Strange Inventions

This passage is about a few inventions that haven't become popular.

Lexile Level: 1010L

Categories: Science & Technology


Even though many of the inventions introduced in the past one hundred years have contributed significantly to human progress, others are of more dubious value. The Flying Bike is a good example of the latter type of invention. According to the patent application for the Flying Bike, the contraption is a bicycle-like vehicle suspended from a huge, gas-filled wing. Pedaling powers a rear-mounted fan that provides forward motion. Another similarly questionable invention is the Alarm Fork. It works like a typical fork, but it features the addition of red and green lights. When the light is green, it's okay to take a bite. But when the light turns red, you're supposed to stop. And, as if the Alarm Fork wasn't a strange enough invention, consider the Dimple Drill. This device, which was patented in 1896, supposedly allows those born without dimples to give themselves what Mother Nature didn't.


Safety Belts

Wearing a safety belt while riding in a car is very important. It's against the law fo...

Read

Tornadoes

You're probably familiar with the loud beeping sound on the TV when the Emergency Broa...

Read

Jonas Edward Salk

Medical pioneer, Jonas Salk, had no intentions of becoming a doctor, but as he grew older ...

Read