The Renaissance marks a period of human awakening. In this article we are going to explore the inventions during this period which have helped change the life and progress of mankind.
Clock
The first mechanical clock was invented in the early 1300’s. Galileo, an Italian scientist, discovered the pendulum (钟摆) around 1602. The pendulum greatly improved the movement of the hands of a clock. The average error with the pendulum varied only by seconds each day. Before this the error was from 10 to 15 minutes a day.
Eyeglasses
In the late thirteenth century, paintings first appeared with people wearing or holding eyeglasses. From these paintings, we know that eyeglasses were invented in Italy. Around 1300 the Venetian Glassmaker’s Guild made it illegal for cheap glasses to be made. By 1352, eyeglasses were only worn by well-educated rich men. In 1456, the invention of the printing press allowed books to become widespread. Once people owned books, reading glasses began to be seen in the hands of common people. In 1623, the Spanish invented the first graded eyeglasses.
Flush toilet (抽水马桶)
Sir John Harrington, godson to Queen Elizabeth, made the first flush toilet for himself and his godmother in 1596. He was teased by his friends and never made another one.
In 1775, Alexander Cummings reinvented the flush toilet more commonly called the water closet. Two years later in 1777, Samuel Prosser applied for and received a patent for it.
Wallpaper
In 1496, the first paper factory came into operation in England. English artists soon make wallpaper for decoration. For the next 200 years England was a large producer of wallpaper for Europe. Before wallpaper was invented, only wealthy people could afford to decorate the walls of their houses.
1. What do we know about the first clock?| A．It measured 23 hours a day. |
| B．It was designed by Galileo. |
| C．It was made in the 1300’ s. |
| D．It had a pendulum. |
| A．They were worn by the rich. |
| B．They were spread by the Spanish. |
| C．They were made in different grades. |
| D．They were used to appreciate paintings. |
| A．He improved it 2 years later. |
| B．He applied for a patent for it. |
| C．He designed it for his friends. |
| D．He shared it with Queen Elizabeth. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】AI Suitcase is a smart suitcase developed by a blind computer scientist to aid the blind in navigating (导航) their surroundings more efficiently without the aid of guide dogs.
65-year-old Chieko Asakawa has been completely blind since she was only 14, following a tragic accident. She is a computer scientist. As someone who has long struggled with navigating unfamiliar and crowded places, Asakawa came up with an idea to help the blind get around easier.
In 2017, she put forward the idea of a smart suitcase that could guide its user with the help of built-in sensors (传感器) and cameras. Six years later, the AI Suitcase is almost ready for its first public appearance.
After the user inputs their destination on their smartphone, the AI Suitcase, which is small enough to be brought onboard flights as carry-on luggage, can plan a best route to that point. The smart suitcase then relies on a set of sensors and an exact GPS system that can determine its position within a 10-centimeter margin of error (误差范围) to assess its surroundings and avoid bumping into other people and objects on its route.
The AI Suitcase offers information to the user both through a built-in conversational device, and through sensors in the handle. Although earlier designs were equipped with small wheels fit for indoor use, the latest version of the smart suitcase features large, strong wheels and a powerful motor that can deal with outdoor environments as well.
The device is currently available for testing by any blind person in front of the Miraikan Museum until February 6th. Asakawa and the companies that provided money for her work over the last few years want to make the AI Suitcase available for hire at airports, shopping centers, and train stations in the near future.
1. What made Asakawa come up with the idea of a smart suitcase?| A．Her own experience. | B．Her role as a scientist. |
| C．Her observation of daily life. | D．Her support for the disabled. |
| A．It first appeared in 2017. | B．It has been put on the market. |
| C．It can be taken on a plane. | D．It can navigate places without error. |
| A．It has a low margin of error. | B．It can interact with its users. |
| C．It has built-in sensors and cameras. | D．It can handle situations outdoors. |
| A．A Blind AI Suitcase Inventor. | B．AI Navigating System on Phones. |
| C．AI Companies Helping the Blind. | D．AI Suitcase Designed for the Blind. |
【推荐2】Multiple measures have been taken to fight food waste, but a young man is making a big difference with technology.
Liu Jichen, a student from Tsinghua University, has developed a Wechat mini-program called Clear Your Plate. After a meal, users can open the mini-program and take a picture of their empty plates. Once the image is recognized by the AI, students can collect points and use them to buy gifts or charity meals which will be donated to children in poor rural areas. Liu and his team launched the Clear Your Plate campaign in November, 2020 for the third year. It has swept over 1,017 universities across the country. The one-month campaign attracted almost 1.6 million participants and collectively reduced food waste by 862 tons and carbon emissions by 3,337 tons.
The idea, to develop such a mini-program came from Liu's experience in a canteen. In 2017, he found that a restaurant would give diners who finished off their food a card and offer small gifts after a certain number of cards had been collected. “Technological innovation is a good way to reduce food waste, ”Liu thought. He organized a team of 20 members to work on the proiect at the end of 2017. To solve the AI’s problem of identifying photos of empty plates, the team spent half a year collecting over 100,000 samples in canteens and restaurants. In 2018. the mini-program was officially put into operation. They then launched a campaign later that year.
There were so many unknowns in research and development. For our team members. the biggest psychological challenge was whether we were confident enough to complete it, ”said Liu Now, they have achieved their goal, and the mini-program has more than five million registered users.
“We hope that our efforts can start a new trend among the younger generation by encour-aging them to cherish their food and develop the habit of thrift,” Liu said.“ Through the campaign, we hope to inspire everyone to take action against food waste and contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global food security challenges.”
1. What can we infer about the Clear Your Plate campaign?| A．It was started in 2020 | B．It is the best way to avoid food waste |
| C．It is aimed at supporting the poor people | D．It is very popular among young people |
| A．His experience in a canteen | B．His research on empty plates |
| C．His interest in collecting cards | D．His worry about food shortage |
| A．Confidence. | B．Enough funds. | C．Wide support. | D．Advanced technology |
【推荐3】Not many people know the fact but dyeing textiles (染色纺织品) are a huge factor in damaging both human health and the environment. Scientists in Australia may have discovered a way to solve this problem by making changes to the cotton plant’s genes in order for it to naturally produce various coloured cotton.
These scientists have been exploring the concept of trying gene-editing in order to change the colour of natural fibers found in the cotton plant. So far, their experiment has produced coloured cotton in a petri dish (培养皿). Scientists hope that this means they can perfect the process in order to grow the crops in the fields.
Often the agriculture and fuel industries are closely examined for their influences on the environment, but the textile industry is not to be overlooked and certainly has things to feel guilty about. The textile industry contributes 10% of global carbon emissions, largely due to the rise of fast fashion, which sees 80 to 100 billion items of clothes produced annually.
This creates a large amount of physical waste and also contributes to other extremely detrimental effects on the environment. Cotton is quite the thirsty crop, needing 2,700 liters of water to create only one cotton T-shirt. That places extra stress in regions that do not have a steady water supply available. And, textile dyes frequently end up in natural water systems, darkening the water and disturbing the biochemical balance.
Fortunately, people’s desire to protect the environment has been growing over time and more and more people are turning to more sustainable fashion choices. Larger brands have an eye on these trends and are also promising to try to develop more water-free dyeing technologies.
1. How may scientists in Australia solve the problem caused by dyeing textiles?| A．By dyeing the cotton before it is collected. |
| B．By discovering natural plant-based textile fibers. |
| C．By transforming the dyes into eco-friendly ones. |
| D．By changing the cotton’s genes. |
| A．The rise of fast fashion is to blame for the environmental pollution. |
| B．The environmental impact of the textile industry should be taken seriously. |
| C．The clothing industry should be thoroughly examined. |
| D．The carbon emissions from the textile industry are limited. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Short-term. | C．Magical. | D．Decisive. |
| A．Clothing producers’ social responsibility. |
| B．People’s consumption concepts. |
| C．People’s awareness of environmental protection. |
| D．Large brands’ desire to keep pace with fashion. |
【推荐1】We see art everywhere around us. In parks, city squares, shopping streets and public buildings, we find modern art objects on display. Classical art, such as valuable paintings and precioussculptures, usually ends up as the collections of museums, companies or rich people.
Both art and architecture have a history of ages. All forms and ways of expressing the beautiful things have been explored. In the case of architecture, many buildings designed in the past have proven beautiful and served their purposes. Governments and companies could save millions of dollars by copying the architecture of buildings from the past. There are still many designs for buildings made by famous architects that were never realized. Besides, some people find modern architecture ugly. So why should we make aninvestmentin architecture for designing new buildings?
The same holds for modern art, both paintings and statues. Many storerooms contain enough art to decorate all public buildings and other public places. There is no need to create more art, and as with modern architecture, many people find new art difficult to understand or appreciate.
Given these facts, why are architects and artists asked to create new artworks? The answers have to do with the function of art in society today. First of all, the function of art is to decorate things. Artworks make our living environment more beautiful. Another function of art is enriching real life. Art helps people to learn to think creatively. In art things are not always what they seem to be. Very often you can hardly tell what the funny art objects are. People need such creative moments. Finally, art is often seen as a way to instruct the audience. Statues of heroes from the past remind us of our history. Paintings and other art objects can also help us realize what goals we should set for ourselves.
Because ideas about social change and every period of time have their own tastes, there is always a need for new art. We can still appreciate the beautiful artworks made in the past, but they are often too valuable to be placed in public buildings. Besides, they also often need special protection.
1. According to the passage, who owns collections of ancient statues and paintings?| A．Parks or city squares. |
| B．Shopping streets or public buildings. |
| C．Museums, companies or rich people. |
| D．Some historic sites. |
| A．To explain why some people find modern art ugly. |
| B．To introduce the necessity of new art. |
| C．To show the benefits of copying designs from the past. |
| D．To prove both art and architecture have a long history. |
| A．Because they need long-lasting restoring. |
| B．Because more people prefer modern art. |
| C．Because of the changes and difference in taste. |
| D．Because of their value and need for protection. |
| A．The functions of art in society today. |
| B．The functions of architecture. |
| C．The reason why art is difficult. |
| D．The reason why art is precious. |
【推荐2】The sun is going to expand into the orbit of Mercury (水星) according to scientific calculations, which will result in the entire Earth catching fire, destroying all life. In order to survive, the United Earth Government prepares 10,000 giant engines on Earth to drive it away from its original orbit. The whole trip is expected to last 2,500 years.
This imaginative tale is at the heart of the science-fiction movie The Wandering Earth. The original novel was written by Liu Cixin, one of China’s most outstanding science-fiction writers and a prize winner of the Hugo Award in 2015 for his novel The Three-Body Problem.
Perhaps thanks to Liu’s fame, as well as the huge marketing efforts of the movie team, The Wandering Earth posted ticket sales of 670 million yuan when it was shown on the first day. More importantly, The Wandering Earth is the first “made-in-China” science-fiction movie on the big screen, as the director, Guo Fan, is also Chinese.
As a fan of Liu, having read almost all of his science-fiction books, I should mention the movie follows a rather different form from his novel. Actually, it only borrows from the novel the idea of the Earth having to escape the solar system. That’s just the point. It means Chinese movie production teams have grown enough to develop new ideas on the creative basis of science-fiction writers, while the writers are willing to work together with movie productions so that the film results in the best possible performance.
Liu may be a highly regarded science-fiction writer in China, but he is not the only one. There are many writers with rich imaginations, and their works can be adapted into movies, too. Someone has predicted that 2019 will mark the starting year of success for Chinese science-fiction movies. Only time will tell whether that prediction will come true. But if more professional movie teams and creative writers could work together, we can certainly expect more success for the domestic (国内的) science-fiction movie industry.
1. Why does the Earth have to escape from its original orbit in the story?| A．Because the sun is about to hit the Earth. |
| B．Because its original orbit will be occupied by Mercury. |
| C．Because the giant engines’ strong power will drive it away. |
| D．Because it has to avoid being destroyed by the coming disaster. |
| A．It is adapted from a science-fiction novel. |
| B．Its author was once awarded for The Wandering Earth. |
| C．It achieved huge success mainly because of its author’s fame. |
| D．Its director Guo Fan is also a famous science-fiction writer in China. |
| A．The unexpected success of the movie. |
| B．The great success of the original novel. |
| C．The creative adaptation from the novel. |
| D．The imaginative idea from the novel. |
| A．There is a long way to go. |
| B．They will definitely success. |
| C．They have great potential. |
| D．It cannot be predicted. |
【推荐3】Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when England tried to rule Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes, was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Though many people still follow the routine nowadays, more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly. Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?| A．England ruled Ireland in the 16th century. |
| B．The Irish people fought for the English. |
| C．Northern Ireland belongs to the UK. |
| D．Ireland is an independent country. |
| A．The Irish were killed by the English rulers. |
| B．The Irish were affected by a deadly disease. |
| C．The Irish were not eager to give birth to babies. |
| D．The Irish suffered from food and work shortage. |
| A．By working on the fields. | B．By working in offices. |
| C．By working in factories. | D．By performing instruments. |
| A．The History of Ireland | B．The Introduction of Ireland |
| C．The People of Ireland | D．The Independence of Ireland |
【推荐1】“Shine in the dark” dolphins may seem like something straight out of a science fiction movie. However, that is precisely what Newport Coastal Adventures' Captain Ryan Lawler and professional videographer Patrick Coyne witnessed, when they set out to explore the spectacular blue tides that have been lighting up the waters off Southern California's coast since mid-April.
The partner scanned the ocean for hours and was returning to shore when they spotted the “electric” dolphins swimming through the bloom of shining plankton(浮游生物). The videographer, who had seen the phenomenon only once before in a Netflix show, says catching the scenes proved to be a lot harder than he had expected. “For starters, the shining plankton has sweet spots to where it shows up and then fades away, so while on the water, it's impossible to just find it,” Coyne says. “Also, conditions have to be absolutely perfect for the shining plankton to show and for animals to swim through it so we can film it.”
Though witnessing shining sea life is rare, the electrifying blue ocean scenery is a fairly common sight around Southern California between February and September. The phenomenon can be attributed to the presence of millions of plankton, which tend to gather and reproduce in large quantities in the warm coastal waters during this time.
Though a majority of California's red tides are caused by plankton species that do not produce deadly poison, some algal blooms(藻花)can be dangerous for sea animals, especially when they stay for long periods of time. In 2018, an almost year-long “red tide” along Florida's Gulf coast caused by the excessive growth of microalgae Karenia Brevis, killed hundreds of fish and other sea animals.
1. What does the underlined phrase “sweet spots” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．A sea plant. | B．A lost world. |
| C．A perfect moment. | D．A missing camera. |
| A．They absorb the light in the ocean and then reflect it. |
| B．They are surrounded by millions of shining plankton. |
| C．They swim through the ocean with electricity in large quantities. |
| D．They benefit from the warm water to power themselves. |
| A．Red tides. | B．Human exploration. | C．Warm water. | D．Algal blooms. |
| A．Science. | B．Health. | C．Entertainment. | D．Education. |
【推荐2】It is quite natural for all of us to want to preserve and protect the foods we purchase. With that in mind, we often think that the best way to do that is by putting them in our refrigerators. However, that is not always the case.
BreadNothing dries out bread faster than your refrigerator. In the event that you have made sandwiches with the bread, then you can place them in the fridge. The cold temperature will make the bread tough and chewy.
TomatoWe all love tomatoes for their taste. But putting them in the refrigerator will cause them to lose all of their flavor (口味). Plus, the cold air in the cooler stops the ripening process as well. And as we all know, ripening is what gives every tomato more taste and flavor. For best results, keep tomatoes out, and inside a basket or a bowl on your counter.
SaladOil or vinegar based salad can be stored for a long period of time without refrigeration. Moreover, refrigeration of salad dressings brings bad smell. Keep in mind that some salads that are mayo (蛋黄酱) or yogurt based should be refrigerated in order to keep them fine. So if you have some salads that have been already dressed, you can keep them away from your fridge without any hesitation.
EggIt is a long debate whether you should keep eggs inside your refrigerator or not. One study suggests that keeping eggs whether in a refrigerator or not does not change their normal qualities, so it can be said that if you keep eggs at room temperature, there should not be any problem. There is another study that shows that keeping eggs inside the refrigerators has a bad effect on the natural taste and flavor of eggs, so it is wise to keep eggs outside of your fridge.
1. Which of the following lose(s) water quickest in the cooler?| A．Bread | B．Tomatoes. |
| C．Salad. | D．Eggs. |
| A．Put them in the cooler. | B．Cook them at once. |
| C．Make them ripen faster. | D．Leave them in the shade. |
| A．Dressed salad. | B．Mayo and yogurt. |
| C．Oil and vinegar. | D．Salad dressings. |
War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, "Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!" Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing.
Obviously, that was something she should not go through phone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn't noticed Kate had sat up.
She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. "Thanks."
Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.
1. What made Kate angry one evening?
| A．She couldn't find her books. |
| B．She heard the author shouting loud. |
| C．She got the news that her grandma was ill. |
| D．She saw the author's shoes beneath her bed. |
| A．she was scared by Kate's anger |
| B．she hated herself for being so messy |
| C．she wanted to show her care |
| D．she was asked by Kate to do so |
| A．My Friend Kate | B．Hard Work Pays Off |
| C．How to Be Organized | D．Learning to Be Roommates |
【推荐1】I was shocked at the news that Daisy-May Demetre, 9, became the first child double amputee(截肢)to walk on the runway at New York Fashion Week in September on the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Daisy-May, of Birmingham, was born with fibular hemimelia (腓骨半肢畸形).The condition is rare, occurring in 1 in 50,000 births. When she was 18 months old, Daisy-May's parents chose to have both of the young girl's legs amputated-the right above the knee and the left below the knee-in the hopes of giving her a better quality of life with prosthetics(假肢).Later on, she used prosthetic legs to help her walk and move.
“We had the choice for her to live like that or to go for the operation,” Alex, Daisy- May's father, said. “We didn't know at the time that Daisy-May would be as good as she is now. Instead of being discouraged by prosthetic legs, she is inspiring everyone by showing them who she is.”
She is, in many ways, just like any fifth-grader.、In school, she prefers English over math, and loves gymnastics. She is a gymnast as well as a model. But it's her moves on the runway that shed the most confidence.
She's been modeling for 18 months and has already dominated London Fashion Week, having worked. for Nike, River Island and several other high street brands in the UK. She was even named Child of Courage in the Pride of Birmingham Awards for inspiring other children to dream big in the face of immense challenges.
In the opinion of Daisy-May's father, modeling doesn't define Daisy-May. Rather, it's a small part of who she is. She just does Daisy. It is the way she goes about life with a smile on her face. Whether it's dancing, singing-she is a very special little girl.
1. What caused Daisy-May to miss her both legs while still a baby?| A．A rare birth illness. |
| B．An expected accident. |
| C．A Paris Fashion Show. |
| D．An unsuccessful operation. |
| A．Daisy-May was unwilling to go to operation. |
| B．Daisy-May was disappointed by her missing legs. |
| C．Daisy-May's father thinks Daisy-May is amazing. |
| D．Daisy-May's father considers Daisy-May is modest. |
| A．Speaking English fluently. |
| B．Working out math problems. |
| C．Doing graceful(优雅的)gymnastics. |
| D．Walking on the runway as a model. |
| A．Singing and dancing in a special way. |
| B．Taking on life with a smile on her face. |
| C．Pursuing to become a global inspiration. |
| D．Being determined to be a world-famous model. |
【推荐2】Two American astronauts were greeted by more than a dozen private boats on Sunday as their SpaceX capsule landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico. A few boats went for a closer look at the capsule, which, aided by parachutes, gently hit the water off the coast of Florida. As the capsule bounced in the water, a recovery team instructed the boaters to stay away.
This raised concerns among NASA and SpaceX officials about security and safety procedures. The NASA administrator, Jim, acknowledged that the unprotected reception should not have happened. "If there is an emergency, the boats might have made recovery efforts, but there were poisonous smokes from the capsule. We need to do better next time," he said.
The Coast Guard waned boaters to stay clear of the area in a radio broadcast two hours before the splashdown, but many boaters ignored the requests and decided to enter the area, putting themselves in potential danger.
Robert L. Behnken and Douglas G. Hurley, the NASA astronauts, returned to Earth after nearly 64 days in orbit, most of them spent aboard the International Space Station. Their trip home was aboard the Crew Dragon, built by the private company SpaceX to transport NASA astronauts. The agency has relied on Russia for trips to space since the space shuttles were retired in 2011.
While the shuttles, like airplanes, landed on runways, SpaceX chose water landings, which NASA has not done since 1975, when the last of the Apollo modules went to space.
1. What were the boaters asked to do at the landing of the capsule?| A．Come to rescue the capsule. |
| B．Keep away from the capsule. |
| C．Take a photo with the capsule. |
| D．Warn others out of the landing area. |
| A．They were exposed to risks. |
| B．They were well organized. |
| C．They were scared of the capsule. |
| D．They dreamed of going to space. |
| A．The last of the Apollo modules went back to earth. |
| B．Water landings were introduced for space capsule. |
| C．The International Space Station was put to work. |
| D．NASA stopped using water landings for capsules. |
| A．NASA Begins to Send Spaceships on its Own after 45 Years |
| B．SpareX Capsule Made a Breakthrough by landing on Water |
| C．NASA Astronauts Returned to Earth after Working at ISS |
| D．Boats Entering Capsule Landing Area Raised Safety Concerns |
【推荐3】Bill Bowerman was a track coach. He wanted to help athletes run faster. So he had learnt how to make running shoes. He had also started a shoe company with a friend. It was 1971.Running shoes at the time were heavy. They had spikes(鞋钉)on the sole(鞋底). The spikes tore up the track and slowed down runners.
To make a lighter shoe, Bill tried the skins of fish. To make a better sole, he wanted to replace the spikes. Bill dug through his wife Barbara's jewelry box. He hoped to find a piece of jewelry with an interesting pattern. He would then copy the pattern onto the new soles. Nothing worked. Bill was defeated.
Then, one Sunday morning, Barbara made Bill waffles(华夫饼)for breakfast. Bill watched her cook.
He studied the criss-cross pattern on a waffle iron.
Inspiration struck. The pattern on the waffle iron was just what Bill was looking for. The squares were flatter and wider than sharp spikes. The pattern would help the shoes hold any surface without tearing into it.
When Barbara left the house, Bill ran to his lab. He took the liquid chemicals that, when mixed, would harden into the sole of a shoe. He poured the mixture into the waffle iron---and the Waffle Trainer was born.
Bill’s company put the Waffle Trainer on market in 1974.It was a huge hit. Maybe you’ve heard of that company---it’s called Nike. And today it’s worth around $100 billion.
It was the waffle iron that had changed the course of Bill’s life---and helped turn Nike into a well-known name. Today, the waffle iron is kept at Nike headquarters. It serves as a reminder that if we keep trying, we can find a solution to even the most difficult problems. And those solutions can come from unlikely places, even the breakfast table.
1. What shortcomings did the old-style running shoes have?| A．They were hard to wear. | B．They were too large. |
| C．They were impractical. | D．They were easy to break. |
| A．From the skins of the fish. | B．From his wife’s jewelry. |
| C．From the colour of the iron. | D．From his wife’s cooking tools. |
| A．A cheerful wife is the joy of life. |
| B．Two heads are better than one. |
| C．Where there’s a will, there’s a way. |
| D．A bad workman quarrels with his tools. |
| A．Waffles and Nike | B．Inspiration and Invention |
| C．A Great Inventor | D．A Well-Known Company |
