An inventor seeks to create a new product that serves a specific need and fulfills a role that other products do not. Sometimes an inventor comes up with a wholly new idea, but more often inventions are simply improvements on an older design. With a little imagination and creativity (创造力), an old idea can suddenly become something new.
However, creating a new invention means much more than having a brilliant idea. A good designer follows the design process: identifying the challenge, researching and brainstorming ideas(集思广益), designing a solution, testing and evaluating the ideas, and finally building the product. Designers also use science, math, technology, and engineering to design a tool that satisfies the need they identified.
Anyone can be an inventor —even kids! For example, Chester Greenwood was just fifteen years old when he invented a product that changed his life. In fact, his idea was so good that his invention supported him for the rest of his life. You may not know his name, but you probably know his invention —earmuffs (保暖耳罩)!
The inspiration for his earmuff design came to Chester when he was ice-skating. His ears were cold, and he decided to find a way to keep them warm. With the help of his grandmother, he made a new product to protect his ears and at the age of eighteen, Chester patented his earmuff design.
Many other famous inventors started young as well. Margaret Knight —the inventor of the flat-bottomed brown paper bag —is said to have created a safety device for textile looms(织布机) when she was just twelve years old. Another example is Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in history, who applied for his first patent when he was just twenty-one years old. Over the course of his life, Thomas Edison patented a total of 1,093 inventions!
1. In most cases, an invention ________ according to the first paragraph.
A. comes from a complete new idea
B. is usually based on an old product or idea
C. will change its creator’s life completely
D. is created by scientists in different fields
2.The second paragraph mainly wants to tell us _______.
A. the difficulty in making a new invention
B. the common steps of creating new things
C. having a good idea is the key to creation
D. designing a tool is the first step in inventing
3.The example of Chester Greenwood is used to show that ________.
A. children can also invent something
B. it is easy even for children to make inventions
C. kids have more advantages in inventing things
D. to be an inventor is the best way to change one’s life
4.At first Chester designed his earmuffs in order to ________.
A. protect his ears while ice-skating
B. earn money to support his poor family
C. realize his dream of becoming an inventor
D. make himself look fashionable while ice-skating
Students must apply for a place before attending any class. Applications(申请) whether by post or in person, are dealt with strictly in the order they are received at the Adult Education Office. You can apply:
By post----use the card supplied with the exact fee. You will be accepted on the course unless it is full, in which case we will inform you. An acknowledgement (承认) will not be made nor a receipt (收条) sent unless you supply a stamped addressed envelope. Receipts will normally be given out at the first class.
In person----call at the Adult Education Office (ground floor, C block) between approximately 9:00a.m.and 3:30p.m. (2:30p.m. on Fridays) , or at the College Reception Desk (at the main entrance) at the other time (in the evenings until about 7:30p.m.----not Fridays)
Students should note that popular classes may be full well before the course is to start, so that early application is strongly advised to avoid disappointment.
For the Autumn Tem, applications will be accepted by post (better) or in person from August 1.
For the Spring Term, applications will be accepted from December 1.
For the Summer Term, applications will be accepted from April 1.
1. Students who apply to the college by post will______.
A. avoid disappointment
B. be sent a bill
C. have an advantage over people applying in person
D. be informed if they have not got a place
2. Which of the following words has the closest meaning with the underlined word “approximately”in this notice.
A. closely. B. about. C. mostly D. probably.
3. When and where can students apply in person?
A. At the College Reception Desk after-about 3:30p.m.
B. At the Adult Education Office after about 3:30p.m.
C. At the Adult Education Office at 9:30p.m.
D. At the College Reception Desk at 2:00p.m. on Fridays.
4.If the students want to apply for the Autumn Term, ______
A. they should check whether the course is full
B. the college would rather they applied by post
C. applications must be received by August 1
D. they must apply in person
Uncle Tom gave little Vicki Black a birthday gift one week before her birthday. He told her not to open it until her birthday. She knew her mother wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect to the kind man who helped them out after Vicki’s father passed away; besides, Vicki didn’t want Uncle Tom to get angry. But little Vicky didn’t want to just hold it and guess what was in it. After all, she looked forward to his coming to show her interesting things, like how to turn an old sock into a doll.
All the day, Vicki couldn’t stop thinking about the gift while her teacher was giving a lecture. Vicki sat still in her seat, drawing paper dolls inside the box. When school was done, she raced home. Walking into the room, again, she shook the present, but she heard nothing. Holding her breath, she opened the box and looked inside. Seconds later, she cried. When Mrs. Black saw the box, she said angrily, “Didn’t I tell you to leave it alone?” Vicki sobbed and said, “Mommy, you don’t understand.”
“Don’t cry to me. You have missed everything now, just because you couldn’t wait,” Mrs. Black accused. “What will Uncle Tom think now?”
“Uncle Tom gave me nothing,” Vicki cried and handed the empty box to her mother. “He played a trick on me.”
Mrs. Black said doubtfully, “Uncle Tom is not like that. You must have dropped it.”
Vicki kept crying. Only a rapid knock on the door made the house quiet. It was Uncle Tom. He looked at the empty box. “You have already done it? I told you to wait for your birthday.”
“You didn’t give me a gift.” Fresh tears filled her eyes.
“I try to give you something. I know your birthday is a special day. I tell myself to give you something valuable to last your whole life. I think hard and get the idea to give you an important lesson. If you open it on birthday, I see you learn. Then I will make a big party to celebrate. Maybe next year you listen and then you will understand the gift better.
Vicki’s cheeks flushed（脸红）.
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4.
Christmas is over. And I got my wanted radio-controlled truck. But you would not believe the___36___ and work that went into getting this holy toy.
For over a month I stared at ___37___ magazines I received from my friend until I had made up my ___38___: I wanted a Pumpkin truck. I ___39___ to work immediately, dropping hints to my father about it.
My first job was to tell him about how the steering(操纵杆) on my old car didn’t ___40___, but he just blamed the problems on my bad ___41___.
My next plan would have to be more ___42___. “Look at this, Dad, the truck with controller and battery pack—all for only US$250!” You can’t ___43___ to miss out on this bargain!”
His ___44___ was that he certainly could afford to miss this ___45___ and for US$250 you could buy ___46___ educational like a telescope. “A telescope? To look at the moon? I’ll look at it when I’m 97 years old and living in a ___47___ home! This is my youth! I am supposed to run about.”
I went to my room, ___48___ at how mean(吝啬的) my father was. It was obvious that he didn’t ___49___ that I would die if I did not get the Pumpkin radio-controlled truck.
When I ___50___ on Christmas morning I wasn’t excited. I had been ___51___. I opened all my presents until there was just one big package ___52___. “The telescope,” I thought. I ___53___ the packaging and looked at the top of the box—it was a Pumpkin truck. I had ___54___! I loved my parents! I felt like I could do anything! I could ___55___ get an A+ in English class.
1.A. pain B. attempt C. joy D. shyness
2.A. housing B. fishing C. car D. fashion
3.A. mind B. idea C. opinion D. head
4.A. get B. set C. searched D. went
5.A. operate B. run C. start D. work
6.A. riding B. driving C. thinking D. keeping
7.A. strong B. practical C. ideal D. obvious
8.A. afford B. pay C. allow D. stand
9.A. talk B. expression C. face D. response
10.A. truck B. telescope C. chance D. bargain
11.A. one B. something C. everything D. nothing
12.A. heating B. loving C. nursing D. finding
13.A. pleased B. good C. expert D. angry
14.A. say B. believe C. care D. learn
15.A. went off B. woke up C. rang up D. found out
16.A. worried B. instructed C. warned D. defeated
17.A. opened B. wrapped C. left D. faded
18.A. recovered B. refused C. reopened D. removed
19.A. won B. done C. beaten D. failed
20.A. ever B. already C. still D. even
---What’s wrong with my stomach?
---There is nothing serious; you can __________.
A. take it easy B. take your time C. take it seriously D. take risks
It was the training _____ he had as a young man _____ made him such a good engineer.
A. what; that B. that; what C. that; which D. which; that
