Grade 8 Reading Comprehension Worksheets - Free Printable

Let's solve the reading comprehension questions based on the provided passage about Tesla and AC Electricity.

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Passage Summary:

- Nikola Tesla was a Croatian-born engineer and inventor.
- He came to the United States in 1884 at age 28 and worked briefly with Thomas Edison.
- Their relationship ended due to personality conflicts and differences in focus: Edison focused on financial success, while Tesla cared more about scientific innovation.
- In 1885, Tesla founded his own electric company but failed financially.
- Later, he received funding for the Tesla Electric Company and made important inventions:
- Alternating Current (AC) systems
- Dynamoes (similar to batteries)
- Induction motor
- X-rays, remote control, and rotating magnetic field (basis of AC technology)
- George Westinghouse, an engineer, wanted to use long-distance power transmission and bought Tesla’s patents for $60,000 and shares in his company.
- This led to a conflict between Tesla and Westinghouse vs. Edison, who supported Direct Current (DC).
- The Westinghouse Corporation used Tesla’s AC system to power the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, demonstrating its superiority.
- Eventually, AC electricity became the dominant power system worldwide.

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Now, let's answer the questions:

#### 1. The dominant power system in the world today uses:
- AC electricity ✔
- DC electricity ✘

> Explanation: The passage clearly states that "AC electricity became the world's dominant power system." So the correct answer is AC electricity.

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#### 2. Tesla worked briefly with:
- Edison ✔
- Westinghouse ✘

> Explanation: The passage says Tesla came to the U.S. in 1884 and worked with Thomas Edison for a short time. He later collaborated with Westinghouse, but not initially. So the correct answer is Edison.

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#### 3. Tesla’s main focus was:
- business ✘
- science ✔

> Explanation: The passage states: "Edison was eye on financial success, while Tesla was more interested in the science." So Tesla's main focus was science.

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#### 4. Tesla’s only scientific contribution was AC electricity.
- True ✘
- False ✔

> Explanation: The passage lists several contributions: dynamoes, induction motor, X-rays, remote control, rotating magnetic field, etc. So AC electricity was not his only contribution. Therefore, the statement is False.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. AC electricity
2. Edison
3. science
4. False

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