Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Trampoline
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Many playgrounds, gyms, and recreational centres use equipment made from flexible sheets or webs of material stretched over a rigid metal frame. These devices allow people, especially children and athletes, to jump and perform acrobatic movements. General science and everyday knowledge questions sometimes test whether learners know the correct name for such a common piece of equipment. This question focuses on identifying the term used for a sheet or web supported by a metal frame that people bounce on safely.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The object is described as a sheet or web of material.
- This sheet or web is tightly supported by a metal frame.
- The context is recreational or sporting use, where people can jump or bounce on it.
- We are not talking about nets used only for catching objects or for safety around construction sites.
Concept / Approach:
A trampoline is a device consisting of a strong fabric or webbed surface stretched over a frame using springs or elastic bands. When a person jumps on it, the surface deforms and then pushes back, propelling the person upwards. This matches the description of a sheet or web supported by a metal frame. A safety net, although made of a web or mesh, is usually suspended rather than tightly stretched for bouncing. A hammock is also a hanging sheet or net but is used for resting, not bouncing. Therefore, from the description, trampoline is the best fit.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the key features: sheet or web plus metal frame.
Step 2: Recall that a trampoline uses a web or fabric stretched over a strong metal frame.
Step 3: Remember that trampolines are specifically designed for jumping and bouncing.
Step 4: Compare this with a hammock or safety net, which are usually suspended and not intended for bouncing.
Step 5: Conclude that the term trampoline fits the description most accurately.
Verification / Alternative check:
If you look at pictures or descriptions of trampolines, they show a circular or rectangular metal frame with legs, springs connecting the frame to a jumping mat, and sometimes a safety net around the sides. The central piece is exactly a sheet or web supported by the frame. Safety nets and hammocks do not typically have such rigid frames and are not used for vertical bouncing. This confirms that the recreational device in question is a trampoline.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Safety net is usually a flexible net suspended to catch people or objects, not a supported sheet used for bouncing.
- Hammock is a hanging bed made of cloth or net, tied between supports, mainly for resting, not for jumping.
- None of the above is wrong because a well known name, trampoline, clearly matches the description.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may picture any net or sheet and think of a safety net or hammock, especially if they do not focus on the metal frame and bouncing function. Others may not recall the English word trampoline quickly. A helpful memory point is that trampolines are common in gymnastics and backyards and always show a taut jumping surface attached to a frame with springs. Linking that image to the description given in the question helps fix the correct term in memory.
Final Answer:
A sheet or web supported by a metal frame for jumping is called a Trampoline.
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