题目内容
The modem Olympic Games were founded with the intention of improving health and education, promoting world peace and encouraging fair and equal competition. But over the years, the Olympic saying, “Faster, higher, stronger”, has pushed scientists as well as athletes to do everything possible to reach new levels.
Doctors, engineers and coaches all use everything science can offer to achieve that little bit extra in competition. The reason modern technology has become part of sport is very simple: Winning is just as important as it was 2,500 years ago at the Olympics of ancient Greece.
Development in technology has often been reflected in the methods of training and performance used at the Olympics through history. This technology falls into two main groups: improving an athlete’s performance in competition, and allowing results to be measured more accurately.
One of the creations that have drawn the most attention is the new high-tech swimsuit from Speedo, which was used by most US swimmers in Athens. Until Sydney 2000, it was thought that the smaller the swimsuit, the faster the swimmer would travel.
“However, the fact that at the Sydney Olympics, 28 of the 33 gold medallists were wearing the body covering Fastskin suit proved the theory was out of date,” said Andy Thomas, vice-president of Speedo.
The company’s full body suit is supposed to make swimmers 3 to 4 percent faster, particularly when turning or diving into the water. It is believed that the suit creates less water resistance as it moves, behaving more like a shark skin than a human skin.
The introduction of high-tech equipment means that athletes in all sports, from the 100-metre sprint(短跑) to the pole vault(撑杆跳高), can now train more effectively and nourish (给…以营养) their bodies better.
Meanwhile, scientific development also means performances can be measured and studied far more accurately. Not only are winning times more accurately recorded, but cheating athletes are also easier to catch out. According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) requirements, two independent measuring systems should be used at all venues(比赛地点). Athens 2004 organizers used only the very latest equipment to measure distance and speed.
| The (1)_____ | The (3)______ | |||
|
| Science can (4)_______ athletes’ performance. | Science can get results (8)______ more accurately. | ||
| Winning is the most (2)_____ thing. | High—tech swimsuit from Speedo can make swimmers 3 to 4 percent faster and was (5)______ by 28 of the 33 gold medal (6)______ at the Sydney Olympics. | Athletes in all sports can train in a more effective (7)_______ | Winning times can be (9)_______ more accurately. | Cheating athletes can be (10)_______ caught out. |
1. reason 2. important 3. fields 4. improve 5. worn
6. winners 7. way 8. measured 9. recorded 10. easily
Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle was invented in Germany in 1818. Because it was made of wood, it wasn’t very strong nor did it have pedals (脚踏板）.Riders moved it by pushing their feet against the ground.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated levers, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t look much like the modem bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved pedal mechanism. They called their bicycle a velocipede，but most people called it a “bone shaker” because of the effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the impolite nickname, the velocipede was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for fun-seeking young people.
Ten years later, James Starley , an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient，and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-heavy，and ridden mostly for entertainment.
It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it easier to ride. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the back wheel. By 1893，the safety bicycle had been further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements provided by Lawson; bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
【小题1】This passage was most likely written in order to _____.
| A．compare bicycles used for different purposes |
| B．describe the problems early bicycle makers experienced |
| C．persuade readers to use bicycles for transportation |
| D．tell readers about the early history of the bicycle |
| A．add weight to the bicycle |
| B．make the bicycle easier to ride |
| C．allow the wheels to last longer |
| D．let the bicycle be more comfortable |
【小题4】Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．Two hundred years ago，bicycles did not exist. |
| B．The first bicycle could be ridden at a very quick pace. |
| C．The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a “bone shaker”. |
| D．Macmillan’s machine had wheels with rubber tires. |
| A．importance | B．time | C．place | D．Interest |