Paper

Vocabulary

prominent ˈprɑːmənənt famous; widely known; important

Adjective

The Statue of Liberty is one of New York's most prominent sights.

inescapable ˌɪnɪˈskeɪpəbl impossible to escape or avoid; inevitable

Adjective

Eventually, the team had to face the inescapable fact that they failed.

versatile ˈvərsətɪl able to adapt to a number of different functions or activities

Adjective

Her wide range of skills makes her a versatile member of our team.

inexpensive ˌɪnɪkˈspɛnsɪv not expensive; of a reasonable price

Adjective

These clothes are really inexpensive.

pervasive pərˈveɪsɪv common and spreading widely throughout an area

Adjective

In the early 1990's, cocaine became pervasive in the city.

Paper

One of the most prominent inventions of all time, which is an inescapable part of
everyday life, is paper. Paper has applications in countless aspects of human life,
and is one of the most versatile of all materials. It is inexpensive, easy to handle, and
easily obtained.

Prior to the invention of paper, silk and bamboo were employed for the transmission
of the written word. Unfortunately, both of these materials had their disadvantages,
as silk was notoriously expensive at the time, and bamboo was far too unwieldy.

The origin of paper traces its roots back to the Han dynasty in China. After its
invention, paper became pervasive in China, and its expansion to the rest of the
world happened shortly thereafter. Realizing its value, the Chinese kept paper
making techniques secret for many years. Nevertheless, they could not have possibly
imagined the importance that paper would have in the future.

Like most things around us, we often take paper for granted.

Questions
1. Why is paper an "inescapable part of everyday life"?
2. What was used before the invention of paper?
3. Where did paper originate?

Summary
Make a brief summary of the article. Focus on the main topic and consider which
pieces of information are most important. Make sure you include details such as what
the article is about, who is mentioned in it, where and when the events took place,
and also how and why they happened.

Discussion

1. "Like most things around us, we often take paper for granted."
2. Do you agree with this statement? Why? Why not?
3. How important is paper for you? Why?

Further Discussion
1. Do you have lots of things made of paper at home? Describe some of them.
2. How frequently do you use paper? Why?
3. What would the world be like without paper?
4. Are you concerned about the environmental effects of paper?
5. Do you recycle paper? What do you think are pros and cons of recycling
paper?
6. Do you think paper will ever be replaced with another material? Why? Why
not?