第三部分:阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
请认真阅读下列短文,从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
We know the famous ones—the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells —but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper(雨刮器)? Shouldn't we know who they are?
Joan Mclean thinks so. In fact, Mclean, a professor of physics at MountainUniversity in Range, feels so strongly about this matter that she's developed a course on the topic. In addition to learning "who" invented"what", however, Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the "why" and "how" questions. according to Mclean, "When students learn the answers to these questions, they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try."
Her students agree. One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean's statement. "If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper's invention," said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major. "I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rainstorm into something so constructive." Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer.
So, just what is the story behind the windshield wiper? Well, Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to NewYorkCity. The day was cold and stormy, but Anderson still wanted to see the sights, so she jumped aboard a streetcar. Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield, she found herself wondering why there couldn't be a built-in device for cleaning the window. Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham, Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions. One of her ideas, a lever(操作杆)on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside, became the first windshield wiper.
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations.It's hard to imagine driving without Garrett A. Morgan's traffic light. It's equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J. Blodgett's innovation that makes glass invisible. Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
56. By mentioning "traffic light" and "windshield wiper", the author indicates that countless inventions are________.
A. beneficial, because their inventors are famous
B. beneficial, though their inventors are less famous
C. not useful, because their inventors are less famous
D. not useful, though their inventors are famous
57. Professor Joan McLean's course aims to________.
A. add colour and variety to students' campus life
B. inform students of the windshield wiper's invention
C. carry out the requirements by MountainUniversity
D. prepare students to try their own invention
58. Tommy Lee's invention of the unbreakable umbrella was ________.
A. not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer
B. inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper
C. due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm
D. not related to Professor Joan McLean's lectures
59. Which of the following can best serve as the title of this passage?
A. How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers?
B. How to Design a Built-in Device for Cleaning the Window?
C. Shouldn't We Know Who Invented the Windshield Wiper?
D. Shouldn't We Develop Invention Courses in Universities?
60. Which of the following is discouraged by the Friends organization?
A. To build massive complexes for public amusement.
B. To prevent possible damages to the National Park.
C. To help protect and improve the Park for all to enjoy.
D. To sponsor publications and projects in local school.
61. One of the benefits for members of Friends is to_________.
A. have Friends' goods free of charge
B. visit any place not open to the public
C. take part in work parties if they want to
D. give talks in their fields on current issues
62. The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to________.
A. raise money for the Friends organization
B. join the Friends organization and be members of it
C. work as managers for PembrokeshireNational Park
D. enjoy the landscape of PembrokeshireNational Park