1st.GRADE

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN


Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. He came from a big family. He had 16 brothers and sisters. When Benjamin was 15, his brother started the first Boston newspaper. It was The New England Courant. He worked for the newspaper for a short time, but he was not happy. So, he went to Philadelphia and worked as a printer. In 1729, he bought a newspaper business. The newspaper was the Pennsylvania Gazette. He was very busy. He also started Junto. It was a workers’ group. In 1733, he started publishing Poor Richard’s Almanack. (Now this word is spelled “almanac.”) His pen name (the name he used as an author) was Richard Saunders. This book came out every year. Almanacs have information about weather and crops. They also have wise sayings. The wise saying “A penny saved is a penny earned” comes from Poor Richard’s Almanack.

Benjamin Franklin was also a scientist. In 1743 he invented a very good stove, the Franklin stove. He invented swim fins and bifocal glasses. He retired from his newspaper business in 1749. He stopped working on it. Then he became busy with science.

Benjamin Franklin was also very interested in American politics. He helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. In 1776, he and other people signed the Declaration of Independence. Franklin died on April 17, 1790. He was 84 years old.

Answer the following questions:
1) Which newspaper did Ben Franklin buy?
2) What was Ben Franklin’s pen name?
3) When did he started publishing his almanac?
4) What did Ben Franklin invent?
5) What did Franklin write with Jefferson?

Choose the correct alternative:
6) Publishing means…
   A. printing for many people to read.
   B. selling in a large store.
   C. inventing things.
   D. giving advice.

7) An almanac is a(n)
   A. informational book.
   B. newspaper business.
   C. workers’ group.
   B. pen name.

8) What is another way to say retired?
   A. Earned
   B. Helped write
   C. Became busy
   D. Stopped working

9) What is a business?
   A. A service or trade which earns money
   B. A person who signs with others
   C. A workers’ group
   D. None of the above.

10) When Franklin signed the Declaration…
   A. he helped write it.
   B. he wrote his name on it.
   C. he wrote a wise saying in it.
   D. Both A and C are correct.