Question

WeChat is a social mobile application with voice and text messaging timeline and several social features like ‘Message in a Bottle’. WeChat, a popular instant messaging tool run by Tencent Holdings, aims to help users access mobile services without downloading separate apps, which experts said may challenge the business of smartphone app distributors such Apple Store.

This new feature, named ‘Mini Programs’, allows WeChat users to find a variety of services such as ticket buying by scanning a QR (quick-response) code, saving them the trouble of installing a number of different apps on smart devices, according to the transcript of a speech by Zhang Xiaolong, Tencent’s senior executive vice president, on Wednesday. The new function is expected to come online on January 9.

Zhang, known as the father of WeChat, emphasized that ‘Min Programs’ is not a mobile app distributing function.

Still, experts and app developers said that the rollout (推出) of ‘Mini Programs’ on WeChat will erode the market share of app distributors like Apple Store in China.

“‘Mini Programs’ will attract lots of start-ups, because a program based on WeChat can help them build up businesses at much lower costs,” a Shanghai-based app developer, told the Global Times Wednesday.

If a start-up wants to promote its business via a separate application, it has to hire a special team to develop two different apps— one each for iOS and Android.

Lsiunched in 2011, WeChat has evolved to include services such as ‘Order Taxi’, ‘Food Delivery’, e-commerce and payments from just an instant messaging app.

1.What can we know about ‘Mini Programs’?

A. It’s expensive.    B. It’s complex.

C. It’s convenient.    D. It’s free.

2.Why do lots of start-ups choose the ‘Mini Programs’?

A. It can cut the costs of building business.    B. It can help build up business.

C. It can help them make a big fortune.    D. It can promote their business.

3.What does the underlined word “erode” probably mean in Paragraph 4?

A. reduce    B. increase    C. improve    D. promote

4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. WeChat will be a perfect app.    B. WeChat will meet a great challenge.

C. WeChat will meet needs of more people.    D. WeChat will replace other apps.

Answer

1. C

2. A

3. A

4. C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了微信推出的新服务：微信小程序。这种新服务可以挑战Apple Store在应用市场的份额，在这一领域分得一杯羹。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段第二句“WeChat,…, aims to help users access mobile services without downloading separate apps, which experts said may challenge the business of smartphone app distributors such Apple Store.”可知微信小程序不需要用户下载另外的APP，直接在微信里使用，非常方便。故C项正确。

2.推理判断题。根据第五段“‘Mini Programs’ will attract lots of start-ups, because a program based on WeChat can help them build up businesses at much lower costs,”可知微信小程序是以微信为平台的，可以帮助创业者节省很多成本。根据第六段可知以前创业者通常要雇佣团队开发苹果和安卓系统的APP，成本较高，现在不需要这样做了。可以节省成本，故A项正确。

3.猜测词义题。根据第一段第二句“WeChat,…, aims to help users access mobile services without downloading separate apps, which experts said may challenge the business of smartphone app distributors such Apple Store.”可知微信小程序可以挑战Apple Store在应用市场的份额，可能在这一领域分一杯羹。也就是说它可以减少Apple Store的市场份额。故该词意为“reduce”，所以A项正确。

4.判断推理题。根据最后一段“Lsiunched in 2011, WeChat has evolved to include services such as ‘Order Taxi’, ‘Food Delivery’, e-commerce and payments from just an instant messaging app.”可以微信已经涉及了打车、送餐、电子商务和移动支付等领域，满足了更多人们的要求。故C项正确。