Question

Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle was invented in Germany in 1818. Because it was made of wood, it wasn’t very strong nor did it have pedals (腳踏板）.Riders moved it by pushing their feet against the ground.

In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated levers, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t look much like the modem bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.

In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved pedal mechanism. They called their bicycle a velocipede，but most people called it a “bone shaker” because of the effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the impolite nickname, the velocipede was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for fun-seeking young people.

Ten years later, James Starley , an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient，and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-heavy，and ridden mostly for entertainment.

It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it easier to ride. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the back wheel. By 1893，the safety bicycle had been further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements provided by Lawson_; bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.

1.This passage was most likely written in order to _____.

A．compare bicycles used for different purposes

B．describe the problems early bicycle makers experienced

C．persuade readers to use bicycles for transportation

D．tell readers about the early history of the bicycle

2.Macmillan covered the wheels of his bicycle with iron to _____

A．add weight to the bicycle

B．make the bicycle easier to ride

C．allow the wheels to last longer

D．let the bicycle be more comfortable

3.Which of the following bicycle types was invented by James Starley?

4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Two hundred years ago，bicycles did not exist.

B．The first bicycle could be ridden at a very quick pace.

C．The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a “bone shaker”.

D．Macmillan’s machine had wheels with rubber tires.

5.The information about bicycles in this passage is arranged according to _____.

A．importance        B．time              C．place             D．Interest

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.A

5.B

【解析】

試題分析：這篇文章講述了自行車的發展歷程，如今，自行車在全世界廣泛流行。

1.細節題。這篇文章主要給讀者介紹了自行車的早期發展歷程。故選D

2.細節題。根據文章Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. 可知，麥克米倫給他的自行車輪子加鑄了鐵是為了減少輪子的磨損，可以使用的更長時間。故選C

3.細節題。根據文章He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient，and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes.可知，詹姆斯·史達雷發明的自行車，前輪比后輪要大好多倍，腳踏板上加放了齒輪使自行車更方便。故選 B

4.細節題。根據文章可知，第一輛自行車在1818年問世，它的速度不快，米修兄弟稱他們的自行車“腳踏兩輪車”，麥克米倫的自行車沒有橡膠輪胎。故選A

5.細節題。這篇文章是按照時間的順序講述自行車的發展歷程的。故選B

考點：社會歷史類說明文

點評：本文對自行車的發展進行了說明，對于此類題，可以通過對于時間的把握來迅速的理解全文。答題過程中可以對文章的大意進行了解，在結合題目，相信每個題目都在文章中能找到相應的地方，把握好作者的意思準確作答。