06 07 social sciences u4a

Module

4A

Film Fest

Activities
1Discuss: Does your family usually listen to the radio?
If so, what kind of programmes do they listen to?
How many radios are there in your house? Do you
listen to the radio? If not, what do you listen to?

1 Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian inventor,
was born on April 25, 1874 and died on
July 20, 1937. He is known as the father
of wireless.
2 The young Marconi developed a deep
interest in electrical phenomena.
When he read of experiments on
electromagnetic waves, he became
obsessed with the idea that such
waves could be used for transmitting
information without the wire
connection of the electric telegraph.
3In 1894, Marconi began his wireless
telegraphy project by improving
the experiments on electromagnetic
waves. Marconi offered his wireless
communication system to the Italian
government, but it was refused.
4 In 1896, in London, he first patented

his system. In 1897, Marconi formed his
wireless telegraph company. His
four-circuit tuning, patented in
1900, led to a widespread use of his
system. Universal adoption of wireless
telegraphy became even more certain
with Marconi’s famous experiment in
December, 1901, when he received
a radio-wave signal from Cornwall,
England.
5 As an Italian nationalist, Marconi
played an active role in World War I
and represented Italy at the Paris Peace
Conference in 1919. Although he
continued to perform experiments in
the new field of radio, which evolved

from wireless telegraphy, his later efforts
were mainly directed to affairs of state.
6He received many honours, including
sharing the Nobel Prize for Physics in
1909. When he died in Rome, he was
given the unique tribute of a
two-minute silence by all radio stations
throughout the world.
7 Nowadays, advances in digital
technology have made it possible to
have access to music and news in more
ways than just by listening to the radio
or watching TV. People are adapting

to new trends such as the use of mp3s
and Itunes. By using digital technology,
anyone can legally download music and
listen to it whenever they want. Due
to this, there are many who prefer to
enjoy only their favourite music. For
instance, teenagers have the latest hits
on their digital music players. Besides,
radio stations have also updated their
equipment so that people can still
listen to them and even tune in more
stations than before and with a better
sound quality.

English Toolkit 1 - Social Sciences

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

The Radio


Module

4A
2Match the topics with the paragraphs.
a Marconi’s famous experiment
b Political activity
cNew digital technology
d Honours he received

e Personal data
f His interest
gAchievements

3True (T) or false (F)?

4Write John Baird’s biography. Use the following information as a guide.
Name: John Logie Baird
Nationality: Scottish
Born: 1888
Died: 1946
Started experiments on TV: 1922
First television picture: 1926
Main invention: TV
Other inventions: first videodisc, phonodisc.
5Complete the following information about Marconi.
Name:
Born in:
Died:
Nationality:
Known as:
Theory:
1894:
1896:
1901:
1919:
Tribute:

6In your notebook write a paragraph about Marconi using
the information above and the text about the radio.

English Toolkit 1 - Social Sciences

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

a Marconi first patented his system in 1897.
b The Italian government accepted the wireless system.
cMarconi was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
d His experiment became famous in December 1901.
eHe thought that electromagnetic waves could be used without the need
for the wire connection.
f People cannot have access to radio with digital technology.