Question

【题目】 If you're one of the millions of those who use escalators each year, you are probably deeply familiar with the vertical grooves（竖凹槽）that cover each stair. Few of us have stopped to consider why they exist, though. In fact, it's one of the everyday things we take for granted.

But it is a little complicating when you think about it. Sure, the deep, grey lines make an escalator's metal stairs more appealing to the eye. But regular stairs don't have grooves like these; why do escalators need them? Is it because of the movement?

It turns out those grooves serve a more functional purpose. And, yes, it does have to do with the movement, as well as with general cleanliness! Anyone who has ridden an escalator knows that the steps everlastingly circulate from the top to the bottom. You've surely noticed the ridged yellow lip at the top of the escalator. But here's what you may not have noticed: As an escalator's steps flatten, this ridge—also called the comb plate—sweeps away any trash or litter that might have fallen on the stairs. Those grooves lock the step and comb plate together, which makes it harder for any dangerous materials to slide underneath the lip. This prevents foreign objects from getting stuck in that gap, potentially causing the escalator to stop, or worse, break down completely.

That's not the only reason why the grooves were created, though. They are also a good place for water to pool together, protecting you from a bad fall on the slick surface.

So the next time you step on an escalator, take a moment to appreciate those metal grooves. They exist to make sure you get to your office meeting on time.

【1】What are the first two paragraphs trying to say?

A.Millions of people use escalators every year.

B.Few people think much about the grooves.

C.Escalators are complicated machines.

D.Grooves make the stairs look better.

【2】The ridge is mainly designed to____

A.clean off dangerous objects.

B. keep the stairs in movement.

C.flatten the steps.

D.lock the steps.

【3】What does the underlined word "slick” mean in Paragraph 4?

A.Smooth.B.Sticky.

C.Steep.D.Slippery.

【4】What's the passage mainly about?

A.The importance of escalators.

B.The reasons for grooves on stairs.

C.The look of grooves in escalators.

D.The safe ways of riding escalators.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】D

【4】B

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了自动扶梯上设计竖凹槽的原因。

【1】推理判断题。根据前两段内容，特别是根据第一段中的“Few of us have stopped to consider why they exist, though. In fact, it's one of the everyday things we take for granted.”可知，然而，我们很少有人停下来思考它们（自动扶梯上的竖凹槽）为什么会存在，事实上，它是我们日常生活中习以为常的东西之一，由此可知，前两段是想说很少有人会去多想自动扶梯上的竖凹槽，故B项正确。

【2】细节理解题。根据第三段中的“As an escalator's steps flatten, this ridge—also called the comb plate—sweeps away any trash or litter that might have fallen on the stairs. Those grooves lock the step and comb plate together, which makes it harder for any dangerous materials to slide underneath the lip.”可知，当自动扶梯的台阶变平时，这个脊，也被称为“梳状板”，用来清扫掉在电梯上的垃圾，这些凹槽将台阶和梳板固定在一起，这使得任何危险的东西更难以滑到电梯边缘下面，由此可知，脊是为了清除掉在电梯上的危险物品而设计的，故A项正确。

【3】词义猜测题。根据画线词前的“They are also a good place for water to pool together, protecting you from a bad fall on”可知，撒了水的表面是湿滑的，这些竖凹槽的作用就是把水存在里面，这样你就不会滑倒了，由此可知画线词词义为“光滑的”，故D项正确。

【4】主旨大意题。通读全文，特别是根据第二段中的“why do escalators need them?”可知，电梯上为什么需要它们（竖凹槽）呢？再根据倒数第二段中的“That's not the only reason why the grooves were created, though.”可知，然而，这并不是设计竖凹槽的唯一原因，由此可知，本文主要介绍了自动扶梯上设计竖凹槽的原因，故B项正确。

词义猜测题的难度较大，对画线词上下文（特别是前一句或后一句）的理解是关键，因为其往往会对画线词起到解释说明的作用，例如本篇第3题，根据画线词前的“They are also a good place for water to pool together, protecting you from a bad fall on”可知，撒了水的表面是湿滑的，如果踩上去很容易滑倒，这些竖凹槽的作用就是把水存在凹槽里，这样你就不会滑倒了，由此可知画线词词义为“光滑的”。