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Nancy Johnson’s Invention

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Are you curious about the story behind the invention of the hand-cranked ice cream maker? Our reading/listening comprehension exercises will take you on a journey back to the summer of 1843 when Nancy Johnson first had the idea that would revolutionize the way people make ice cream. By completing these exercises, you'll discover the challenges that Johnson faced in perfecting her design, as well as the amazement of her friends when they tried her invention for the first time. You'll learn about Johnson's inspiration and motivations for her invention, as well as her hopes for the future. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the history of this iconic dessert and the people behind its evolution – give our comprehension exercises a try today!

Nancy Johnson was an American inventor who is best known for her invention of the hand-cranked ice cream maker in 1846. Johnson was born in Philadelphia in 1795 and grew up on a farm in New Jersey. She married a farmer, and together they moved to New York, where they settled in the town of Utica. It was there that Johnson developed her hand-cranked ice cream maker, which made it possible for families to make homemade ice cream in the comfort of their own homes. Johnson was granted a patent for her invention in 1846, and she went on to sell her invention to the public. Today, Johnson is remembered as a pioneer in the ice cream industry and a testament to the power of innovation and perseverance.

Dear Friends,

I am writing to share with you the story of my invention, the hand-cranked ice cream maker. As you may know, my invention has revolutionized the way people make ice cream, making it possible for them to create this frozen treat in the comfort of their own homes.

It all started one summer day in 1843 when I was trying to make ice cream for a party. I had been using the traditional method of packing ice and salt around a metal container filled with cream, sugar, and flavourings, but it was a tedious and time-consuming process. I was determined to find a better way.

As I sat in my kitchen, pondering the problem, I noticed my old-fashioned butter churn. Suddenly, it hit me - why not adapt this to make ice cream? I started sketching out ideas and soon had a plan for a hand-cranked ice cream maker.

I spent the next few months tinkering in my workshop, trying to perfect my design. It was a challenging process, but eventually, I had a working prototype. I invited some of my friends over to try it out, and they were amazed at how easy it was to make ice cream using my invention.

I knew I was on to something and decided to patent my invention. In 1846, I was granted a patent for my hand-cranked ice cream maker, and soon after, I started selling my invention to the public.

I am so proud of my invention and the way it has made it possible for people to enjoy homemade ice cream. I believe that everyone should be able to enjoy this delicious treat, and my invention has made that possible. It warms my heart to think that families all over the world are using my hand-cranked ice cream maker to create their own special memories.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it has inspired you to never give up on your dreams, no matter how difficult they may seem.

Sincerely,

Nancy Johnson

/ dɪə frendz /

/ ˈaɪ əm ˈraɪt.ɪŋ tə ʃeə wɪð ju ðə ˈstɔː.ri əv maɪ ɪn.ˈven.ʃn̩ / ðə hænd kræŋkt aɪs kriːm ˈmeɪk.ə / əz ju meɪ ˈnəʊ / maɪ ɪn.ˈven.ʃn̩ həz ˌre.və.ˈluː.ʃə.naɪzd ðə ˈweɪ ˈpiːp.l̩ ˈmeɪk aɪs kriːm / ˈmeɪk.ɪŋ ˈɪt ˈpɒ.səb.l̩ fə ðəm tə kriː.ˈeɪt ðɪs ˈfrəʊ.zən triːt ɪn ðə ˈkʌm.fət əv ðeər əʊn həʊmz /

/ ˈɪt ɔːl ˈstɑː.tɪd wʌn ˈsʌ.mə ˈdeɪ ɪn wʌn ˈθaʊz.n̩d eɪt ˈhʌn.drəd ənd ˈfɔː.ti θriː wen ˈaɪ wəz ˈtraɪ.ɪŋ tə ˈmeɪk aɪs kriːm fər ə ˈpɑː.ti / ˈaɪ həd biːn ˈjuːz.ɪŋ ðə trə.ˈdɪʃ.n̩əl ˈme.θəd əv ˈpækɪŋ aɪs ənd sɔːlt ə.ˈraʊnd ə ˈmet.l̩ kən.ˈteɪ.nə fɪld wɪð kriːm / ˈʃʊɡ.ə / ənd ˈfleɪ.və.rɪŋz / bət ˈɪt wəz ə ˈtiː.dɪəs ənd ˈtaɪmk.ən.ˈsjuː.mɪŋ ˈprəʊ.ses / ˈaɪ wəz dɪ.ˈtɜː.mɪnd tə faɪnd ə ˈbe.tə ˈweɪ /

/ əz ˈaɪ sæt ɪn maɪ ˈkɪtʃ.ən / ˈpɒn.dər.ɪŋ ðə ˈprɒ.bləm / ˈaɪ ˈnəʊ.tɪst maɪ əʊl ˈfæʃ.n̩d ˈbʌt.ə tʃɜːn / sʌd.n̩.li / ˈɪt hɪt miː waɪ nɒt ə.ˈdæpt ðɪs tə ˈmeɪk aɪs kriːm / ˈaɪ ˈstɑː.tɪd ˈsketʃ.ɪŋ ˈaʊt aɪ.ˈdɪəz ənd suːn həd ə plæn fər ə hænd kræŋkt aɪs kriːm ˈmeɪk.ə /

/ ˈaɪ spent ðə nekst fjuː mʌnθs ˈtɪŋk.ər.ɪŋ ɪn maɪ ˈwɜːk.ʃɒp / ˈtraɪ.ɪŋ tə pə.ˈfekt maɪ dɪ.ˈzaɪn / ˈɪt wəz ə ˈtʃæ.ləndʒ.ɪŋ ˈprəʊ.ses / bət ɪ.ˈven.tʃʊə.li / ˈaɪ həd ə ˈwɜːk.ɪŋ ˈprəʊ.tə.taɪp / ˈaɪ ɪn.ˈvaɪ.tɪd səm əv maɪ frendz ˈəʊv.ə tə ˈtraɪ ˈɪt ˈaʊt / ənd ˈðeɪ wər ə.ˈmeɪzd ət ˈhaʊ ˈiː.zi ˈɪt wəz tə ˈmeɪk aɪs kriːm ˈjuːz.ɪŋ maɪ ɪn.ˈven.ʃn̩ /

/ ˈaɪ njuː ˈaɪ wəz ɒn tə ˈsʌm.θɪŋ ənd dɪ.ˈsaɪ.dɪd tə ˈpeɪtnt maɪ ɪn.ˈven.ʃn̩ / ɪn wʌn ˈθaʊz.n̩d eɪt ˈhʌn.drəd ənd ˈfɔː.ti sɪks / ˈaɪ wəz ˈɡrɑːn.tɪd ə ˈpeɪtnt fə maɪ hænd kræŋkt aɪs kriːm ˈmeɪk.ə / ənd suːn ˈɑːf.tə / ˈaɪ ˈstɑː.tɪd ˈsel.ɪŋ maɪ ɪn.ˈven.ʃn̩ tə ðə ˈpʌ.blɪk /

/ ˈaɪ əm ˈsəʊ praʊd əv maɪ ɪn.ˈven.ʃn̩ ənd ðə ˈweɪ ˈɪt həz ˈmeɪd ˈɪt ˈpɒ.səb.l̩ fə ˈpiːp.l̩ tu ɪn.ˈdʒɔɪ ˈhomˈmeɪd aɪs kriːm / ˈaɪ bɪ.ˈliːv ðət ˈev.rɪ.wʌn ʃəd bi ˈeɪb.l̩ tu ɪn.ˈdʒɔɪ ðɪs dɪ.ˈlɪ.ʃəs triːt / ənd maɪ ɪn.ˈven.ʃn̩ həz ˈmeɪd ðət ˈpɒ.səb.l̩ / ˈɪt wɔːmz maɪ hɑːt tə ˈθɪŋk ðət ˈfæm.liz ɔːl ˈəʊv.ə ðə wɜːld ə ˈjuːz.ɪŋ maɪ hænd kræŋkt aɪs kriːm ˈmeɪk.ə tə kriː.ˈeɪt ðeər əʊn ˈspeʃ.l̩ ˈme.mə.rɪz /

/ θæŋk ju fə ˈteɪk.ɪŋ ðə ˈtaɪm tə riːd maɪ ˈstɔː.ri / ˈaɪ həʊp ˈɪt həz ɪn.ˈspaɪəd ju tə ˈne.və ɡɪv ʌp ɒn jə driːmz / nəʊ ˈmæ.tə ˈhaʊ ˈdɪ.fɪkəlt ˈðeɪ meɪ siːm /

/ sɪn.ˈsɪə.li /

/ ˈnæn.si ˈdʒɑːn.sən /

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Nancy Johnson’s Invention Comprehension Questions

To read the text, click the Readings button above. To listen to the audio, click the Audio button above. To read the IPA transcript, click the IPA Script button above. See if you can answer the comprehension questions below.

When did Nancy Johnson invent the hand-cranked ice cream maker?

What was Nancy Johnson's motivation for inventing the hand-cranked ice cream maker?

What was the traditional method of making ice cream that Nancy Johnson found tedious and time-consuming?

What did Nancy Johnson adapt to create the hand-cranked ice cream maker?

How did Nancy Johnson's friends react to her invention?

What did Nancy Johnson do once she had a working prototype of her hand-cranked ice cream maker?

When was Nancy Johnson granted a patent for her invention?

What impact did Nancy Johnson's invention have on the ice cream industry?

What does Nancy Johnson hope her story will inspire others to do?

In Nancy Johnson's opinion, who should be able to enjoy ice cream?


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