Machines in the home have a short history. Sewing machines, washing machines and tumble dries are common enough today, but a hundred years ago few people could even imagine such things. However, inventors have designed and built a wide range of household machines since then. In most cases the inventor tried to patent（申请专利）his machine, to stop anyone copying it. Then he tried to produce a lot of them. If the machine became popular, the inventor could make a lot of money.
In 1790 the first sewing machine was patented. The inventor was an Englishman called Thomas Saint. There was nothing to match his machine for forty years, and then someone built a similar device. He was a Frenchman, Bartelemy Thimonier. Neither of these early machines worked very well, however, it wasn’t until 1846 that an inventor came up with a really efficient sewing machine. He was an American, Elias Howe and his machine was good enough to beat five skilled sewing women. He didn’t make much money from it, however. The first commercially successful sewing machine was patented by Isaac Singer five years later.
Today, we take washing machines for granted, but there was none before 1869. The revolving drum（旋转桶）of that first machine set a pattern for the future, but it was crude by today’s standards. The drum was turned by hand, and needed a lot of effort. Eight years passed before someone produced an electric washing machine. The world had to wait even longer for a machine to dry clothes. The first spin-drier was another American invention, patented in 1924; but it was 20 years before such machines were widely used.
It was yet another American, called Bissell, who introduced the carpet sweeper. He patented the original machine back in 1876. It didn’t pick up dirt very well, but it was quicker than a dustpan and brush. Thirty-six years later, even the carpet sweeper was old-fashioned: modern homes now have a vacuum cleaner（吸尘器）with an electric motor to suck the dust.
1.Whose sewing machine could do far more than the work that was done by five skilled sewing women?
A. Thomas Saint’s. B. Bartelemy Thimonier’s.
C. Elias Howe’s. D. Isaac Singer’s.
2.According to the article, modern inventors __________ .
A. follow the pattern of the first revolving drum but improve it much
B. only imitate the first washing machine
C. power the first ever-made washing machine by electricity
D. have to wait for the first spin-drier for a long time
3.The underlined word “crude” in the sentence “but it was crude by today’s standards”
probably means __________ .
A. useless B. ugly-looking C. rough D. not skillfully made
4.The article mainly tells us about __________ .
A. the great inventors in the world
B. the important inventions in the world
C. the short history of household machines
D. the importance of the machines used in the home
After a car accident put me into the hospital, I felt very angry about the way my life was turning out. The doctors repaired the major damage done to my –1--. And after all, the car was just that, a car. But I was lying there feeling pretty sorry for myself. I didn’t care to see anyone or talk to anyone.
I had been there about a week. For the week the nurses had been good about leaving my door closed.–2-- one bright morning I was awakened by –3-- of people out in the hallway. Since I was still feeling –4-- for myself, I didn’t wake up in a pleasant –5--. As I pushed the –6-- to call the nurse, I saw a little boy in the hallway. A cast (石膏夹) completely –7-- his arm, from fingers to shoulder, but his face was covered with a smile. In his other hand he was holding a teddy bear.
I heard his mother telling him to sit and wait until she was done. He looked over to me and I had the permanent (持久的) anger on my face, but he ---8--- at me. Then ---9--- warning he came running into my room. As I was silently cursing (咒骂) the nurses for leaving my door ---10---, the smile upon his face widened.
He came right up next to my ---11--- and stood there smiling at me. Then with his good arm he held out his big brown teddy bear. It was missing an eye but I had to admit it was lovely. I lay there and stared at him for the longest time,not---12---what he was wanting from me. He said, “This is Teddy. He’s --- 13---sick. He needs to stay here. Could you keep him here till he gets better?”
I---14--- out and took Teddy from his hand. I promised I would take care of Teddy---15--- the time he got better. I also promised to keep him from ---16--- afterwards. Just then the little boy’s mother called him. He looked back at me, said---17--- and ran out of the room. His mother smiled down at him and the nurse wheeled him away. I sat there ---18--- Teddy for the longest time. The nurse responded to my call ---19---in time to catch the tears rolling down my cheeks and the biggest smile on my face.
I will never forget what that little boy gave to me that day. It was so much ---20--- a well-loved one-eyed teddy bear. I have kept my promises to that little boy, too.
1.A.car B.body C.soul D.heart
2.A.So B.As C.But D.While
3.A.sounds B.voices C.noises D.accents
4.A.guilty B.happy C.sorry D.ashamed
5.A.condition B.feeling C.mind D.mood
6.A.button B.door C.window D.phone
7.A.surrounded B.covered C.wrapped D.tied
8.A.shook B.stared C.glanced D.smiled
9.A.beyond B.with C.against D.without
10.A.closed B.unlocked C.open D.removed
11.A.bed B.chair C.nurse D.car
12.A,considering B.doubting C.knowing D.wondering
13.A.yet B.moreover C.ever D.still
14.A.handed B.reached C.stretched D.spread
15.A.when B.as C.until D.after
16.A.harm B.ruin C.wound D.hurt
17.A.hello B.welcome C.goodbye D.wish
18.A.kissing B.hugging C.washing D.caring
19.A.even B.already C.only D.just
20.A.rather than B.less than C.more than D.other than
How pleased the emperor was ___ what the cheats had said.
A. hearing B. heard C. to hear D. hear
Although the wind has ____, the rain remains steady, so you still need a raincoat.
A. die hard B. die off C. died down D. die out
---Don’t you think it necessary that he ____ to Miami but to New York?
--- I agree, but the problem is _____ he has refused to.
A. will not be sent; that B. not be sent; that
C. should not be sent; what D. should not send; what
I don’t understand how you got a ticket. I always ___ you___ a careful driver.
A. think , are B. am thinking，are C. thought, were D. think, were
