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Key Points

4 points
1

The telephone company sends a small electric current along the copper wire directly to each phone.

2

That current powers the phone’s internal components, enabling ringing and voice transmission.

3

Because the power source is independent of the house’s electricity, the phone remains functional during blackouts.

4

In contrast, smartphones need internal batteries or external power, which run out when the grid fails.

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Summary

This current is sufficient to operate the handset’s speaker and microphone, allowing calls during a power outage.

The home’s electrical supply is not required, which is why landlines keep working when the lights go out.

Modern mobile devices depend on battery power or external chargers, so they cannot function without electricity.

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New Words to Learn

4 words
electric current
a flow of electricity that provides energy to devices
copper wire
metal wiring that carries the electrical signal from the telephone service
telephone network
the collection of lines and equipment that connects phones together
blackout
a temporary loss of electrical power in an area
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