Question

    The need for something that can solve the problems in our daily lives often leads to new and interesting inventions. Here are some examples of inventions that were born as solutions to common daily problems.

Earle Dickson noticed that his wife often burned or cut herself accidentally while working in the kitchen. She would then need his help to put bandages on the wounds. Since Dickson couldn’t always be there to help her, he invented a bandage that she could easily deal with herself. Sold under the brand name Brand-Aid, these bandages are now used for many types of minor (not serious) cut.

Then there was Bette Nesmith Graham, a secretary who wanted a simple way to correct her typing mistakes. One day, as she was watching painters use touch -up paint to a wall, it struck her that the same way could be used on paper. She mixed a white paint and used a small brush to apply it to her work. This small bottle of paint with brush finally came to be known as Liquid Paper.

In some cases, though, people invent things for one purpose but end up using them for another. Take tea bags, for example. In 1908, a New York tea seller named Thomas Sullivan came up with the idea of creating small gifts for customers by putting the unopened bags. Customers are supposed to take out the tea leaves from each bag before boiling a pot of tea. However, some people misunderstood began putting the unopened bags into hot water, and the custom of using tea bag was born.

Sometimes inventions are used for their original purposes. Other times they end up being used for something completely different. Either way, they make our lives a whole lot better.

1.How many inventions are mentioned in the passage?

A.2 B.3 C.4 D.5

2.How was the custom of using tea bags born?

A.It was born from a misunderstanding.

B.It was born from a need to take out tea leaves.

C.It was born from a new creative idea to make tea.

D.It was born from a creative tea trade between countries.

3.The underlined word “original” in the las paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.

A.living B.first C.useful D.opposite

4.Which of the following is correct according to the article?

A.The invention of Brand-Aids came from an unexpected accident.

B.Liquid Paper was invented by a secretary to solve her kitchen problem.

C.Liquid Paper invented by a secretary was used to correct typewriting.

D.Thomas Sullivan was the first person to sell tea in the United States.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.B

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了三种为解决日常生活问题而创造的发明——创可贴、涂改液以及茶包，表明了创造发明在我们日常生活中的作用。

1.细节理解题。根据全文内容可知，本文一共提及提到了三项发明，分别是：Brand-Aid创可贴、Liquid Paper涂改液、tea bag茶包。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第四段“However, some people misunderstood began putting the unopened bags into hot water, and the custom of using tea bag was born”可知，人们由于误解，于是把未拆封的茶包放入热水中，茶包就诞生了，因此使用茶包的习俗是因为一个误解诞生的。故选A。

3.词句猜测题。living活着的；first第一，首先；useful有用的；opposite对面的，相反的。根据“Sometimes inventions are used for their original purposes. Other times they end up being used for something completely different”可知，发明是为了它们最初的目的，但有时它们最终被用来做其它完全不同的事情。根据语境可知，前文的划线部分original与后文中的end up“最终”意思相反，故其应意为“最初的，最早的”，与first同义。故选B。

4.细节理解题。A选项：创可贴的发明源于一次意外的事故。根据“his wife often burned or cut herself…he invented a bandage that she could easily deal with herself”可知，由于他的妻子经常弄伤自己，所以他才发明了创可贴，选项错误；B选项；涂改液被一个秘书用来解决厨房问题。根据“a secretary who wanted a simple way to correct her typing mistakes…Liquid Paper”可知，选项错误；C选项：涂改液被一个秘书用来纠正打字问题。根据“a secretary who wanted a simple way to correct her typing mistakes…Liquid Paper”可知，选项正确；D选项：Thomas Sullivan是第一个在美国卖茶的人。文中并没有提到他是第一个在美国卖茶的人，选项错误。故选C。