Question

Bubble wrap is a flexible transparent plastic material used for packing fragile items. It was

invented by two engineers Al Fielding and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes in Hawthorne,

N.J. in 1957. However both of them were not trying to make a product to be used as

packaging material. In fact they were trying to create textured wallpaper. They started out by

sealing two shower curtains together in such a way that it would capture air bubbles which

would make the textured appearance for their wallpaper. But this wallpaper idea didn‟t sell

too well.

2. Not to be deterred, they then set about finding another use for their product. The alternate

use they came up with was to use it as greenhouse insulation. While bubble wrap by itself

does create somewhat of an insulating effect, this idea didn‟t become popular either.

3. It was three years after the initial creation of Bubble Wrap that Frederick W. Bowers, a

marketer at Sealed Air, which makes Bubble Wrap, finally came up with the perfect use for

their product. On October the 5, 1959, IBM announced their new 1401 variable word length

computer. Bowers got the idea that Bubble Wrap could be used as a good packaging material

to protect the computer while it was being shipped. He then pitched the idea to IBM and

demonstrated Bubble Wrap‟s protective abilities. His demonstration went over well and IBM

began purchasing Bubble Wrap to protect their 1401 and other fragile products they sold and

shipped.

4. One of the downsides to Bubble Wrap has always been the space it takes up during

shipping and storage, for customers who are just buying the Bubble Wrap. In order to get

around this problem, one of the dreams of the original inventors was that they‟d someday be

able to create a Bubble Wrap that customers could self-inflate, as needed.

5. While originally being used primarily for packaging for electronics equipment, today the

vast majority of Bubble Wrap made is used for food packaging. Because bubble wrap makes

a satisfying popping sound when compressed and ruptured, it is often used as a source of

amusement.

1.1 Answer the following by filling in the blanks:

(a) Bubble wrap was, at first, thought by the two engineers to be useful

to_________________.

(b) The engineers were trying to create textured wallpaper by

___________________________.

(c) The alternate use of their product was___________________________.

(d) IBM purchased Bubble Wrap to ________________________________.

(e) The flipside of bubble wrap is ___________________________________.

(f) The solution thought of was ____________________________________.

(g) The word which means the same as “surfaced” is _______ (para 1).

(h) The word which means the same as “exhibition” is _______ (para 3).

(i) The word which means the same as “cracking” is _________ (para 5).

(j) The word which means the same as “crushed” is __________ (para 5)​

Answer 1

1. Pack fragile items 2.capture air bubbles 3. Greenhouse insulation 4.protect 1401 and other fragile items 5.space 6.bubble wraps’ protective abilities 7. texture 8. demonstration 9.popping 10. ruptured