Today, roller skating (旱冰) is easy and fun, and it is popular throughout the world. People like roller skate outside on paths and roads, and inside in rinks. But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man full of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.

   One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball (化装舞会). He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance (隆重出场) at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.

   Merlin tried different ways to make himself fool. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.

   On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking into pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!

 51. The text is mainly about____.

   A. a strange man                B. an unusual party  

C. how roller skating began       D. how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century

  52. People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he____ .

   A. often gave others surprises       B. was a gifted (有天赋的) musician

   C. invented the roller skates        D. was full of imagination

  53. Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________.

   A. draw the guests attention        B. arrive at the party sooner

   C. test his invention               D. show his skill in walking on wheels

  54. What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?

   A. The roller skates needed further improvement.

   B. The party guests took Merlin for a fool.

   C. Merlin succeeded beyond expectation (超出预料).

   D. Merlin got himself into trouble

Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.

Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.

On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on, suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!

60．The text is mainly about ________.
A. a strange man 　 　 　　　　 B. an unusual party
C. how roller skating began 　

D. how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century

61．People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he ________.
A. often gave others surprises　　　 B. was a gifted musician
C. invented the roller skates　　　　 D. was full of imagination

62．What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
A. The roller skates needed further improvement.　　

B. The party guests took merlin for a fool.
C. Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. 　　

D. Merlin got himself into trouble　　　　　　　　　　　　

       Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.

One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near. Merlin began to think how to make grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.

Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.

On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that way hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!

56. The text is mainly about       .

       A. a strange man

       B. an unusual party

       C. how roller skating began

       D. how people enjoyed themselves in the 18^th century

57. People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he        .

       A. often gave others surprise                           B. was a gifted musician

       C. invented the roller skates                             D. was full of imagination

58. Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to        .

       A. impress the party guests                               B. arrive at the party sooner

       B. test is invention                                            D. show his skill in walking on wheels

59. What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?

       A. The roller skates needed further improvement.

       B. The party guests tool Merlin for a fool.

       C. Merlin succeeded beyond expectation

       D. Merlin got himself into trouble.

     We have recently heard a great deal about the effects of computers on our social and economic organizations. In industry, computers mean automation(自动化), and automation means unemployment. Computers in the United States have already begun to take the place of workers whose tasks are simple. The variety of jobs, done only by humans in the past, which the machine can perform more rapidly, accurately and economically, increases with each new generation of computers. If we follow this trend, we will be faced with mass unemployment for all but a handful of highly trained professionals who will be more powerful and overworked than they are now.

What can we do about it? It is foolish to dream of making history backwards. We cannot pass laws forbidding the advancement of science and technology. The computing machines are here, and they will grow because engineers want to build them, and politicians want their help in the process of government. In short they will develop and become popular because they enable us to complete tasks that could never before have been done, no matter how many unskilled laborers we might have set to work. Computers will continue to increase our intelligence for just the same reason that engines continue to strengthen our muscles. The question we must ask is not whether we shall have computers or not have computers, but rather, since we are going to have them, how we make the most humane and intelligent use of them.

69. Which kind of the following persons will be the first to be employed if computers continue to develop?

A. Skilled workers.                                          B. Highly trained professionals.

C. Ordinary engineers.                                     D. Government officials.

70. In the article, the author believed that computers will continue_____.

A. to have had effects on social economy          B. to cause mass employment

C. to develop in the future                                D. to have good effects on social organizations

71. The article suggests that the computer will continue to grow because_____.

A. we have lost control of it                              B. no laws can forbid its development

C. engines can strengthen our muscles               D. it can be and has been put to good use

72. What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?

A. Computers should be better used in more reasonable ways.

B. We are able to build much better computers.

C. Computers have caused industrial loss.

D. Computers are needed by more people.

We have recently heard a great deal about the effects of computers on our social and economic organizations. In industry, computers mean automation(自动化), and automation means unemployment. Computers in the United States have already begun to take the place of workers whose tasks are simple. The variety of jobs, done only by humans in the past, which the machine can perform more rapidly, accurately and economically, increases with each new generation of computers. If we follow this trend, we will be faced with mass unemployment for all but a handful of highly trained professionals who will be more powerful and overworked than they are now.

What can we do about it? It is foolish to dream of making history backwards. We cannot pass laws forbidding the advancement of science and technology. The computing machines are here, and they will grow because engineers want to build them, and politicians want their help in the process of government. In short they will develop and become popular because they enable us to complete tasks that could never before have been done, no matter how many unskilled laborers we might have set to work. Computers will continue to increase our intelligence for just the same reason that engines continue to strengthen our muscles. The question we must ask is not whether we shall have computers or not have computers, but rather, since we are going to have them, how we make the most humane and intelligent use of them.

1. Which kind of the following persons will be the first to be employed if computers continue to develop?

A. Skilled workers.                           B. Highly trained professionals.

C. Ordinary engineers.                        D. Government officials.

2. In the article, the author believed that computers will continue_____.

A. to have had effects on social economy         

B. to cause mass employment

C. to develop in the future                          

D. to have good effects on social organizations

3. The article suggests that the computer will continue to grow because_____.

A. we have lost control of it                   

B. no laws can forbid its development

C. engines can strengthen our muscles            

D. it can be and has been put to good use

4. What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?

A. Computers should be better used in more reasonable ways.

B. We are able to build much better computers.

C. Computers have caused industrial loss.

D. Computers are needed by more people.