“The Invention of Vita-Wonk” is about Mr Willy Wonka. He invents Wonka-Vite to make people young. It goes wrong, so he makes Vita-Wonk. Vita-Wonk makes people old using old things. It turns a young man into an old one fast.
1. Introduction to the Story
- Who Mr Willy Wonka Is:
- Mr Willy Wonka is an inventor.
- He makes special things for people.
- What Wonka-Vite Does:
- He first invents Wonka-Vite.
- It makes people younger.
- Problem with Wonka-Vite:
- It’s too strong and makes age minus.
- Some people disappear because of it.
- Minus Age Meaning:
- One person becomes minus eighty-seven.
- He must wait years to come back.
2. Mr Wonka’s New Plan
- Wonka-Vite fails, so he tries something new.
- He wants to make people older now.
- He squeezes his brain for ideas.
- He asks what lives the longest.
- Charlie says a tree lives long.
- Mr Wonka agrees and picks a special tree.
3. The Oldest Tree
- It’s not a fir, oak, or cedar.
- It’s the Bristlecone pine tree.
- It grows on Wheeler Peak in Nevada, USA.
- Some are over 4000 years old.
- This is true, not a story.
- A dendrochronologist can prove it.
4. Collecting Old Things
- Mr Wonka uses the Great Glass Elevator.
- He travels the world for old items.
- Sap from a 4000-year-old Bristlecone pine.
- Toe-nail clippings from a 168-year-old farmer.
- An egg from a 200-year-old tortoise.
- Tail of a 51-year-old horse.
- Whiskers of a 36-year-old cat named Crumpets.
- A flea from Crumpets, also 36 years old.
- Tail of a 207-year-old giant rat.
- Black teeth of a 97-year-old grimalkin.
- Knucklebones of a 700-year-old cattaloo.
5. Finding Ancient Animals
- He finds very old animals worldwide.
- He takes small bits from them.
- The Whistle-Pig and the Bobolink.
- The Skrock and the Pollyfrog.
- The Giant Curlicue and Stinging Slug.
- The Venomous Ssquerkle spits poison.
- It can hit your eye from far away.
6. Making Vita-Wonk
- He boils and mixes all the items.
- He tests it in his Inventing Room.
- He makes a tiny cup of black liquid.
- It’s oily and just a small amount.
- He gives four drops to an Oompa-Loompa.
- The volunteer is twenty years old.
7. What Happens Next
- The Oompa-Loompa wrinkles fast.
- His hair and teeth fall out quickly.
- He turns into a 75-year-old man.
- It happens right after swallowing.
- Mr Wonka is thrilled with this.
- He names it Vita-Wonk.
8. Comprehension Check
- Mr Wonka’s Job:
- He is an inventor, not a cook or manager.
- He creates new things like Vita-Wonk.
- Wonka-Vite’s Effect:
- It makes people younger, not older.
- Sometimes too young, like minus age.
- New Invention Goal:
- He wants people to grow older now.
- That’s why he makes Vita-Wonk.
- Minus Age:
- Age can’t be minus in real life.
- Minus 87 means waiting 87 years.
- His Questions:
- He asks what is the oldest thing.
- He asks what lives longer than all.
9. Questions and Answers
- (i) What Trees Does Mr Wonka Mention? Which Tree Does He Say Lives the Longest? (ii) How Long Does This Tree Live? Where Can You Find It?:
- He mentions fir, oak, cedar, and Bristlecone pine.
- Bristlecone pine lives the longest.
- It lives over 4000 years.
- It’s found on Wheeler Peak, Nevada, USA.
- How Many of the Oldest Living Things Can You Remember from Mr Wonka’s List? Do You Think All These Things Really Exist, or Are Some of Them Purely Imaginary?:
- Examples are Bristlecone pine, tortoise, rat.
- Some like pines and tortoises are real.
- Others like grimalkin may be made up.
- Why Does Mr Wonka Collect Items from the Oldest Things? Do You Think This Is the Right Way to Begin His Invention?:
- He wants to use old things to make age.
- It’s a clever start to grow people older.
- What Happens to the Volunteer Who Swallows Four Drops of the New Invention? What Is the Name of the Invention?:
- He becomes old, wrinkled, loses hair and teeth.
- He turns 75 from 20 years old.
- The invention is called Vita-Wonk.
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