8 8 8 reading

Who invented the steam engine? Heron from Egypt. Heron lived in Alexandria and is best known as a mathematician and geometer. Unfortunately for Heron, no one was able to see its practical function, so it was considered nothing more than an amusing novelty. Amazingly, had Heron but known it, the railway had already been invented 700 years earlier. The principle of railways was then completely forgotten about for almost another 500 years, until people had the idea of using them in mines in the fourteenth century. The historian Arnold Toynbee wrote a brilliant essay speculating what would have happened if the two inventions had been combined to create a global Greek empire, based on a fast rail network. Heron also invented the vending machine – for four drachmas you got a shot of holy water – and a portable device to ensure that no one else could drink the wine you brought along to a bottle party. You are considering visiting the city and now you'd like to get more information. In 1.5 minutes you are to ask five direct questions to find out the following: 1) dates for departures 2) hotel facilities 3) if breakfast is included 4) number of city tours 5) discounts You have 20 seconds to ask each question.

-        Sure, I don’t feel very comfortable about it. Every time my classmates’ mobiles ring I start looking for my mobile in my pockets.

-        I am fifteen.

-        In fact I use my mobile all the time. Of course, I make calls then I send and receive about 10 text messages every day. Besides, I sometimes take digital pictures and send them to my friends.

-        Don’t take me wrong but I don’t think it is right that mobiles are not allowed in some schools. Of course it is not so good when phone calls interfere in school studies and students get sidetracked but some calls can be very important.

-If you ask me I would recommend people switch off or turn down their phones at the theatre, cinema, in the concert hall and in class not to get people sidetracked.

-        As a child of seven I got my first mobile. I got my first mobile at the age of 6. I got my first mobile when I was 5.