Comprehension [0990/12, Nov 2021]

Text A: 

The whirlwind engineering history of the bicycle This text is about how the bicycle has been through many engineering changes over the years. 

Stridewalkers, Boneshakers, Penny-farthings: the bicycle has undergone some curious transformations. Fetch your helmet – here’s a whistle-stop tour of the bike’s 200-year history. 

Step forward German inventor Karl Drais, who in 1817 patented the design for his ‘Laufmaschine’ (running machine). Riders carefully straddled a wooden frame and – without pedals and chain propulsion – pushed their feet along the ground to get the wheels moving. Hence the distinctly sci-fi sounding nickname, Stridewalker. 

 Pedals were introduced later, developed in 1863 by Pierre Michaux. The bicycle was called the Velocipede and had wheels designed to enable a person to ride along rail tracks. Hmm. Unsurprisingly, on the cobbled streets of that time, the wooden-rimmed wheels earned Michaux’s bicycle the nickname, ‘Boneshaker’. 

 Fast-forward 7 years to 1870. It might have looked ridiculous with its huge wheel at the front and little wheel at the back, but the Penny-farthing was built to serve a very practical need: the need for speed. Without gears, the only way to increase bicycle speed was to increase the size of the wheel attached to the pedals – and the availability of steel meant large wheels were a simpler engineering challenge than wood. 

 Unfortunately, Penny-farthings were incredibly difficult to mount and ride. During the late 1870s an alternative was invented, marketed as the Safety Bicycle for obvious reasons. With a chain drive that allowed the rider to sit at the centre of the frame and a height that made it easy for riders to reach the ground, the Safety Bicycle fuelled the surge of bicycle popularity in the 1890s. The same design, with wheels that are broadly the same size, is used to this day. So, for the last 140 years all we’ve been doing is tweaking a design classic. 

 So who needs nuclear power when you’ve got a bicycle? 

 That’s what the health-conscious listeners of a radio programme decided recently when they voted the bicycle the most significant innovation in technology since 1800. In winning the poll, the bike saw off its more expensive transport rival, the car, as well as many young listeners’ favourite, the internet. Advances in medical science (popular with older generations) were also rolled over by the two-wheeled favourite.

Questions

Question 1

 

(a) Give two examples of early types of bicycle, according to the text.

 

• .......................................................................................................................................

 

• .......................................................................................................................................

[1]

 

(b)    Using your own words, explain what the text means by:

 

(i)      ‘curious transformations’ (lines 1 and 2):

 ................................................................................................................................

 ................................................................................................................................      [2]

 

(ii)    ‘carefully straddled’ (line 5):

  ................................................................................................................................

 ................................................................................................................................      [2]

 (c)    Re-read paragraph 3 (‘Pedals were introduced nickname, “Boneshaker’’.’). Give two reasons why people may not have wanted to ride on the Velocipede.

 

• .......................................................................................................................................

 

• .......................................................................................................................................

[2]

 

(d)    Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5 (‘Fast-forward a design classic.’).

 (i)      Identify two main features of the Penny-farthing that made it look different from previous bicycles.

 

• ............................................................................................................................

 

• ............................................................................................................................

[2]

 (ii)    Explain why the Safety Bicycle was very popular in the 1890s.

 

 ................................................................................................................................

 ................................................................................................................................

 ................................................................................................................................    [3]


(e)    Re-read paragraphs 6 and 7 (‘So who needs two-wheeled favourite.’).

Using your own words, explain why you think the bicycle was voted the most significant innovation in technology.

 ...........................................................................................................................................

 ...........................................................................................................................................

 ...........................................................................................................................................      [3]


Answers

Question 1

 

(a) • stridewalker / laufmaschine 

      • boneshaker / velocipede


(b)    

(i)      ‘curious transformations’ (lines 1 and 2):

• strange / odd / unusual / weird / interesting / intriguing 

• changes (to the form or appearance) / (re)designs / developments / versions / adaptations / evolutions / modifications / improvements / advances 


(ii)    ‘carefully straddled’ (line 5):

• cautiously / gingerly / warily / mindfully / delicately / taking precautions / gently 

• seated with legs on either side / put one leg on each side / sat astride 


 (c)    

• railway tracks / dangerous / unsafe 
• wooden wheels / wooden rim(s) / cobbled streets / uncomfortable / called a ‘Boneshaker’ / shaky 
• new pedals
 

(d)   

 (i)   

 • big wheel at front / little wheel at back / wheels were different sizes 

 • wheels now made of steel / wheels were not made of wood / used steel

 

(ii)   

• safe(r) / marketed as ‘safety bicycle’ 

• easier to mount / easier to ride / huge improvement on the Penny-farthing 

• chain drive / sit in middle 

• low(er) height / could reach ground 

• wheels both the same size / didn’t look ridiculous 


(e)    

• appeal to different generations / votes for other options divided along young and old lines 

• healthy / good for health / voters were health-conscious 

• cheaper than a car / more affordable than a car / less expensive than a car / cheaper than other forms of transport 

• environmental concerns / greener / generates own power / does not need fuel / lower tech 







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