We know the famous ones—the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells —but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper(雨刮器)？Shouldn’t we know who they are?
Joan Mclean think so. In fact, Mclean, a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range, feels so strongly about this matter that she’s developed a course on the topic. In addition to learning “who” invented “what”, however, Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the “why” and ”how” questions. According to Mclean,” When students learn the answers to these questions, they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.”
So, just what is the story behind the windshield wiper? Well, Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City. The day was cold and stormy, but Anderson still wanted to see the sights, so she jumped aboard a streetcar. Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield, she found herself wondering why there couldn’t be a built-in device for cleaning the window. Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham, Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions. One of her ideas, a lever(操作杆)on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside, became the first windshield wiper.
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations，It’s hard to imagine driving without Garrett A. Morgan’s traffic light. It’s equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J. Blodgett’s innovation that makes glass invisible, Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
1.
By mentioning “traffic light” and “windshield wiper”, the author indicates that countless inventions are .
A. beneficial, because their inventors are famous
B. beneficial, though their inventors are less famous
C. not useful, because their inventors are less famous
D. not useful, though their inventors are famous
2.
Professor Joan McLean’s course aims to_____.
A. add colour and variety to students’ campus life
B. inform students of the windshield wiper’s invention
C. carry out the requirements by Mountain University
D. prepare students to try their own invention
3.
Tommy Lee’s invention of the unbreakable umbrella was _________.
A. not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer
B. inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper C. due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm
D. not related to Professor Joan McLean’s lectures
4.
Which 0f the following can best serve as the title of this passage?
A How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers?
B How to Design a Built-in Device for Cleaning the Window?
C Shouldn’t We Know Who Invented the Windshield Wiper?
D Shouldn’t We Develop Invention Courses in Universities?
A boy was walking home from school when he saw a large, tempting （诱人的）apple on one of the branches of an apple tree hanging out over a tall fence. The boy wasn’t much of a fruit-eater, 36 a bar of chocolate if given the choice, 37 , as they say, the forbidden fruit can be tempting. Seeing the apple, the boy wanted it. The more he looked at it, the 38 he felt and the more he wanted that apple.
39 as high as he could, but even as his tallest 40 he was unable to touch It. He began to 41 up and down , as high as he could, at the 42 of each jump stretching his arms to get the apple . Still it remained out of 43 . Not giving up , he though , if only he had something to 44 on . His school bag wouldn’t give enough height and he didn’t want to 45 the things inside , like his lunch box , pencil case , and Gameboy. Looking 46 , he hoped he might find an old box , a rock , or , 47 luck , even a ladder , but it was a tidy neighborhood and there was nothing he could use. He had tired everything he could think to do. 48 seeing any other choices , he gave up and started to walk 49 . At first he felt angry and disappointed thinking about how hungry he had become from his 50 , and how he really wanted that apple . The more he 51 like this , the more unhappy he became.
52 ,the boy of our story was a pretty smart guy, even if he couldn’t always get what get he wanted .He started to say to himself . This isn’t 53 ,I don’t have the apple and I’m feeling miserable as well.There’s 54 more I can do to get the apple-that is unchangeable-but we are supposed to be able to 55 our feelings. If that’s the case, what can I do to feel better?
1.A. preferring B. offering C. receiving D. allowing
2.A. so B. then C. but D or
3.A.sadder B. angrier C. hungrier D. tastier
4.A. expanding B. stretching C. swinging D. pulling
5. A. strength B. length C. range D. height
6.A.jump B. look C. walk D. glance
7.A. tip B. stage C. top D. level
8.A hope B. hand C. sight D. reach
9.A. put B. stand C. get D. hold
10.A. break B. shake C. take D. strike
11.A. up B. forward C. down D. around
12.A.for B. with C. on D. of
13.A. After B. Through C .Without D. Upon
14.A. back B. away C. up D. down
15.A. wishes B. beliefs C. efforts D. goals
16.A. thought B. imagined C. tried D. claimed
17.A.Therefore B. However C. Moreover D. Otherwise
18.A. skilful B. cheerful C. harmful D. helpful
19.A. something B. anything C. everything D. nothing
20.A．change B. express C. forget D. describe
---You could always put the decision off a little bit longer.
---_____ If I leave it much longer I might miss my chance.
A. That’s reasonable advice. B. Isn’t it a good idea.
C. Do you think so? D. I can’t agree more.
---I left my handbag on the train, but luckily someone gave it to a railway official.
---How unbelievable to get it back! I mean, someone ______ it.
A. will have stolen B. might have stolen
C. should have stolen D. must have stolen
It sounds like something is wrong with the car’s engine. , we’d better take it to the garage immediately.
A. Otherwise B. If not C. But for that D. If so
We’d better discuss everything _______ before we work out the plan.
A．in detail B．in general C．on purpose D．on time
