Thomas Edison Quiz

2. Which was NOT one of Thomas Edison's inventions?

• The first practical long-lasting light bulb
  No, that was his, too! But Edison did not invent the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.
• The phonograph
  No, that was his, too! But Edison did not invent the telephone.Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.
• Stock ticker
  No, that was his, too! But Edison did not invent the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.
• Telephone
  That's right. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.

3. Thomas Edison recited a line of what nursery rhyme when testing his phonograph?

• Mary Had a Little Lamb
  Correct! He recited the first stanza of the nursery rhyme in 1887.
• Hickory Dickory Dock
  No, he recited the first stanza of Mary Had a Little Lamb.
• Old Mother Hubbard
  No, he recited the first stanza of Mary Had a Little Lamb.
• Little Bo Peep
  No, he recited the first stanza of Mary Had a Little Lamb.

4. Thomas Edison developed the world's first central electric-light power plant. The power plant provided electricity to which city?

• Boston
  No, it was New York. The Pearl St. plant was completed in 1882 and is considered one of Edison's most notable achievements.
• New York City
  That's right. The Pearl St. plant was completed in 1882 and is considered one of Edison's most notable achievements.
• Menlo Park, New Jersey
  No, it was New York. The Pearl St. plant was completed in 1882 and is considered one of Edison's most notable achievements.
• Hoboken, New Jersey
  No, it was New York. The Pearl St. plant was completed in 1882 and is considered one of Edison's most notable achievements.

5. Thomas Edison suffered from a disability. What was it?

• Deafness
  That's right. As a child, Edison lost all the hearing in his left ear and 80% in his right.
• He was blind in one eye.
  No, it was deafness. As a child, Edison lost all the hearing in his left ear and 80% in his right.
• He could not walk.
  No, it was deafness. As a child, Edison lost all the hearing in his left ear and 80% in his right.
• He could not speak.
  No, it was deafness. As a child, Edison lost all the hearing in his left ear and 80% in his right.

6. What is the last word of the following quotation, which is one of Thomas Edison's most famous lines? "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% ____."

• Perspiration
  That's right! The line means that success comes with a lot of hard work.
• Luck
  No, it is "perspiration." The line means that success comes with a lot of hard work.
• Imagination
  No, it is "perspiration." The line means that success comes with a lot of hard work.
• Labor
  No, it is "perspiration." The line means that success comes with a lot of hard work.

7. What did Thomas Edison call the movie camera he helped develop with William Dickson?

• Moviescope
  No, it was the kinetoscope, which debuted in 1891. Edison later experimented with synchronizing motion pictures and sound, and talking movies were based on his work.
• Photophone
  No, it was the kinetoscope, which debuted in 1891. Edison later experimented with synchronizing motion pictures and sound, and talking movies were based on his work.
• Kinetoscope
  You got it! The kinetoscope debuted in 1891. Edison later experimented with synchronizing motion pictures and sound, and talking movies were based on his work.
• Videoscope
  No, it was the kinetoscope, which debuted in 1891. Edison later experimented with synchronizing motion pictures and sound, and talking movies were based on his work.

8. For which invention did Thomas Edison receive his first patent?

• Stock ticker
  No, it was the electric vote recorder. He received the patent on June 1, 1869.
• Electric vote recorder
  Right! He received the patent on June 1, 1869.
• Alkaline battery
  No, it was the electric vote recorder. He received the patent on June 1, 1869.
• Telegraph
  No, it was the electric vote recorder. He received the patent on June 1, 1869.

9. How long did Thomas Edison stay in school as a child?

• 6 months
  Not even that long! At age 10, Edison left school and was home-schooled by his mother.
• 12 years
  Not that long! At age 10, Edison left school and was home-schooled by his mother.
• 3 months
  That's right! At age 10, Edison left school and was home-schooled by his mother.
• 5 years
  Not that long! At age 10, Edison left school and was home-schooled by his mother.

10. Thomas Edison started his own electric company, called Edison Electric. The company partnered with another company and is still operating today. What is that company called?

• AT&T
  No, it was General Electric Co., which was formed in 1892 in Schenectady, New York.
• General Electric
  Correct! General Electric Co. was formed in 1892 in Schenectady, New York.
• KeySpan
  No, it was General Electric Co., which was formed in 1892 in Schenectady, New York.
• NSTAR
  No, it was General Electric Co., which was formed in 1892 in Schenectady, New York.