I Didn’t Know That

Reading Comprehension

Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions below.

How much do you know? Once you watch National Geographic Channel’s I Didn’t Know That, you will be surprised at how little knowledge you actually have. This 10-part series is packed with action as it explores dozens of minute facts about everyday items. All of these ordinary things that we use daily may not appear exciting, but once National Geographic Channel shines the spotlight on them, you’ll never see them in the same way again.

Money makes the world go round. We all use it, need it, and want more of it. Did you know that the average banknote has microscopic grains of cocaine on it? Yes, that’s right. Cocaine! This illegal drug can be found in small amounts on a $100 bill. Speaking of cash, the Aztecs didn’t use paper money the way we do nowadays. Instead, they used cocoa beans. The same beans that are used to make hot chocolate were once the main currency for these people. Just imagine; you could drink away your entire allowance.

In most offices, you’ll see desks, computers, and chairs. Those office chairs get a lot of use throughout a lifetime. Office chairs must be durable and can stand up to the pressure of being sat on 5,000 times a year. To test their durability, a fake butt mechanically sits in a chair some 50,000 times.

After meals, most people brush their teeth. In a person’s lifetime, this toothpaste adds up to some 80 litres. If you’re short on cash, you could always make your own toothpaste. All you need are five ingredients — baking soda, salt, glycerine, water, and peppermint. Once you’ve finished brushing your teeth, you could also use the toothpaste to polish your silver.

Yes, money may make the world go round, but trivia about everyday items in our lives makes the world much richer. After watching these ten episodes, you won’t be able to say, “I didn’t know that!”