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Outstanding People of the USA

The USA can be really proud of its great people. American scientists and inventors made a great contribution to the development of arts, science, technology, medicine. Their names are world-known.

Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the USA. He was a leading author, politician, scientist, musician, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. Franklin gained international renown as a scientist for his famous experiments in electricity and for his many inventions, especially the lightning rod. He founded the first public library and the first fire department.

Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the photograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Edison is the fourth most prolific inventor in history. He is credited with numerous inventions that contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications.

Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic. Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. King has become a national icon in the history of modern American liberalism.

Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His intense commitment to systematically lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations.

Walter Elias “Walt” Disney was an American film producer, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20^th century. He and his staff created some of the world’s most well-known fictional characters including Mickey Mouse.

Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers. Presley is regarded as one of the most important figures of 20^th-century popular culture. He had a versatile voice and unusually wide success encompassing many genres, including country, pop ballads, gospel, and blues. He is the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music.

Americans have excelled in the field of medicine too. American doctors have done pioneering work in their respective fields – be it the first polio vaccine, specialization in diabetes, or any leading work that has won them the Nobel Prize for many years. Benjamin Spock was an American paediatrician, often referred to as the “world’s most famous baby doctor”. He authored a book called Baby and Child Care in 1946, which is one of the bestsellers of all time. His line for all mothers was, “You know more than you think you do.” He was also the first paediatrician to study psychoanalysis in order to understand the needs of children. A good sportsman, Dr. Benjamin Spock was also an Olympic gold-medalist in rowing.

1. What outstanding people of the USA do you know?

2. What was Dr. Benjamin Franklin?

3. Do you know any inventions of Thomas Alva Edison?

4. What American writers or poets are known in the whole world?

5. What history has Martin Luther King, Jr. become an icon?

6. What is Henry Ford famous for?

7. Have you ever seen any of Walt Disney’s animated cartoons?

8. Did Elvis Aaron Presley sing pop ballades or gospel?

9. Who was the “world’s most famous baby doctor”?

10. What other world-know doctors or medical scientists do you know?

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