Chapter 5: Mastery Test 8

Technological Development

      ¹Technological progress begins with two factors. ²The first factor is discovery. ³Discovery is learning something that was not known before about the physical or social world. ⁴For example, in the past, explorers have discovered new islands. ⁵Astronauts have uncovered some of the laws that control the universe. ⁶Discoveries about the natural world often lead to inventions. ⁷For example, discoveries of some of the great scientists about electricity made it possible for Thomas Edison to invent the light bulb. ⁸Invention is the second factor of technological progress. ⁹An invention is a new way of doing something or a new object or mechanical device created to serve some specific purpose. ¹⁰Inventions may be either material or nonmaterial. ¹¹For example, machines such as the automobile and airplane are material inventions. ¹²Insurance and crop rotation are nonmaterial inventions. ¹³One of the greatest of all nonmaterial inventions was the alphabet; it has made possible our present system of writing and printing.