Question

    We use elevators all the time, but try and imagine life without them. Tall buildings wouldn't be possible without the invention of the elevator. It's convenient and safe. but did you know that long ago people were afraid of using elevators?

People had been using ropes to move things for thousands of years before the invention of the modern elevator. The ancient Romans moved heavy things attached (系) to ropes pulled by people or animals. Then in 1743, the French king had a “flying chair”. His men lifted the king up to the second floor by using ropes. Although elevators had been improving over time, people were afraid to use them. People liked the idea of an elevator, but they believed it might suddenly fall.

In 1853, Elisha Otis invented the modem elevator. He made safety brakes(刹车) to stop the elevator from falling. Otis had been thinking about peoples fear of elevators. He decided to do an elevator act at a show in 1854. Otis stood on his elevator and cut the rope that was holding it. The elevator fell, but the safety brakes suddenly stopped it. Otis amazed the audiences! Three years later, customers at a department store in New York could travel to the fifth floor by using an Otis elevator.

The next step was to improve the elevator ride. People had been feeling nervous about using elevators because they were small and noisy. In the 1920s, elevators started playing relaxing music to cover up other sounds. Then there was a great idea to put mirrors in elevators. The mirrors made the elevator seem bigger and quicker. People could check their hair instead of fearing the elevator!

These days, elevators aren’t scary. Elevators are getting faster, and office buildings, apartments and hotels are  getting higher. You can find Otis elevators in most cities around the world. Remember to enjoy your ride in the elevator when you’re going up to the thirty-fifth floor!

1.What is the correct order in which these happened?

① An Otis elevator was first put into use in New York.

② People used to move heavy things by pulling ropes.

③ Otis elevators can be found in most parts of the world.

④ Flying chair was once used to lift a king to the second floor.

A.②④③① B.②④①③ C.③①②④ D.①②④③

2.Why did Otis do an elevator show in 1854?

A.To tell why it takes a lot of time to develop a new thing.

B.To show how safe his elevators are with the safety brakes.

C.To explain why safety brakes can be well used in any show.

D.To check how hard it is for people to accept something new.

3.What can we learn from Paragraph 4?

A.Relaxing music makes the ride in the elevator seem quicker.

B.The elevators are made small enough to let people feel safe.

C.Mirrors are fixed inside to make the elevators look brighter.

D.The noise in the elevator used to make people feel anxious.

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A.Elevators have been developing over time.

B.People used to be afraid of using elevators.

C.Modern elevators were invented by accident.

D.Elevators are very popular all over the world.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】

本文主要介绍电梯的发展情况。

1.

细节理解题。根据“The ancient Romans moved heavy things attached (系) to ropes pulled by people or animals.”可知，② 过去人们用拉绳搬运重物。根据“His men lifted the king up to the second floor by using ropes.”可知，④ 曾经有人用飞椅把国王抬到二楼。根据“Three years later, customers at a department store in New York could travel to the fifth floor by using an Otis elevator.”可知，① 奥的斯电梯在纽约首次投入使用。根据“You can find Otis elevators in most cities around the world.”可知，③ 奥的斯电梯在世界大部分地区都能找到。因此顺序正确的是②④①③。故选B。

2.

推理判断题。根据“He decided to do an elevator act at a show in 1854. Otis stood on his elevator and cut the rope that was holding it. The elevator fell, but the safety brakes suddenly stopped it.” 他决定在1854年的一次演出中表演电梯表演。奥蒂斯站在电梯上，割断了支撑电梯的绳子。电梯掉了下来，但安全闸突然刹车，使电梯停了下来。可以推出他举办电梯展是为了证明他的电梯有安全刹车是多么的安全。故选B。

3.

细节理解题。第四段主要讲如何改善电梯的运行状况。人们一直对使用电梯感到紧张，因为电梯又小又吵。20世纪20年代，电梯开始播放轻音乐来掩盖其他声音。后来有个好主意，在电梯里装镜子。镜子使电梯看起来又大又快。人们可以检查自己的头发，而不是害怕电梯！可知，电梯里的噪音过去常使人感到焦虑。故选D。

4.

主旨大意题。根据“Although elevators had been improving over time, people were afraid to use them.”虽然随着时间的推移，电梯一直在改进，但人们不敢使用。可知，本文主要介绍电梯一直在发展。故选A。