about?
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Edison
2. What did Thomas Edison work hard to invent?
a light bulb
the telephone
3. Did Edison’s first light bulb work right?
No
Yes
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Edison Tried and Tried Again
4.How many tries did it take for Edison to invent a good light
bulb?
20
1,000
5. A) How did Thomas Edison feel that it took 1,000 tries to get
the light bulb right?
Thomas Edison felt
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________.
B) Draw a picture of Thomas Edison after he got the light bulb
right.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Edison Tried and Tried Again
6. What did you learn from “Edison Tried and Tried Again”?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Edison Tried and Tried Again
Teacher Guide & Answers
Note to Teacher: Read each question out loud to your students and have each student
complete the worksheet independently. For questions 5 A) and 6, you can have students draw
their answers, answer orally, or write their answers depending on your students’ progress. If you
have them write their answers, you may want to write the word(s) on the board for them to
copy.
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 250
Directions: For questions 1-4, circle the correct answer.
1. Which scientist and inventor is this passage about?
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Edison
2. What did Thomas Edison work hard to invent?
a light bulb
the telephone
3. Did Edison’s first light bulb work right?
No
Yes
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Edison Tried and Tried Again
4. How many tries did it take for Edison to invent a good light bulb?
20
1,000
5. A) Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page.
How did Thomas Edison feel that it took 1,000 tries to get the light bulb right?
Suggested answer: Thomas Edison felt happy.
B) Draw a picture of Thomas Edison after he got the light bulb right.
Suggested answer: Drawings may vary but should depict a man who looks happy.
Advanced pictures may also depict a functioning light bulb.
6. Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page.
What did you learn from “Edison Tried and Tried Again”?
Suggested answer: Answers may vary and should be supported by the passage.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.