Question

    James Watt was an English boy. He was very clever and liked to ask questions.

One day, the boy was sitting in his grandmother’s kitchen. Above the fire an old-fashioned teakettle was hanging. The water within it was beginning to bubble. A thin cloud of steam was rising from the spout(壶嘴). Soon the lid(盖子)began to rattle and shake. The hot vapor puffed(冒出)out at a fast rate. Yet when the boy glanced under the lid he could see nothing.

“Grandma, what’s in the kettle?” little Watt asked. “Water, my child-nothing but water.” his grandma answered.” But I know there is something else. There is something under the lid and makes it rattle.” Grandmother laughed. “Oh, that is only steam,” she said. “You can see it coming out of the spout and puffing up under the lid.” “But you said there was nothing but water in the kettle. How did the steam get under the lid?” “Why, my dear, it comes out of the hot water. The hot water makes it.”

James lifted the lid and glanced inside again. He could see nothing but the bubbling water. The steam was not visible until it was fairly out of the kettle. “How strange!” he said. “The steam must be very strong to lift the heavy iron lid. Grandma, how much water did you put into the kettle?” “About a quart, James.” “Well, if the steam from so little water is so strong, why would not the steam from a great deal of water be a great deal stronger? Why couldn’t it be made to lift a much greater weight? Why couldn’t it be made to turn wheels?” Grandmother made no reply. These questions were more puzzling than profitable, she thought. She went about her work silently, and James sat still in his place and studied the teakettle.

So many years later, James Watt tried hard to make steam work for people. Finally he became very famous because he invented the first steam engine.

1.What can we conclude from the passage?

A.The steam comes from the hot water but can not be seen.

B.The grandmother laughed because James Watt was stupid.

C.The boiled water in the kettle made the lid rattle and shake.

D.The more water there is ,the more powerful the steam will be.

2.Why didn’t the grandmother reply to Watt’s questions?

A.Because she desired to work silently. B.Because she was very busy at that time.

C.Because she was tired of these questions. D.Because she found them difficult to answer.

3.James Watt can be described as    

A.clever but stubborn B.smart and observant

C.determined but rigid D.hardworking and cautious

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A.James Watt was inspired by the power of steam.

B.James Watt always made his grandmother puzzled.

C.James Watt made great contributions to our society.

D.James Watt liked to ask questions when he was young.

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章主要记叙了James Watt小时候看到水壶中的水蒸汽将水壶盖子嘎嘎作响，摇晃起来，而想到水蒸汽有很大力量，最终发明了第一台蒸汽机的故事。

1.

推理判断题。根据第三段中Well, if the steam from so little water is so strong, why would not the steam from a great deal of water be a great deal stronger? Why couldn’t it be made to lift a much greater weight? Why couldn’t it be made to turn wheels?可知嗯，如果这么少的水产生的蒸汽强度那么大，那么大量的水产生的蒸汽强度不就大得多了吗？为什么不能让它举起更大的重量呢？为什么不能让它转动轮子呢？由此可推知，水越多，蒸汽的威力就越大。故选D。

2.

细节理解题。根据第三段中Grandmother made no reply. These questions were more puzzling than profitable, she thought.可知祖母没有回答。她想，这些问题与其说很有用，不如说是令人困惑。由此可知，奶奶不回答Watt的问题，因为她发现这些问题很难回答。故选D。

3.

推理判断题。根据第一段He was very clever and liked to ask questions.可知他很聪明，喜欢问问题。结合第三段中Well, if the steam from so little water is so strong, why would not the steam from a great deal of water be a great deal stronger? Why couldn’t it be made to lift a much greater weight? Why couldn’t it be made to turn wheels?可知嗯，如果这么少的水产生的蒸汽强度那么大，那么大量的水产生的蒸汽强度不就大得多了吗？为什么不能让它举起更大的重量呢？为什么不能让它转动轮子呢？可知Watt通过观察水壶中的水蒸汽将盖子顶得发出响声而想到水蒸汽有很大力量，水越多，蒸汽的威力就越大。由此可推知，James Watt可以被描述为聪明和善于观察。故选B。

4.

主旨大意题。根据最后一段So many years later, James Watt tried hard to make steam work for people. Finally he became very famous because he invented the first steam engine.可知这么多年后，James Watt努力让蒸汽为人们工作。最后，他因为发明了第一台蒸汽机而变得非常有名。结合文章主要记叙了James Watt小时候看到水壶中的水蒸汽将水壶盖子嘎嘎作响，摇晃起来，而想到水蒸汽有很大力量，最终发明了第一台蒸汽机的故事。由此可知，这篇文章的主旨是James Watt被蒸汽的力量所启发。故选A。