1. In groups, vote for the best invention among those in the list below. The best invention needs to meet the four criteria listed in the voting sheet. Tick (✓) the appropriate boxes.

(Làm việc theo nhóm, bình chọn cho phát minh tuyệt vời nhất trong những phát minh sau ở danh sách dưới đây. Phát minh tuyệt vời nhất phải thỏa mãn được 4 tiêu chí được liệt kê ở tờ bình chọn. Đánh dấu vào các ô phù hợp.)

2. Read the text and answer the questions.

(Đọc văn bản và trả lời câu hỏi.)

There is quite a long list of important inventions from Asian countries that help people. The Chinese invented paper, chopsticks and gun powder. The Japanese invented instant noodles and video games. In many Southeast Asian nations, agriculture is the main economic activity and pollution is a major problem. That is why there have been other important inventions to deal with these issues. Thai people, for example, have contributed to environmental protection and benefited farmers, who depend on water for their crops. Below are three significant inventions from a well respected Thai inventor, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

The king’s Chaipattana Aerator was patented in 1993 and has won several international awards. This is a kind of
paddle-wheel machine that helps to add oxygen to the wastewater to ‘clean’ it before it is reused for farming.

In 1999 and 2003, he obtained Thai patents for his rain-making techniques. In addition to helping agriculture directly, these techniques have helped to increase the volume of water in rivers and streams and improved forest conditions. The king’s biodiesel oil project was first introduced in 2001. Its aim is to turn palm oil into biodiesel as an alternative source of energy. Biodiesel is a good choice for an alternative fuel, at a time when Thailand needs to reduce its use of fossil energy to protect the environment. 

1. What are the main issues of many Southeast Asian countries?

(Vấn đề chính của nhiều nước Đông Nam Á là gì?)

2. Write the names of the inventions under the pictures.

(Viết tên của các phát minh dưới các bức ảnh.)

3. Which inventions have directly benefited farmers?

(Phát minh nào mang lại lợi ích trực tiếp cho người nông dân?)

4. Which inventions have helped to protect the environment? Pick out information from the text to support your answer.

(Phát minh nào giúp bảo vệ môi trường? Lấy thông tin từ bài viết để chứng minh cho câu trả lời của bạn.)

5. In your opinion, which of the three inventions from Thailand mentioned in the text is the most important? Why?

(Theo bạn, trong 3 phát minh đến từ Thái Lan được đề cập đến trong bài viết, phát minh nào là quan trọng nhất? Tại sao?)

1. Do you know which countries these inventions are from? Match the country names with inventions.

(Bạn có biết những phát minh này đến từ những đất nước nào không? Nối tên đất nước với phát minh.)