Question

A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world’s first long-distance signing device(装置), the LongPen.

After many tiring……from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them . She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. Here’s how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet(手写板) using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams(网络摄像机) and computer screens。

Work on the LongPen began in Atwood’s basement(地下室). At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. The investing finally completed, teat runs w ere made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. From here , Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City.

The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used.

“It’s really fun”, said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs. “Obviously you can’t shake hands with the author but there are chances for a connection that you don’t get from a regular book signing..

The response to the invention has not been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she is trying to end book tours. But she said, “It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn’t  afford it.”

1.Why did Atwood decide to invent the LongPen?

A. To set up her own company

B. To win herself greater popularity

C. To write her books in a new way

C. To make book signings less tiring

2.How does the LongPen work?

A. I copies the author’s signature and prints it on a book.

B. It signs a book while  receiving the author’s signature.

C. The webcam sends the author’s signature to another city.

D. The fan uses it to copy the author’s signature himself.

3.What do we know about the invention of the LongPen?

A. It has been completed but not put into use.

B. The basement caught fire by accident.

C. Some versions failed before its test run.

D. The designers were well-prepared for the difficulty.

4.How could the LongPen be used in the future?

A. To draft legal documents.

B. To improve credit card security

C. To keep a record of the author’s ideas.

D. To allow author and fan to exchange videos

5.What could be inferred from Paragraphs 5 and 6?

A. Atwood doesn’t mean to end book tours.

B. Critics think the LongPen is of little use

C. Bookstore owners do not support the LongPen

D. Publishers dislike the LongPen for its high cost

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.B

5.A

【解析】

【文章大意】这是一篇记叙文。短文叙述了Atwood的发明远距离的签名装置—Longpen的原因，是为了避免签名带来的烦恼，他的发明经过几次失败后，终于成功了，得到了社会的认可。

1.—Longpen，故选D。

2.考查细节理解。Longpen是怎样工作的？根据The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet using a special pen.On the receiving end,in another city,a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book.可知作者现在电脑上有一支特殊的笔签名，之后用这种机器笔写在要签名的书上。故选B。

3.

4.It could credit card security .可知必须保证信用卡的安全，故选B。

5.’t afford it.可以推知Atwood的发明并不意味着阻止作者的签名旅行。故选A。这题干扰最大的是选项D，考生会认为是出版商不喜欢这种产品的高额的费用。

考点：科普类阅读。