Question

For many blind people, computers are inaccessible. It can cost $1,000 to purchase “screen reader” software, but two blind computer programmers from Australia have solved this problem.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) graduate James Teh and business partner Michael Curran developed a free, open-source program, called NVDA, which provides a voice to read the words on a computer screen as the cursor(光标) moves over them. NVDA won the blind inventors an award in the grand final program of the ABC’s New Inventors, which aired on September 23. They took home the award for an invention that “might make a real difference to people’s lives or the environment.”

“A sighted person takes for granted that they can sit down at any computer and use it,” Mr Teh said. “We really are in the information age — everything is online these days. So access to computers for the blind is very important, which is why we wanted our software to be free.”

Mr Teh, who majored in software engineering at QUT, said blind students typically didn’t have the money to purchase “screen reader” technology, at the time in their life when they most needed it. Now NVDA could be downloaded on to anyone’s personal computer free of charge.

“It can also be copied to a USB stick, which can be used on any PC at school or university, with no installation required,” he said.

Mr Teh and Mr Curran have drawn on their own experience as blind computer users to develop a product which has some unique features. For example, as the mouse moves up and down the screen, a sound becomes higher and lower to let you know where the cursor is located.

NVDA has been translated into 27 languages, thanks to volunteer translators. To date, there have been over 50,000 downloads.

Mr Teh and Mr Curran have been working on the project since 2006. They worked on their product without any pay for two years. When Mozilla offered some funding in 2008, Mr Teh was able to quit his day job and work full-time developing NVDA.

1.NVDA won an award in the program of the ABC’s New Inventors because it _____.

A．causes no harm to the environment         B．influences people’ s lives

C．is aiming at blind people                  D．is easy to use

2.Why did James Teh and Michael Curran want their software to be free?

A．They got funding from Mozilla.

B．They belonged to a volunteer group.

C．They wanted to help the blind.

D．They wanted people to give up “screen reader” software.

3.What do we know about Teh and Curran?

A．They are studying at QUT.                 B．They are good at translating.

C．They know how the blind feel.              D．They began to develop NVDA in 2008.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.B

2.C

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍了两个学生Teh and Curran发明了NVDA，并获奖的事情，他们发明的NVDA可以帮助盲人方便的上网。

1.细节题：从第二段的句子：NVDA won the blind inventors an award in the grand final program of the ABC’s New Inventors, which aired on September 23. They took home the award for an invention that “might make a real difference to people’s lives or the environment.” 可知NVDA获奖，是因为它可以改变人们的生活。选B。

2.细节题：从第三段的句子：So access to computers for the blind is very important, which is why we wanted our software to be free.”可知他们想要这个设备免费，是想帮助盲人。选C

3.细节题：从第六段的句子：Mr Teh and Mr Curran have drawn on their own experience as blind computer users to develop a product which has some unique features.可知 Teh and Curran 非常了解盲人的感受，选C

考点：考查新闻报道类短文

点评：文章介绍了两个学生Teh and Curran发明了NVDA，并获奖的事情，他们发明的NVDA可以帮助盲人方便的上网。集中考查了推理题和细节题，要求考生有较强的细节理解能力。做题时也可以结合自己的生活常识和经验，再通过逻辑推理和判断。主旨题关键是弄清每段的大意，再结合重点的句子判断。