A
Here’s a simple challenge: name a famous inventor. Perhaps Leonardo da Vinci springs to mind. Or the pioneer of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell. But you might be hard-pressed to name many female inventors, even though women are behind some of the most widely used technologies in the modern world.
For example, where would we be without the windscreen wiper? Back on a freezing winter’s day in 1902, Mary Anderson was traveling by tram through New York city. Snow was falling, forcing the driver to stop repeatedly and get out to clear it. Each time the door opened, Mary suffered. She had a brainwave: why not make something that could be operated from inside the vehicle? And that’s exactly what she did.
Let’s step in from freezing New York for our next invention. The dishwasher dates back even earlier to the 19th Century, and to the dinner parties thrown by a lady called Josephine Cochrane. As a frequent host, she wanted a machine that could wash dishes faster than people. Her response was to develop what was to become the first commercially successful dishwasher.
Need something to do while the dishwasher is on? How about a round of Monopoly(强手棋游戏)? One of the most popular board games around, the rules were first drawn up by a lady called Elizabeth Magie, and patented in 1904.
To an altogether different kind of innovation: Kevlar is the lightweight fibre used in bulletproof(防弹)vests. The material is used by millions every day and has saved countless lives and its strength-to-weight ratio is five times higher than steel.
Finally, one of the most important inventions of the 20th Century must surely be the computer programme. The world of programming is unbalanced among men and women, with men taking home around 30% more pay than their female partners on average. But back in the 1940s and 50s, women were at the forefront of this new field and Grace Hopper was one of them.
1. What do we know about the inventions mentioned in the text?
A. They were mostly made in the 20th century.
B. They all used high technology.
C. Their inventors came from families of good education.
D. They were all made by accident.
2. Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the text?
A. Josephine Cochrane wanted a machine that operated automatically.
B. The game invented by Magie was popular merely among teenagers.
C. Kevlar is the super tough fibre and stronger than steel.
D. Grace Hopper was good at computer programming.
3. What is the best title of this passage?
A. Women Made Greater Contributions than Men
B. The Most Useful Inventions by Women
C. The Most Widely Used Technologies
D. Women can be Great Inventors
【答案】1. A 2. B 3. D
【解析】
【分析】本文是一篇说明文。文章为读者介绍了一些现代世界一些最广泛使用的技术背后都是由女性发明的。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。由第二段的“Back on a freezing winter’s day in 1902(那是在1902年一个寒冷的冬天)”和第四段的“The dishwasher dates back even earlier to the 19th Century(洗碗机甚至可以追溯到更早的19世纪)”；第五段的“One of the most popular board games around, the rules were first drawn up by a lady called Elizabeth Magie, and patented in 1904. (作为最受欢迎的棋盘游戏之一，规则最初是由一位名叫Elizabeth Magie的女士制定的，并在1904年获得了专利。)”以及最后一段的“Finally, one of the most important inventions of the 20th Century must surely be the computer programme. (最后，20世纪最重要的发明之一肯定是计算机程序。)”可知，文章中提到的发明大部分是20世纪发明的。故选A。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。由第四段的“One of the most popular board games around, the rules were first drawn up by a lady called Elizabeth Magie, and patented in 1904. (最受欢迎的棋盘游戏之一 ，最初是由一位名叫Elizabeth Magie的女士起草的，并于1904年获得专利。)”可知，最受欢迎并没有说仅受青少年的欢迎。因此推断B项Magie发明的游戏仅受青少年欢迎是错误的。故选B。
【3题详解】
主旨大意题。纵观全文可知，第一段是主题段，由“But you might be hard-pressed to name many female inventors, even though women are behind some of the most widely used technologies in the modern world. (但你可能很难说出许多女性发明家的名字，尽管现代世界一些最广泛使用的技术背后都是女性。)”并结合下文的举例可知，文章为读者介绍了一些现代世界一些最广泛使用的技术背后好多都是由女性发明的。所以选择项D“Women can be Great Inventors(女性可以成为伟大的发明家)”作为文章标题最为合适。故选D。
