There are some very good inventions which, for one reason or another, don’t become popular. These inventions should be better known, even though I think that some of them are crazy. Let's have a look at some of these inventions.
The Australians had a great idea to stop people from drinking and driving. The idea was that if a driver wanted to start the car, she or he would have to blow into a bag first. If there was too much alcohol(酒精) in their breath, the car wouldn't start. It sounds like a great idea to me, but people said that they might need to drive the car in an emergency even if they had drunk too much alcohol. Another idea I liked was an invention by a scientist who thought his children watched too much TV. He connected the TV to an exercise bike so that the electricity to power the TV was produced by the bike. If the children wanted to watch a lot of TV, they had to pedal (踩踏) very hard.
One of the strangest inventions I have come across is a bicycle which can cross rivers! The idea was that when you came to a river, you could inflate (充气) a huge plastic ball all around the bike. You would then get into the ball which would float on the river while you pedaled the bike inside the ball! Why not use a bridge instead?
One thing I would like is a baseball cap with a built—in radio, so you can listen to sports games all day with your hands free. The Americans invented a kind of robot for sports fans. If you were watching your team on TV on your own, you could press a button and the robot would do ‘high—fives’ with you! That’s fantastic! I wonder if you have any wonderful ideas for inventions like these.
1. How many inventions are mentioned in the passage?| A．3 | B．4 | C．5 | D．6 |
| A．The writer doesn’t like the invention of a bicycle that can cross the river. |
| B．you can watch matches by wearing a baseball cap with a built—in radio. |
| C．You can start the car invented by Australians after drinking if you have an emergency. |
| D．You needn’t pedal the bicycle while you are inside the huge plastic ball. |
| A．举手击掌 | B．举高手掌 | C．挥手欢呼 | D．起立欢呼 |
| A．The reason why these inventions don’t become popular. |
| B．These inventions should be more successful. |
| C．Everyone should have one wonderful idea like these inventions. |
| D．Some information about unusual inventions. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】When you use crayons, you can color things any way you want. Life wasn’t always so colorful, though. A hundred years ago, all crayons were black. They were used in factories and shipyards. Kids couldn’t use them because they were toxic.
Then a company called Binney&Smith had an idea. They decided to make Crayola crayons for kids and teachers to use in schools. They figured out a formula (配方) that was safe, and they also decided to add colors. The first box of eight Crayola crayons included black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow and green. The box cost five cents. The crayons were a huge hit!
Today, many companies make crayons, but Crayola is still the biggest. They take crayons very seriously especially their colors. For example, Crayola has a team of seven chemists and chemical engineers who do nothing all day but develop new crayon colors. Their laboratory adds the unique (独一无二的), secret formula (秘方) to every crayon color. They blend different colors to come up with new shades (色度). Once the engineers discover a new color they like, they test it on hundreds of kids and parents to make sure it’s really useful. Only then is a crayon ready for the box.
Then comes the hard part—figuring out what to name a new color. In 1993, Crayola introduced 16 new colors for its “Big Box” of 96 crayons. More than two million kids and adults wrote in to advise on the names of the colors, such as bright pink, gray, purple, bright green, light green, and light pink. Over the years, Crayola has changed the names of some colors. Around the globe, kids still say that red and blue are their favorite crayon colors.
1. What does the underlined word “toxic” mean in Chinese?| A．昂贵的 | B．黑色的 | C．多彩的 | D．有毒的 |
| A．the first box of Crayola crayons | B．the colors of Crayola crayons |
| C．a company called Binney&Smith | D．the price of Crayola crayons |
| A．They throw away all the other colors. | B．They test it on kids and parents. |
| C．They draw pictures with it. | D．They go out for lunch together. |
| A．some new color names suggested by kids | B．the colors developed by engineers |
| C．the making and naming of Crayola crayons | D．kids’ favorite crayon colors |
【推荐2】Here are the Best Inventions of 2023. Some of these help us solve problems. Others make life easier, or more fun.
These might look like skates, but they’re actually battery-powered shoes with wheels. They let you walk normally—just faster and more easily. Moonwalkers, made by Shift Robotics, use AI to control when you’re speeding up or slowing down. |
There are plenty of flying cars being developed, but not many look like, well, a car. “We started calling everything a flying car,” says Jim Dukhovny. He’s the CEO of Alef Aeronautics. The company’s Model A is a two-seat, all-electric and four-wheel car with a flight range (航程) of 110 miles. |
There are people all over the world without safe drinking water, often in war places or after natural disasters. Lifestraw Max may be a solution. It strips water of bacteria (细菌), parasites (寄生虫), and viruses (病毒). “The system attaches (连接) to an existing water supply and cleans 40 gallons of water in an hour.” says LifeStraw’s brand officer, Tara Lundy. |
Now you can take music lessons on a smartphone by DLG app if you are really interested in music. You can learn more than 200 popular pieces of music, from nursery rhymes (童谣) to symphonies (交响乐). “You don’t need natural talent to learn music well”, Karen Chow says. She’s a learning scientist at DLG. “We’re trying to break those boundaries (障碍). You don’t have to feel worried.” |
1. Which inventions can help us to move easily?
| A．a, b. | B．b, c. | C．a, d. |
| A．You can use AI to control Model A but Moonwalkers not. |
| B．Moonwalkers are battery-powered shoes but Model A is all-electric car. |
| C．Moonwalkers are shoes with wheels but Model A is a car without wheels. |
| A．It can strip bad things and clean 40 gallons of water in an hour. |
| B．People can use it everywhere to clean water except the places in war and disaster. |
| C．The system attaches to an existing water supply and provides polluted water. |
| A．The one who doesn’t have natural talent can not learn music well. |
| B．The one who is interested in music can learn well even without talent. |
| C．The one who wants to learn music well needs to worry about his or her talent. |
| A．In a fiction book. | B．In a physics textbook. | C．In a magazine. |
When you use a knife and fork. you have to take the knife with your right hand and the fork with your left hand, or you can’t put food into your mouth. But with chopsticks, you can solve the eating problems with just one hand.
Chopsticks were called zhu or jia in ancient China. It is said that they were invented by Da Yu, who successfully controlled the heavy flood（洪水）. One day he was busy dealing with the flood. In order to save time when eating, he used two sticks from a tree to take the hot food. That was how chopsticks came into use.
In fact, the earliest chopsticks found in China were made of bronze（青铜）, which were unearthed from Yinxu in Anyang city. Henan Province.
Many people probably haven’t realized the cultural meanings of chopsticks.
The influence of Chinese culture has stretched（延伸）far and wide.
| A．Besides, chopsticks are used in pairs. |
| B．It’s convenient and efficient（有效率的）. |
| C．It was one of the legends（传说）about chopsticks. |
| D．At least 1.8 billion people are using chopsticks around the world. |
| E．They are regarded as one of the symbols of Chinese food culture. |
【推荐1】In America, every student in his or her second year of high school has to take a class in driver’s education. However, unlike other classes, it is not given during the regular school year. Instead, it is a summer course.
The course is divided into two parts: class time for learning laws and rules and driving time to practice driving. During classes, students study the basic traffic laws to pass the written driving test.
Driving time is a chance for the students to practice driving. Each student needs to drive six hours. The students are divided into groups of four. Each group will go out driving for two hours each time with their instructor(教练) sitting beside them.
Unlike other cars, student cars have two sets of braked(刹车), one on the driver’s side and one on the other side where the instructor sits. So if the student driver should run into difficulties, the instructor can take over. The car also has another special feature. On the top of the car is a sign that reads: STUDENT DRIVER. That lets nearby drivers know that they should be more cautious.
After the student has passed the driver’s education course and reached the age to drive (in most states 16 years old), they can take their driver’s test; which is made up of an eye examination, a written test, and a road test. The person must pass all the three tests in order to be given a driver’s license(驾照).
1. In America, the driver’s course for high school students _______.| A．is considered an interesting after-class activities |
| B．is given to anyone who wants to get a driver’s license |
| C．starts at the same time as other courses |
| D．is for students of Grade 2 in high schools |
| A．go out driving for 12 times | B．learn basic traffic laws |
| C．drive for six hours each time | D．get half an hour driving |
| A．has a sign inside it | B．has two sets of braked |
| C．is big with two drivers | D．can call other drivers on the road |
| A．They must be 16 years old. | B．They should take their driver’s course. |
| C．They must have their eyes examined. | D．They must pass the road test. |
| A．skillful | B．friendly | C．careful | D．patient |
| letter | I | V | X | L | C | D | M |
| value | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
Roman numbers are the number system with hundreds of years’ history. They were created by the Romans with seven letters: I, V, X, L, C, D and M. Their meanings are as follows.
Hand signals（ 手 势 ）may tell us how Roman numbers were invented. “I”, a single line, is one finger, and “V” means five fingers. “X” is two hands showing two fives with thumbs(拇指) crossed, like the shape “X”.
Roman numbers are read from left to right.
The order of the letters is important. There are two main rules.
If a letter comes before a letter of greater value, you use subtraction. For example, IV is 4 and XC is 90.
If one or more letters come after a letter of greater value, you add them. For example, XII equals 12; CXIII means 113.
Roman numbers have played an important part in Roman times. People used them in everyday business, engineering and maths. People in Europe kept using them until the 15th century. Later, people realized the Arabic numbers were easier when they had to calculate larger numbers. Also, zero was not in the Roman number system. It was a big problem in maths.
However, Roman numbers are still used on watches and clocks to show people the time. In the names of streets and buildings, you can also see them. Subjects like chemistry and music might still use them. Besides, they are used to refer to kings and queens, such as Queen Elizabeth II. While they are not the main number system in modern maths, they are still around us.
1. Which of following stands for “subtraction” in Paragraph 4?A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．28 | B．32 | C．68 | D．72 |
| A．Because they were easier than the Arabic numbers. |
| B．Because Europeans had to calculate larger numbers. |
| C．Because people widely used them in their daily life. |
| D．Because the number zero brought a problem to maths. |
| A．Arabic numbers. | B．Roman numbers. | C．Subjects like music. | D．Watches and clocks. |
【推荐3】
| Russia Middle School Start Your Journey |
| |
| Term—Spring 2023 Mar.10, 2023-Jun.28, 2023 ¥15,000 Year-Fall 2023 Aug.18,2023-Jun.27,2024 ￥40,000 | Arriving in Moscow Your journey will begin in Beijing. At a hotel you will meet other students and attend a meeting covering important information that you’ll need to know for your first few days in Russia. Next you’ll fly to Moscow and travel as a group. Then our staff (工作人员) will send you to your host family. | ||
| Contact us for more information Tel:010-912790 Email: R&.C_agency@yahoo.com | |||
| Meeting your host family Your host family will be in the western and central parts of the country, like Ryazan or Simbirst. Many Russian families there have a farm that they go to on the weekends, so they’ll spend weekends working on their farms, fishing and hiking. Russian families are larger and people often live in the same house. You can expect to be treated like a member of the host family. | Getting used to daily life Teens in Russia enjoy going to the movies and museums, hanging out in cafes. Chess and skiing are popular, too. Most meals include beef, chicken, noodles, potatoes and soup. Tea and coffee are both common, but tea is more popular. At school you will have new friends and know more about Russia’s tradition. Extra-curricular (课外的) classes in music, sports or German are also offered. | ||
1. If you plan to study in Russia for a year, what will you do according to the text?
| A．Leave for Russia in August, 2024. |
| B．Prepare 15, 000 yuan for your study. |
| C．Send an email for more information. |
| D．Learn Russian for at least three months. |
| A．At a hotel in Beijing. | B．In a school in Simbirst. |
| C．In a meeting in Moscow. | D．At a host family in Ryazan. |
| A．By doing farm work, fishing and hiking. |
| B．By spending time with friends in a big house. |
| C．By having dinner with family members at restaurants. |
| D．By traveling to the western and central parts of the country. |
| A．You’ll have a larger family in China. |
| B．You’ll be good at Russian and French. |
| C．You’ll develop a habit of drinking coffee. |
| D．You’ll have a better understanding of the culture. |
| A．Health. | B．Education. | C．Sports. | D．Technology. |
【推荐1】When I was a kid, my dad often worked outside in the winter, removing snow, or perhaps chopping some wood. With his coat thrown aside, he was just wearing a shirt, a cap, and a pair of gloves.
It could be -20°C, “Aren't you cold, Dad?” I'd wondered, “No.” Dad would reply, “I’m not cold—working too hard to be cold.” Many times I wondered whether my father was extremely tough or a little bit foolish.
One time when I was about five or so, I went ice fishing with Dad. It was a bright, clear day—and bitterly cold.
After we'd been out on the ice for a little while, my feet started getting cold.“Daddy, my feet are cold.” I said.
“Yeah, it's cold out here today.” He replied, “Tell you what, just walk around in the snow!”
I was just a little girl at the time but I remember thinking, “How in the world will walking around in the snow make my feet warm? Dad must be out of mind.”
But there's no better way. So I had to make circles in the snow. Then I made squares. Pretty soon I found it so much fun to make patterns in the snow. Gradually, I did feel warm. I know it because I do it, too.
Now, I know from my personal experience how my dad was able to take his coat off and work outside in the winter. I know it because I do, too.
“Aren't you cold?” my husband asked one winter day.“No.” I replied, “I’m not cold—working too hard to be cold.” I hope that my husband will consider me both tough and smart. But I guess quite a bit of the time he thinks I'm foolish.
If Dad could know that, I'm sure he will smile when I take my coat off while I'm working outside in the winter.
No one can resist(抵抗)the force of nature, but don't hold back because human will and wisdom are stronger.
1. The father said “I’m not cold—working too hard to be cold” in Para2 perhaps because________.| A．he was willing to work hard for his family and didn't feel cold |
| B．he was so tough and strong that he was not afraid of coldness |
| C．working with lots of efforts could make himself warm |
| D．he wanted to comfort his family, and didn't want them to worry about him |
| A．Popular and wise. | B．Crazy and difficult. | C．Simple and effective. | D．Stupid and useless. |
| A．The writer didn't understand her father's explanation until that day. |
| B．The writer's husband knew her story and thought she was tough and smart. |
| C．The writer wrote the passage to remember her father. |
| D．When the writer made circles in the snow, she felt warm and thought it interesting. |
【推荐2】The human brain weighs about 1.4 kilograms, but it can hold much more information than most computers. However, there is another difference between humans and computers. Computers don’t forget information they are given, but humans often do. No one remembers everything, and luckily we don’t usually have to. But everyone can improve their memory if they want to. Here are some suggestions.
◆Try to use new information immediately. For example, if you meet someone who says “Hi! I’m Carlos,” don’t just say “Hello.” Repeat the person’s name. Say “_________”
◆Break a big number into smaller parts. For example, it’s hard to memorize (记忆) 109244153. But if you break it into three parts--109/244/153—it becomes easier.
◆Write out what you need to remember over and over again. This will help you keep it in mind longer, especially for memorizing formulas (公式) or facts.
◆Always review information. If you bring what you’ve learned back to your mind, they become easier to remember. For example, before you go to sleep, it’s a good idea to review the new things you learned that day.
◆Discuss with a friend. It is always easier to remember things through discussions. You can have a discussion about what’s right and what’s wrong, and it will lead to the right answer.
◆Never tell yourself that you have a bad memory. You can always do something to help improve your memory. And everyone’s memory gets better if they use it often enough.
All of the suggestions are helpful. If you follow them, you are certain to improve your memory.
1. How many suggestions are mentioned in the passage?| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
| A．Hello, Carlos. | B．How do you do? |
| C．Hello, I am Sophia. | D．Glad to meet you! |
| A．To store it in a computer. |
| B．To break it into smaller parts. |
| C．To discuss it with a friend. |
| D．To review it before you sleep. |
| A．You should tell others about your bad memory. |
| B．You should believe in other people all the time. |
| C．You should ask others to improve their memory. |
| D．You should be confident in your memory ability. |
After years of research and testing, the hybrid car was developed and put on the market. It's an interesting and exciting new improvement in today's world as we look for better ways to protect the quality of the air we breathe and save our natural resources.
The quality of our air is affected by many different things. But one of the largest sources of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline which is used to power a car's engine. The EPA has set national standards to help control the level of harmful pollutants sent off into the air, and the automobile industry has acted by producing a hybrid car that uses less gas and therefore causes less pollution.
A hybrid car is a combination of a regular car that runs on gasoline and an electric car that is battery powered. Some people tend to think that since the hybrid car is partially electric, you have to plug it in to charge it. But that's not how it works. The 144 volt battery pack is actually recharged through the energy that is produced when the car's brakes are used. This is referred to as "regenerative braking", because it produces electricity.
Although the hybrid car still runs on gasoline most of the time, this helps it use less gas than a regular car. When the driver stops at a traffic light, the engine automatically shuts off to save fuel. Then, as soon as the driver puts the car in gear and touches the gas pedal, the engine starts back up.
Have you ever ridden in a car with someone who ran out of gas? That probably wouldn't happen if you were riding in a hybrid car. It flashes a warning on its computer screen that says, "I am low on gas". When it completely runs out, the warning reads, "YOU ARE NOW OUT OF GAS!" Then the electric power supply kicks in to let the driver travel a few more miles to a gas station.
1. Which of the following is true according to the passage?| A．The hybrid car will be put on the market. |
| B．Hybrid cars run faster than regular cars. |
| C．When the hybrid car stops at a traffic light, the driver will get a warning. |
| D．The burning of fossil fuels is one of the largest sources of air pollution. |
| A．a high-tech discovery | B．energy saving |
| C．a new invention | D．a combination of two things |
| A．it allows the car to come to a quick stop | B．it gives the driver a smoother ride |
| C．it produces energy to charge the battery | D．it can control the speed of the car |
| A．They use less gas than regular cars. | B．They're safer to drive than most cars. |
| C．They're more modern than other cars. | D．They cost less than regular cars. |
AI is a double-edged sword. It can help us, but also cause us harm. Who is using AI? Is AI replacing humans? What should we do to avoid the risks and dangers that AI might bring?
Artificial intelligence is set to benefit mankind in many ways. It will make everyday tasks easier and bring efficiency to various industries. It might just prove to be one of man's greatest inventions.
And yet, like any other technology, ▲ . In February 2018, a group of AI experts got together to discuss the possible misuse of AI. What they found was that "Every AI advance by the good guys is an advance for the bad guys, too," according to Quartz.
Their biggest concern was that criminals (罪犯) could use AI for wrongful purposes. One of the areas they looked at was the use of AI to create websites that could be used to steal people's personal information. Another possibility is that AI programs could be taught to hack software and break into computer secure systems.
There are some other concerns as well. It is possible that AI could be used to create fake images and videos. Chinese tech giant Baidu, in fact, has developed a program called Deep Voice that can "clone" anyone's voice by studying a 3.7-second audio sample.
Many leading figures in the tech world have expressed concern about AI. People like Bill Gates and Elon Musk have called for the industry to be more strictly regulated, as there are few laws right now on the use of AI.
However, this is set to change. In March 2018, the European Union plans to set up a group that will discuss the moral and ethical dangers of advanced AI – and hopefully, suggest some regulations that will help us keep it safe for mankind.
1. Which of the following can be put in ▲ in Paragraph 3?| A．AI makes our life easier | B．AI will also bring risks |
| C．AI is around us everyday | D．AI beats human in many ways |
| A．it makes people lazier | B．it is developing too fast |
| C．it will replace workers in the future | D．some people may use it to do bad things |
| A．how AI is developed | B．what AI can do in the future |
| C．why Baidu is a tech giant | D．how AI can copy voices |
| A．there may be new laws to regulate the use of AI. |
| B．AI will bring more harm than benefit to mankind. |
| C．many AI programmers will become criminals. |
| D．there will only be fake news and videos online. |
| A．tell readers that AI is a new invention | B．introduce what AI is really about |
| C．show that AI also has disadvantages | D．suggest some rules for AI |
You are only three years old, and at this point in your life you are not able to understand this letter. But some day when you grow up, I hope you will find something valuable in what I am going to share with you.
Life can be cruel. There will be people in your life who won't be very nice. They might try to pick on you or hurt you because you're different, or for no good reason. There's not much you can do about these people but learn to deal with them, and learn to choose kind friends who are nice to you, who actually care about you.
Be open to life anyway. You'll find cruelty and suffering in your journey through life, but don't let that stop you from finding new things. Don't retreat(退却) from life. Don't hide or wall yourself off. Be open to new things, new experiences and new people. You will fail many times but if you allow that to stop you from trying, you will miss out on the amazing feeling of success once you reach new heights. Failure is a stepping stone to success.
Life isn't a competition. You will meet many people who will try to do better than you, in school, in college, and at work. They'll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, and so on. To them, life is a competition.
However, I believe life is a journey. If you always try your best to follow others, you are wasting your life. Learn to enjoy your life and you will make your journey full of love and happiness.
Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are starting out on a scary, wonderful journey, and I will always be there for you.
Love,
Dad
1. How many suggestions does the father give his son in this letter?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Five. |
| A．刁难 | B．捡起 | C．采摘 | D．了解 |
| A．Those who are unkind to you need your love most. |
| B．Although life is cruel, you should be open to life anyway. |
| C．Life isn't a competition so don't learn or improve yourself all the time. |
| D．Try your best to get nicer houses, cars, clothes and so on. |
| A．Father and son | B．A moving family letter |
| C．The best advice | D．A wonderful journey |
【推荐3】Traveling can be a good way to be happy. But what will you do if you’re a student and don’t have much money for a travel? Don’t worry. I will tell you how to plan your travel.
*Plan early: This is the most important for traveling. Write down how much you want to spend on food and hotels. You can save much in this way.
*Find useful information: Travel books will help you get information about the cheapest hotels and restaurants. You can choose anywhere you want to go. Also the Internet can help you. You can find some useful websites such as www.travelcily.com and www.economy travel.com.
*Travel in groups. Find someone who is interested in visiting the same places like you. By traveling with others you can share funny or unusual things together.
*Go to a less- known（不出名的）place: Well-known places may be expensive and have too many people. You may want to think over your trip and go to a less-known place. Smaller places are good to visit sometimes. You can learn about lots of different things, too.
*Get things ready: The most important things to take are not always clothes. Remember to take medicine（药）because you may get ill. Take some food with you because they can save you much money when you can not find a cheap restaurant.
By planning, you can enjoy traveling and save lots of money.
1. The passage（文章）is about how to_______________.| A．travel with much money | B．get fun when travelling |
| C．plan your travel | D．make your travel interesting |
| A．take more shoes than clothes | B．take some useful medicine with us |
| C．fund a cheap restaurant before travelling | D．take everything with us to save money |
| A．share funny and unusual things together | B．eat food on the way |
| C．visit the same places many times | D．find some useful websites |
| A．going to the well-known places |
| B．writing down how much you want to spend on food and hotels |
| C．traveling without getting anything ready |
| D．taking no clothes with you |
