七 Unit 2 Period 3
Ⅰ. 阅读理解
Every year, TIME selects the best inventions that are making the world better, smarter and, in some cases, a little more fun. Here are the ones on last year’s list.
The Ultimate Alarm Clock
It’s hard to believe that an alarm clock, called Hello
Sense, can not only be beautiful but also improve your
sleep. It can control the temperature, light and even air
quality in your bedroom to help you have a perfect sleep environment. It can wake you up when you’re in the lightest part of your sleep cycle and ready to wake. You can also speak to Sense to find out how well you sleep.
The Folding Bike Helmet
People refuse to wear a helmet because it’s thick and
heavy. The morpher, a bike helmet made from
interweaved(交织的) plastic is just as strong as the
traditional ones, but flexible enough to fold almost totally flat, making it easier to carry.
Shoes That Tie Themselves
Almost everyone who sees the movie Back to the Future 
wants a pair of shoes which tie themselves. Now, thanks to Nike, the shoe dream is a reality. When you press a button near the tongue, the sneakers themselves tighten and loosen around your feet. Simplified shoe fastening could be helpful for the athletes during the competition, and it’s especially useful for people with the impaired(受损的) motor nerve.
Sweet Potatoes That Could Save Lives
In sub-Saharan Africa, the lack of vitamin A puts children
at risk of blindness, and other diseases. Plant scientists are helping some countries grow their own solutions in the form of sweet potatoes. And they fight against droughts. Last year, the orange-colored sweet potatoes won the World Food Prize and have been seen as a healthy crop for all.
【语篇概述】本文是一篇说明文, 介绍了使我们的生活更便捷的四种发明。
1. What do we know about Hello Sense?
A. It shows you ways of sleeping well.
B. It can serve as a light in your bedroom.
C. It tries its best to improve your quality of sleep.
D. It can wake you up at any time every day.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据第一项发明中的It’s hard to believe that an alarm clock, called Hello Sense, can not only be beautiful but also improve your sleep. 可知答案选C。
2. Who are more suitable to wear shoes that tie themselves?
A. Ones who enjoy seeing Back to the Future.
B. Ones who practice running.
C. Ones who are fans of Nike.
D. Ones who have trouble with the motor nerve.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据Shoes That Tie Themselves一段中的it’s especially useful for people with the impaired motor nerve. 可知这种鞋尤其适合运动神经有问题的人。所以答案选D。
3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. Sweet Potatoes make a difference in sub-Saharan Africa.
B. Sweet Potatoes can keep children off any disease.
C. Sweet Potatoes are often used to prevent droughts.
D. Sweet Potatoes have taken place of other crops in Africa.
【解析】选A。推理判断题。根据本段可知非洲撒哈拉地区的孩子由于缺乏维生素A而面临失明的危险, 地瓜抗干旱, 适合沙漠地区生长; 富含胡萝卜素, 对眼睛有好处。由此推断地瓜对这个地区是非常有意义的。故答案选A。
4. Which column is the passage probably taken from?
A. History. B. Travel. C. Science. D. Culture.
【解析】选C。推理判断题。综合全文可知这四项发明与科技有关, 所以是来自科技栏目。故答案选C。
