PLZ HELP IM CRYING I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO There never was a time when the world was without fire, but there was a time when men did not know how to kindle fire; and after they learned how to kindle one, it was a long, long time before they learned how to kindle one easily. In these days we can kindle a fire without any trouble, because we can easily get a match; but we must remember that the match is one of the most wonderful things in the world, and that it took men thousands of years to learn how to make one. Let us learn the history of this familiar little object, the match.

Fire was first given to man by nature itself. When a forest is set on fire by cinders from a neighboring volcano, or when a tree is set ablaze by a thunderbolt, we may say that nature strikes a match. In the early history of the world, nature had to kindle all the fires, for man by his own effort was unable to produce a spark. The first method, then, of getting fire for use was to light sticks of wood at a flame kindled by nature—by a volcano, perhaps, or by a stroke of lightning. These firebrands were carried to the home and used in kindling the fires there. The fire secured in this way was carefully guarded and was kept burning as long as possible. But the flame, however faithfully watched, would sometimes be extinguished. A sudden gust of wind or a sudden shower would put it out. Then a new firebrand would have to be secured, and this often meant a long journey and a deal of trouble.

In 1827, John Walker, a druggist in a small English town, tipped a splint with sulphur, chlorate of potash, and sulphid of antimony, and rubbed it on sandpaper, and it burst into flame. The druggist had discovered the first friction-chemical match, the kind we use to-day. It is called friction-chemical because it is made by mixing certain chemicals together and rubbing them. Although Walker's match did not require the bottle of acid, nevertheless it was not a good one. It could be lighted only by hard rubbing, and it sputtered and threw fire in all directions. In a few years, however, phosphorus was substituted on the tip for antimony, and the change worked wonders. The match could now be lighted with very little rubbing, and it was no longer necessary to have sandpaper upon which to rub it. It would ignite when rubbed on any dry surface, and there was no longer any sputtering. This was the phosphorus match, the match with which we are so familiar.

1. What information do we get from the bolded paragraph that develops the main idea of the essay?
How nature started the first fires
How humans came up with the idea for matches
The need for a new way to create fire
The way matches are made

2.What was the main problem with relying on nature to start a flame?
Fire could only be collected with "sticks of wood" that were hard to find.
Fire had to be "carefully guarded," requiring someone to stay behind from hunting.
Fire had to be "carried to the home," which could be dangerous and awkward.
Fire was likely hard to find, requiring a "long journey and a deal of trouble."

3.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
Early matches were dangerous and awkward.
John Walker made the first match.
Phosphorus was the key to the modern match.
Walker's match was better than what came before.

4.What is the main idea of this text?
Firebrands were hard to keep lit.
Nature provided fire to early humans.
The history of the match is interesting.
The match made life easier for humans.

5.What is the main idea of this text?
Firebrands were hard to keep lit.
Nature provided fire to early humans.
The history of the match is interesting.
The match made life easier for humans.

6.What does the author mean by “we may say that nature strikes a match”?
Matches were created by nature.
Matches did not help people.
Matches required natural chemicals.
Nature provided fire for humans.

7.According the bolded paragraph, what was the benefit of the new phosphorus match?
It burst into flame when rubbed on sandpaper.
It was made by mixing chemicals.
It could be ignited on any dry surface.
It threw fire in all directions.