Question

Often we take for granted the many household items we use every day. It is difficult to imagine there was a time in the past when these inventions did not exist. Actually, several of the most common inventions have been with us for quite some time. Inventions like toothbrush, contact lenses（隱形眼鏡）, and credit cards came into use long ago.

   The first toothbrush was introduced in China in the late 1400s but it was only 300 years later that this simple tool came into common use in Europe. By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental(牙齒的) care became more widespread. The first tube of toothpaste hit the market in Great Britain in 1891.

 There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827. However, SirJohn Herschel was never able to create a working model of his idea. It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for producing precision (精密)lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses,and the Zeiss factory in Germany  began to produce contact lenses.

 Credit cards have also been available for many years. They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world.

    While it may be true that some of the greatest inventions and discoveries in history came about by chance, the majority of inventions that simplify our lives today came about through careful research and patient study. Of course, it still holds true that even with all the comforts of modern technology, inventors continue to search for ways of helping all of us get out of doing those necessary but tedious (乏味的) tasks which we still face. As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

1.From the second paragraph we can learn that _____.

A. toothbrushes came into common use in Europe in the 17th century

B. people could enjoy a variety of paste and powder cleaners in the 18th century

C. more and more people paid attention to dental care throughout Europe in the 19th century

D. the English could use different kinds of tubes of toothpaste in the early 19th century

2.All of the following made a contribution to the invention and use of contact lenses EXCEPT _______.

A. Diners Club                       B. Sir John Herschel

C. Dr Eugen Frick                    D. the Zeiss factory

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the fourth paragraph?

A. Credit cards have a history of about two hundred years.

B. Three kinds of credit cards are being used in the USA.

C. The use of credit cards is closely related to the economic development.

D. American Express is only used by American travelers now.

4.The last paragraph mainly tells us that ______.

A. the greatest inventions came about by chance

B. inventions came about through careful research and patient study

C. inventors still continue to make inventions

D. necessity is the mother of invention

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.C

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

試題分析：

1.這是細節理解題。根據By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental care became more widespread.可以看出應選C

2.這是細節理解題。根據第三自然段There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827 It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for manufacturing precision lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses, which led the Zeiss factory in Germany to begin manufacturing contact lenses.可知應選A

3.這是推理判斷題。根據They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world.可知信用卡的使用和經濟的增長有密切的關系。故選C

4.這是總結段落大意題。短文的最后一句點題，是中心句，故選D

考點：這是一篇說明文。

點評：文中介紹了牙刷、隱形眼鏡、信用卡的發明及使用的歷史情況。做總結段意題要找出段落的中心句，一般情況是在段落的開頭或末尾。