Question

    With smart technology increasingly influencing all aspects of our lives, it is only a matter of time before someone invents “smart” shoes—ones that can be made based on personal needs. Called “ShiftWear”, the sneakers are the brainchild of a team of businessmen, and engineers led by New York-based designer David Coel.

The adaptable shoes can be customized by using a smart phone app. Shoe owners will have the option of selecting a design from a variety of HD pattern by famous artists or creating one themselves. The company’s founders imagine a marketplace where artists can not only share but also sell their designs to others. Despite being electronic, the designs are clearly visible even in the brightest sunlight. What’s even cooler is that by switching on a backlight, users can even show off their designs in the dark!

According to Coel, the sneakers will keep their charge “forever” if only images are displayed. Though they will need periodic recharging, active users have nothing to worry about. That’s because the shoes are equipped with special walk-n-charge technology that powers the shoes—with every step. Inactive users also have options of charging the sneakers without using wires.

The bottom part of the shoes is covered with Kevler fibers, a kind of strong material, reducing normal wear and tear. Even better? They are completely waterproof (not let water through) and can even be thrown into an ordinary laundry machine for a quick wash! The company predicts that the shoes will range the price from $150 to $1000 depending on the size of the E-panels where the designs are displayed.

This is not the first time that electronics and shoes have combined. Lithuania-based iShuh Technology has come up with a similar concept that connects e-reader panels to a smart phone app via the Bluetooth. Whether these smart shoes become as popular as our smart devices remains to be seen, though they surely are attractive.

1.What can we know about the smart shoes from the text?

A. The electronic designs can not be seen clearly at night.

B. The designers make sure every pair of sneakers are unique.

C. The bottom of the shoes can last longer due to special materials.

D. The shoes have to be washed by hand to protect the electronics.

2.What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A. How the sneakers are charged.

B. How the sneakers can work well.

C. What images the sneakers show.

D. What technology the sneakers carry.

3.The varied prices of the sneakers mainly depend on ________.

A. the length of the shoes

B. the size of their e-panels

C. the designers of the shoes

D. the materials of their bottoms

4.How does the author feel about the sneakers’ future market?

A. Negative. B. Anxious.

C. Uncertain. D. Confident.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.C

【解析】

本文属于科普文，介绍智能鞋以及背后的充电技术以及市场前景。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段The adaptable shoes can be customized by using a smart phone app. Shoe owners will have the option of selecting a design from a variety of HD pattern by famous artists or creating one themselves.可知，智能鞋可以通过软件来定制，可以选择一个款式或者自己设计，每一款鞋都是不一样的，故选C。

2.段落大意题。本段主要讲述智能鞋动力的问题，只要穿着智能鞋行走就可以充电，故选A.

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段The company predicts that the shoes will range the price from $150 to $1000 depending on the size of the E-panels where the designs are displayed.可知，价格不同的原因是用于展示设计的电子展示板的尺寸不一样，故选B。

4.作者态度题。根据最后一段Whether these smart shoes become as popular as our smart devices remains to be seen, though they surely are attractive.可知，尽管很有吸引力，但能否像智能手机那么流行仍待观察，故可知作者对此态度不确定的，故选C。