1 . Computer keyboards are the most widely used input devices (设备). Most of us use them almost every day, at work or at home. But have you ever wondered who invented them and why they look like this?
The origins (起源) of keyboards can be found in the first typing devices created back in the 1700s and 1800s. The first patent (专利权) for a typing machine belonged to the Englishman Henry Mill, back in 1714. Since then, many other typing devices have been patented, but none of them was put to use until 1867.
The first typing machine produced for use was the Remington typewriter, created by Sholes & Glidden. Are you wondering what it looked like? Surprisingly, it was very similar to an old sewing machine (缝纫机). This typewriter model is usually considered as "the first typewriter”.
Since this invention, typing devices went through a lot of changes in shapes, size, design and technology, increasing their efficiency (效率) and becoming more user-friendly.
In 1961, IBM made the first model of its Selectric typewriter public. This device had a very great influence on modern computer keyboards in terms of efficiency and typing speed.
Throughout the 1950s to 1970s, typewriters became the primary input devices used for computing. Things started to change in the 1970s, when the first computer keyboards made their appearance and typewriters were taken over by these new devices.
In the 1980s, IBM introduced its first personal computer, which came equipped with the Model M keyboard. This is considered the most universal keyboard design and the father of modern keyboards. This device was a big success and it’s still very popular today.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To present a method. |
| B．To voice a different idea. |
| C．To introduce the topic. |
| D．To analyse the problem. |
| A．By giving descriptions. |
| B．By analyzing causes. |
| C．By making comparisons. |
| D．By following time order. |
| A．The sewing machine. |
| B．The Model M keyboard. |
| C．The Remington typewriter. |
| D．The Selectric typewriter. |
| A．The development of keyboards. |
| B．The future of keyboards. |
| C．The recent events of keyboards. |
| D．The new findings of keyboards. |
2 . Paper is one of the most important products ever invented by man. Wide spread use of written language would not have been possible without some cheap and practical material to write on. The invention of paper meant that more people could be educated because more books could be printed and distributed. Together with the printing press, paper provided an extremely important way to communicate knowledge.
How much paper do you use every year? Probably you cannot answer that question quickly. In 1900 the world's use of paper was about one kilogram for each person a year. Now some countries use as much as 50 kilograms of paper for each person a year. Countries like the United States, England and Sweden use more paper than other countries.
Paper, like many other things that we use today, was first made in China. In Egypt and the West, paper was not very commonly used before the year 1400. The Egyptians wrote on a kind of material made of a water plant. Europeans used parchment for many hundreds of years. Parchment was very strong; it was made from the skin of certain young animals. We have learnt of the most important facts of European history from records that were kept on parchment.
1. What's the meaning for the word 'parchment'? ________| A．The skin of young animals. |
| B．A kind of paper made from the skin of certain young animals. |
| C．The paper used by European countries. |
| D．The paper of Egypt. |
| A．More jobs could be provided than before. |
| B．More people could be educated than before. |
| C．More books could be printed and distributed. |
| D．More ways could be used to exchange knowledge. |
| A．Around 1400. | B．Around 1900. | C．Around 400. | D．Around 900. |
| A．China. | B．Sweden. | C．Egypt | D．Japan. |
3 . By the early 1800s, the most important food in Ireland was the potato. Many Irish farmers held very small plots of land, and potatoes produced much more food per acre than any other crop. Potatoes were easy to grow in the cool climate, and they provided vital nutrition for those who had little access to other fresh food — which was roughly half of the Irish population.
It is not a good idea for such a large number of people to depend on one food source, and the Irish found out why in a painful, deadly way. In 1845, a fungus(真菌) from Mexico arrived in Ireland. Although its exact source remains unknown, it was probably carried in the holds of ships that traveled to Ireland carrying goods and people. The fungus attacked the potato crops, causing harvested potatoes to disintegrate(使解体) into black piles of rot, causing a famine(饥荒), or severe food shortage. Very quickly, a large section of the Irish population began to starve.
Farmers hoped that the 1846 harvest would be better, but it was worse. That winter, the weather was terrible and included severe snowstorms, high winds, and bitterly cold temperatures. By the next year's harvest, the potatoes had begun to recover. The Irish were hopeful that the Potato Famine had come to an end. However, the harvest was far too small to sustain the starving population.
Soup kitchens were eventually set up to feed the hungry, but they could not come close to meeting the demand for food. Diseases associated with famine, such as cholera (霍乱) , hit the weakened Irish. It is estimated that, by 1851, at least one million people died of disease or starvation, and another million had left Ireland for the United States, England, or Canada.
1. Before 1845, the Irish people ________.| A．depended highly on potatoes for food | B．lived through a very difficult winter |
| C．suffered from cholera | D．owned much land |
| A．Ships brought a fungus to Ireland. |
| B．Over one million people died of disease. |
| C．The harvested potatoes rotted. |
| D．The winter weather limited the potato crop. |
| A．Right after the crops disintegrated. |
| B．By the time a million people had died. |
| C．During the bitter winter following the famine. |
| D．Shortly after the fungus arrived from Mexico. |
| A．Dying for Potatoes | B．The Fungus Infection |
| C．Dying of Disease | D．Cholera in Ireland |
4 . Chinese kung fu is one of the earliest and longestlasting sports that use both muscle and brain. Over its long history it has developed as a unique combination of exercise, practical selfdefense, selfdiscipline and art.
It is estimated that Chinese kung fu can date back to primitive society. At that time, people used sticks to fight wild beasts. Gradually, they accumulated a great deal of selfdefense experience.When the Shang Dynasty began, hunting was considered an important part of kung fu training.
During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, martial arts(武术) evolved to become a kind of dancing. Usually, the dancing of martial arts was used to train soldiers and inspire their morale(士气). At the same time, the skill and technology of sword making as well as sword ceremonies developed rapidly.
Starting from the Tang Dynasty, a kung fu examination was proposed and introduced. Excellent candidates would receive titles and awards through the examination, largely promoting the development of martial arts. By then, martial arts had evolved to become an art form and an independent genre. Kung fu was gradually introduced to many countries in Southeast Asia. Today, kung fu is honored as the ancestor of kickboxing(跆拳道)，karate(空手道) and judo.
The Song and Yuan Dynasties witnessed the climax of kung fu development. The practice of kung fu by civil organizations became more and more popular. People actually made a living as martial arts performers all over the country. Usually their performance was carried out by a single person or two people as a pair.
Chinese kung fu achieved greater development in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, a lot of genres came into being and numerous books on martial arts were published. In the Qing Dynasty, the ruling emperor banned the practice of martial arts, and the people had to set up various clubs or societies to pass on the skills in secret.
Today, kung fu continues to be practiced by many people for the purpose of keeping fit or improving body image.
1. According to the text，________was an important part of the development of kung fu in ancient times.| A．hunting. | B．dancing. |
| C．singing. | D．fighting. |
| A．promote the national economy. |
| B．keep healthy and improve body image. |
| C．train soldiers and inspire their morale. |
| D．fight big wild animals. |
| A．The production of swords reached the highest point during the Tang Dynasty. |
| B．Kung fu was performed by many people during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. |
| C．Kung fu had a great impact on many activities in Southeast Asia. |
| D．The Tang Dynasty witnessed the climax of kung fu development. |
| A．The emperor set up many organizations to promote kung fu. |
| B．Various genres appeared and books were published about kung fu. |
| C．Kung fu became the only performance at court parties. |
| D．People made a living as kung fu performers all over the country. |
