Q 01/05

Bell is credited with patenting which invention?

A) The electric light bulb

B) The wax-cylinder phonograph

C) The first practical telephone

D) The electric telegraph

Answer · why

C) The first practical telephone

He considered it an intrusion on his real scientific work and refused to have one in his study.

Q 02/05

On what date was Bell awarded the first US patent for the telephone?

A) July 4, 1876

B) February 14, 1876

C) March 10, 1877

D) March 7, 1876

Answer · why

D) March 7, 1876

It was patent number 174,465, covering the transmission of vocal sounds "by causing electrical undulations".

Q 03/05

What were the first intelligible words transmitted by Bell's telephone?

A) "Hello, can you hear me?"

B) "What hath God wrought"

C) "Mr. Watson—Come here—I want to see you"

D) "The telephone works, Watson"

Answer · why

C) "Mr. Watson—Come here—I want to see you"

He used a liquid transmitter similar to Elisha Gray's design, only as a proof of concept, and never used it in public again.

Q 04/05

In which city was Bell born on March 3, 1847?

A) London

B) Edinburgh

C) Dublin

D) Glasgow

Answer · why

B) Edinburgh

A stone inscription on South Charlotte Street marks the family home as his birthplace.

Q 05/05

Why was Bell allowed to take the name "Graham" for his 11th birthday?

A) He begged to have one like his brothers

B) A schoolmaster insisted on it

C) He wanted to honour a Scottish poet

D) It was his mother's maiden name

Answer · why

A) He begged to have one like his brothers

The name honoured Alexander Graham, a Canadian family friend being treated by his father; relatives still called him "Aleck".