Question

There are many people who say Thomas Edison invented the twentieth century. Although there are those who may disagree, yet Edison was one of the greatest inventors in America.

Born in 1847 in Ohio, Thomas Edison attended school for only three months. After his teacher said that he could not learn, Edison’s mother decided to teach him at home. There he was allowed to study the subjects that most interested him. By age ten, Edison had built a science laboratory of his own.

Edison got his first job at age twelve on the railway selling candy and newspapers. There he once saved a boy whose father was the boss of the railway station. In return the boss helped him a lot.

In his late twenties, Edison built an “invention factory” where he and his business partners could devote all their time to inventing. After improving upon the telephone, Edison created the phonograph(留声机). Although Edison did not actually invent the light bulb, he did create an electric lighting system which led to its widespread use.

Edison set up the first central electric power station in 1882, so New York became the first city in the world to have electric lights. This was the beginning of the modern world in which electricity became a way of life.

The following year, one of Edison’s engineers discovered electrons(电子), which at last led to electronics. Without electronics, we might not have radio, TV, computers, or space travel. The rest of Edison’s life was spent making and improving inventions.

Thomas Edison died at the age of eighty-four in 1931. Three days later, much of America dimmed(使暗淡) its lights in honor of the inventor—a man who had more impact (影响)on the development of present-day civilization than anyone else in history.

1. The passage tells us that ________.

A. Edison didn’t like to study at school

B. Edison invented the light bulb in his late twenties

C. even without electronics, we might have radio, TV, computers, or space travel

D. New York was the first city in the world to have electric lights

2.From the passage, we can infer that _________.

A. Edison’s teacher thought Edison was not worth teaching

B. Edison’s mother stopped Edison studying at school

C. Edison didn’t invent many things in all his life

D. Edison didn’t spend his life working on these inventions when he was old

3. Why did many Americans dim their lights when Edison died? ________.

A. Americans wanted to save more energy.

B. Americans were used to dimming their lights.

C. Americans dimmed their lights in memory of the great inventor.

D. Americans were made to dim their lights.

4.The best title for this passage is ________.

A. Edison, a Poor Man

B. Edison, a Great Inventor

C. Edison Died at 84

D. Edison and His Childhood

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇人物传记类的文章，主要讲述了爱迪生小时候被老师放弃，却最终成为伟大的发明家，并且影响可整个美国的故事。

1.D细节理解题。根据文中， so New York became the first city in the world to have electric lights，可知美国是第一个拥有通电电灯的国家，故选D。

2.A细节理解题。根据文中， After his teacher said that he could not learn, Edison’s mother decided to teach him at home，说明他的老师认为他根本就不会学习，并不值得教，故选A。

3.C细节理解题。根据文中，much of America dimmed(使暗淡) its lights in honor of the inventor，可知人们暗灯是为了纪念这位伟大的发明家的逝世，故选C。

4.B推理判断题。根据上下文内容可知，本文是一篇人物传记类的文章，主要讲述了爱迪生小时候被老师放弃，却最终成为伟大的发明家，并且影响可整个美国的故事，故选B。

考点：考查人物传记类短文阅读。