Question

The iPhone, the iPad: each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad(一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” – and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer – which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet –adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear – popular in the US and UK – that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”. A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name “i”.

In general, single-letter prefixes(前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use. Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.

But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College, London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he said.

“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now linked with portability.” added Thorne.

Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.

Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.

But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared.

1.People use iPlayer to ________.   

A．listen to music                          B．make a call

C．watch TV programs online                 D．read newspapers

2.We can infer that the Independent’s “i” is aimed at ________.

A．young readers      B．old readers        C．fashionable women  D．engineers

3.The underlined word “ambiguous” means “________”.

A．popular           B．uncertain          C．definite           D．unique

4.Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are ________.

A．portable                              B．environmentally friendly

C．advanced                             D．recyclable

5.The writer suggests that ________.

A．“i” products are often of high quality

B．iTeddy is a live bear

C．the letter “b” replaces the letter “i” to name the products

D．the popularity of “i” products may not last long

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.A

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述的是现在社会上广泛存在的以“i”开头的时尚产品，分析了原因和发展的趋势。

1.C 细节题。根据第一段2,3行The BBC’s iPlayer – which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet –adopted the title in 2008.可知人们使用Iplay在网上看电视，故C正确。

2.A 细节题。根据第二段Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.

可知这样的产品的目标人群是年轻人。故A正确。

3.B 推理题。根据本句“i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he said.说明人们搞不清楚这里的“i”究竟指什么。该词表示“不确定”；故B正确。

4.A 推理题。根据The iPhone, the iPad: each of Apple’s products说明这些产品都是可移动的产品，故A正确。

5.D 推理题。根据文章最后一段But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared. 可知这样的时尚经常很快就过时了。故I也会过时。故D正确。

考点：考查社会现象类短文阅读