Grade 9 Unit 4 Topic 1 Section C

An invention ^[1]invention: US: [ɪnˈvenʃ(ə)n]   UK: [ɪn’venʃ(ə)n]  n. 发明；创造；虚构；编造 may be a new product or a new way of doing things. Inventions come about in many ways. Most of the time, inventions happen because someone works to solve a problem. Sometimes inventions are the result of accidents. Look at your schoolbags. You have pencils, pens, crayons ^[2]crayon: US: [ˈkreɪən]  UK: [ˈkreɪɒn]  n. 蜡笔；粉笔；蜡笔画, rulers and some books. None of these things was planted in fields. They were made in factories and invented by someone. Inventing is interesting and exciting and everyone can be an inventor.
Do you want to be an inventor? There are a few simple steps to follow in the invention process.

♦ You can have wild and crazy thoughts ^[3]thought: US: [θɔːt]  UK: [θɔːt]  n. 思想；思考；想法；打算 v. think的过去式和过去分词. Remember that no idea is too silly ^[4]silly: US: [ˈsɪli]  UK: [‘sɪli]  adj. 愚蠢的；不明事理的；没头脑的；傻的. Many people laughed at ^[5]laugh at: 嘲笑；付之一笑；因…而发笑 the Wright brothers and said they would never fly. But they weren’t discouraged by what people said. That’s why ^[6]That’s why … : 那就是为什么…，因此… now we have planes.

♦ Careful planning is important in the invention process. This is the time to brainstorm ^[7]brainstorm: US: [ˈbreɪnˌstɔrm]  UK: [ˈbreɪnˌstɔː(r)m]  头脑风暴；脑力激荡；集思广益 for ideas and to evaluate ^[8]evaluate: US: [ɪˈvæljuˌeɪt]  UK: [ɪˈvæljueɪt]  v. 评价；评估；估计 them.

♦ Make a detailed ^[9]detailed: US: [ˈdiˌteɪld]  UK: [ˈdiːteɪld]  adj. 详细的；细致的；精细的 drawing of your invention so others will understand how your invention works.

♦ Make a model of your invention.

♦ See if your invention works as it is planned. If not, do more research ^[10]do more research: 多做研究；做更多的调查研究, redesign ^[11]redesign: US: [ˌri:dɪ’zaɪn]  UK: [ˌri:dɪ’zaɪn]  v. 重新设计 it, and test it again.

♦ Every invention needs a name.

♦ Share your inventions with others.