Take Away English 随身英语－Inventions 发明.pdfVIP

Inventions 发明 1 Inventions 发明 A British Library Exhibition Celebrates Innovation 大英图书馆庆祝创新发明 Read the text below and do the activity that follows. 阅读下面的短文，然后完成练习： Have you ever thought of inventing something that could make everyday chores easier? Sam Houghton did and he created a double-headed broom. Sam was just three years old when he came up with his idea. He was watching his father sweep up garden leaves and alternate between two brushes while trying to gather large leaves and fine debris. Now he is the poster boy for a new exhibition at the British Library in London called Inventing the 21st Century. To celebrate innovation and inspire budding entrepreneurs, the famous library is telling the story behind 15 of what it considers the most ingenious inventions to come out of Britain in the past 10 years. Sams broom is surrounded by products developed by big companies, like a high-tech swimsuit by Speedo that became popular at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a bladeless fan by Britains Dyson. Every year the UK generates over 25,000 patents, trademarks and design rights for new products and services. Many of the inventors have to jump through lots of hoops before they can see their product on the market. Richard Thorpe, creator of an innovative folding electric bike, says that it took him seven years to go from concept to sales. He explains he had to keep quiet about his idea until it was patented. When it comes to innovation and selling an idea confidentiality is key”, he warns. “Whenever you are having a meeting with anyone, always have it in a context that this is confidential information and anything said is not in the public domain.” Britain is known for nurturing its entrepreneurial spirit ever since the days of the Industrial Revolution with James Watt, Thomas Savery and Thomas Newcomen and