Cover of the textbook Performer B1, Vol. 2

The key answer of exercise 3

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 1 - Preliminary for the textbook Performer B1, Vol. 2 with authors Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella e Margaret Layton from Zanichelli

Question

Describe what the people were doing in the pictures in exercise 1 and how we do the same activities today.

Answer

  • In the past, people used a washboard and soap to wash clothes. This involved manually scrubbing clothes against the ridges of the washboard to remove dirt and stains. Today, washing clothes is predominantly done using washing machines and laundry detergents, offering a more automated and efficient process.
  • Sewing by hand was a common practice in the past, with individuals carefully stitching fabrics together to create clothing or mend items. Today, sewing machines have streamlined and expedited the sewing process, allowing for faster and more precise stitching.
  • Milking cows was a manual and labor-intensive task in the past, requiring individuals to physically extract milk from the udders. Nowadays, milking is largely mechanized, with modern dairy farms utilizing milking machines that can handle multiple cows simultaneously, improving efficiency and hygiene.
  • Pumping water, often done by hand with a manual pump in the past, was a necessary chore for accessing water from wells or other sources. Today, electric pumps and plumbing systems have revolutionized water access, making it as simple as turning on a faucet to get a steady supply of water for various household needs.