We know the famous ones—the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells—but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper(雨刮器)? Shouldn’t we know who they are?

Joan Mclean thinks so.In fact,Mclean,a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range,feels so strongly about this matter that she’s developed a course on the topic.In addition to learning“who”invented“what”,however,Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the“why’’and‘‘how”questions.According to Mclean.“When students learn the answers to these questions,they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.’’

Her students agree.One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean’s statement.“If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper’s invention,”said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major,“I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rainstorm into something so constructive.”Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer.

So,just what is the story behind the windshield wiper Well,Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City.The day was cold and stormy,but Anderson still wanted to see the sights,so she jumped aboard a streetcar.Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield,she found herself wondering why there couldn’t be a built—in device for cleaning the window.Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham,Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions.One of her ideas,a lever(操作杆)on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside,became the first windshield wiper.

Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations.It’s hard to imagine driving without Garrett A.Morgan’s traffic light.It’s equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J.Blodgett’s innovation that makes glass invisible.Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?

1.By mentioning“traffic light”and“windshield wiper”.the author indicates that countless inventions are__________.

A.beneficial,because their inventors are famous

B.beneficial,though their inventors are less famous

C.not useful,because their inventors are less famous

D.not useful,though their inventors are famous

2.Professor Joan McLean’s course aims to__________.

A.add color and variety to students’campus life

B.inform students of the windshield wiper’s invention

C.carry out the requirements by Mountain University

D.prepare students to try their own inventions

3.Tommy Lee’s invention of the unbreakable umbrella was____.

A.not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer

B.inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper

C.due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm

D.not related to Professor Joan McLean’s lectures

4.Which of the following can best serve as the title of this passage?

A.How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers

B.How to Design a Built-in Device for Cleaning the Window

C.Shouldn’t We Know Who Invented the Windshield Wiper

D.Shouldn’t We Develop Invention Courses in Universities

Everybody in this world is different from one another.But do you know that understanding differences can help you better manage your money?

As we grow up,we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs.These are influenced by society,our family,the education we receive and so on.Once this value system is set up,it's not easy to change later in life.

Financial experts say that everyone also has their own belief of how to manage their finances.This is part of our value system and it has a great impact on the way we look after our money.

According to our different values,experts put us in three categories.They are:the ant,the cricket and the snail.

The ant works first

Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter,these people don't care about enjoying the moment.They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire.The ant loves to save but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.

The cricket fun first

The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn't think too much about the future.They even borrow money when they really want something.Many young people now belong to this group.These people have little savings.When they get old,they might have problems.They should learn to save and buy insurance.

The snail lives under pressure

The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves.They take big long term loans from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses.They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure whether they can afford it.This can cause problems in the future.They should plan more carefully.

【小题】People with the character of the snail would like to __________.

A.enjoy life at the moment without thinking much about the future

B.put work before everything else

C.live a luxury life at all costs

D.take the risk of investing a large sum of money

【小题】Our beliefs and values are affected by the following except __________.

A.society B.our family

C.education D.money

【小题】This passage mainly talks about __________.

A.the spending nature of people

B.the relation between man and insects

C.the insects in nature

D.the problems with dealing with money

【小题】Which of the following has the character that the author prefers?

A.The ant B.The cricket

C.The snail D.None of the above

完形填空(共20小题;每小题1.5分,满分30分)

My fiance (未婚夫) and I were excited about shopping for our first home. But our funds were , and none of the houses in our price range seemed satisfactory.

One agent a house in particular. Although her description sounded wonderful, the price was our range, so we declined. But she kept urging us to have a look .

We finally did and it was at first sight. It was Our Home, small and charming, overlooking a quiet lake. Walking through the rooms and talking with the owners, a nice elderly couple, we felt the warmth and of the marriage within that home. As perfect as it was, the price remained too high for us. But every day, we would sit by the lake, looking at the house and dreaming of________it would be like to live there.

Days later, we made a(n) ________—far below the asking price. Surprisingly, they didn’t ________ us. They renewed their offer ________. It was also much more than we could afford, but far ________ than the original asking price.

The next day, we got a ________ message that another buyer had offered a much higher price. Even so, we decided to talk with the ________ directly. We made our final offer, which ________ was thousands of dollars less than the other buyer’s bid. We knew it, ________ we had to try.

“Sold!” said the owner. Then he ________ : He’d seen us sitting by the lake all those times; he knew how much we loved the place and that we’d ________ the years of work they had put into their home; he realized he would take a ________ by selling it to us, but it was worthwhile; we were the people they wanted to live there. He told us to consider the ________ in the price “an early wedding present.”

That’s how we found our home and how I learned that when people are ________ they are not strangers, only friends we haven’t yet met.

1.A. needed B. limited C. enough D. large

2.A. recommended B. decorated C. sold D. rented

3.A. below B. within C. beyond D. between

4.A. at least B. at most C. at times D. at hand

5.A. relief B. concern C. love D. curiosity

6.A. pride B. happiness C. challenge D. desire

7.A. which B. why C. that D. what

8.A. effort B. offer C. promise D. profit

9.A. come across B. look after C. depend on D. laugh at

10.A. instead B. indeed C. aside D. apart

11.A. worse B. better C. less D. higher

12.A. relaxing B. disappointing C. pleasant D. regular

13.A. agents B. buyers C. managers D. owners

14.A. already B. still C. generally D. ever

15.A. so B. or C. for D. but

16.A. apologized B. complained C. criticized D. explained

17.A. check B. analyze C. appreciate D. ignore

18.A. loss B. risk C. chance D. lead

19.A. increase B. difference C. interest D. average

20.A. kind B. polite C. smart D. Energetic

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

A“Gap Year”is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university.It is often spent travelling or working.1..The advantages of taking a gap year are as follows:

2..Although you don’t have to go abroad to experience gap years,most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad.You are able to work out who you are and what you are for.The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons.

Face Challenges and Have Fun.A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation,but also a time to face challenges.Gap year students usually work,volunteer or take service projects.You have to learn how to get along in the real world.This process isn’t always easy,but it is an important part of growing up.3.

Save Money and Improve Your College Admission Chances.There’s a common thought that gap years are only for rich students,but it isn’t true.4..Gap year students often take a part-time job.Besides,at the end of a gap year,students are much more likely to know what to study in college.Clear learning goals can keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing.

Imagine an admission officer trying to admit only one between two students.Both of them are excellent and have high grades.However,one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation.5.

A.Make full preparations for the gap year.

B.Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun.

C.Actually,taking a gap year can save your money.

D.Who do you think the admission officer will choose?

E.It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills.

F.Challenges always come first before fun.

G.Learn about the World and Yourself.

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