Example 2.
WILLIAM HENRY PERKIN
The man who invented synthetic dyes
A. Historically, textile dyes were made from such natural sources as plants and animal
excretions. Some of these, such as the glandular mucus of snails, were difficult to obtain and
outrageously expensive. Indeed, the purple colour extracted from a snail was once so costly that
in society at the time only the rich could afford it. Further, natural dyes tended to be muddy in
hue and fade quickly. It was against this backdrop that Perkin’s discovery was made.
B. Perkin quickly grasped that his purple solution could be used to colour fabric, thus making it
the world’s first synthetic dye. Realising the importance of this breakthrough, he lost no time in
patenting it. But perhaps the most fascinating of all Perkin’s reactions to his find was his nearly
instant recognition that the new dye had commercial possibilities .
C. Perkin originally named his dye Tyrian Purple, but it later became commonly known as
mauve (from the French for the plant used to make the colour violet). He asked advice of
Scottish dye works owner Robert Pullar, who assured him that manufacturing the dye would be
well worth it if the colour remained fast (i.e. would not fade) and the cost was relatively low. So,
over the fierce objections of his mentor Hofmann, he left college to give birth to the modern
chemical industry.
D. With the help of his father and brother, Perkin set up a factory not far from London. Utilising
the cheap and plentiful coal tar that was an almost unlimited by-product of London’s gas street
lighting, the dye works began producing the world’s first synthetically dyed material in 1857.
The company received a commercial boost from the Empress Eugenie of France , when she
decided the new colour flattered her. Very soon, mauve was the necessary shade for all the
fashionable ladies in that country.
E. Not to be outdone, England’s Queen Victoria also appeared in public wearing a mauve gown,
thus making it all the rage in England as well. The dye was bold and fast, and the public
clamoured for more. Perkin went back to the drawing board.
F. Although Perkin’s fame was achieved and fortune assured by his first discovery, the chemist
continued his research. Among other dyes he developed and introduced were aniline red (1859)
and aniline black (1863) and, in the late 1860s, Perkin’s green. It is important to note that
Perkin’s synthetic dye discoveries had outcomes far beyond the merely decorative. The dyes also
became vital to medical research in many ways. For instance, they were used to stain previously
invisible microbes and bacteria, allowing researchers to identify such bacilli as tuberculosis,
cholera, and anthrax. Artificial dyes continue to play a crucial role today. And, in what would
have been particularly pleasing to Perkin, their current use is in the search for a vaccine against
malaria.
Questions 8-13 Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
8 Before Perkin’s discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?
9 What potential did Perkin immediately understand that his new dye had?
10 What was the name finally used to refer to the first colour Perkin invented?
11 What was the name of the person Perkin consulted before setting up his own dye works?
12 In what country did Perkin’s newly invented colour first become fashionable?
13 According to the passage, which disease is now being targeted by researchers using synthetic
dyes?
Lưu ý: Gạch chân key words trong câu hỏi dò trên bài đọc xem đoạn nào có key words/ từ
đồng nghĩa với key words đó đọc kĩ đoạn chứa key words để tìm đáp án
Ví dụ:
- key words của câu 8: purple/ group in society tìm đoạn chứa key words/ từ đồng nghĩa
với key words
- Câu 12 hỏi “ In what country” + key word: fashionable: Ở quốc gia nào hỏi về tên
quốc gia nên cần tìm đoạn chứa tên quốc gia và “fashionable”/ từ đồng nghĩa với
fashionable
TỪ VỰNG CẦN BIẾT:
Associated (adj):liên quan Potential (n): Tiềm năng Immediately (adv): Ngay lập
tới/ gắn với tức
Refer to sth : Nhắc tới cái gì Consult (v): Hỏi ý kiến, tham Costly (adj): đắt đỏ
khảo
Afford (v): có khả năng làm Instant (adj): Ngay lập tức Originally (adv):Ban đầu
gì/ có khả năng thanh toán
Assure (v): Đảm bảo Vital (adj): Cần thiết Crucial role : Vai trò quan
trọng
Against : Chống lại/ chống Malaria (n): Bệnh sốt rét Target (v): nhắm vào
đối
Recognition (n): sự nhân ra Commercial (adj): Thương
mại
Track 32 Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
HIRING A PUBLIC ROOM
Example
• the Main Hall - seats 200
Room and cost
• the 1............................ Room - seats 100
• Cost of Main Hall for Saturday evening: 2 £............................ + £250 deposit
(3............................ payment is required)
• Cost includes use of tables and chairs and also 4............................
• Additional charge for use of the kitchen: £25
Before the event
• Will need a 5............................ licence
• Need to contact caretaker (Mr Evans) in advance to arrange 6............................
TỪ VỰNG
hiring a room: thuê 1 căn phòng
raise money for a charity: quyên góp tiền cho 1 tổ chức từ thiện
deposit(n): tiền cọc
returnable(adj): được trả lại
damage(n): thiệt hại
insist(v): nhấn mạnh
to be paid in cash: được trả bằng tiền mặt
card(n): thẻ (ATM)
cheque(n): ngân phiếu
pay extra for: chi trả them cho …
fridge(n): tủ lạnh
cover the cost: bao quát chi phí
entry(n): việc ra vào
licence(n): bằng cấp
straightforward(adj): đơn giản, dễ
caretaker(n): người quản lý
make the arrangements for: sắp xếp việc gì
sort something out: nói rõ, phân rõ việc gì
payment(n): tiền, chi phí
Track 33 Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Example
Name: Roger Brown
Age: 18
Currently staying in a 1 ............................ during the week
Postal address: 17 2............................ Street, Stamford, Lines
Postcode: 3............................
Occupation: student and part-time job as a 4............................
Studying 5 ............................ (major subject) and history (minor subject)
TỪ VỰNG
standing for election: ứng cử cho 1 cuộc tranh cử
administrator(n): người quản lý
discuss(v): thảo luận
make suggestions: đưa ra những đề xuất
complicated(adj): phức tạp
hostel(n): nhà nghỉ
a short-term contract: 1 hợp đồng ngắn hạn
waiter(n): phục vụ bàn
leave you much time for...:cho bạn nhiều thời gian để làm việc gì
manage to fit it all in: sắp xếp mọi việc ổn thỏa
parliament(n): nghị viện
eventually(adv): cuối cùng
major subject: môn học chính
politics(n): môn chính trị
minor subject(n): môn học phụ
