Jeans are very popular especially with teenagers. It’s said that the material came originally from Nimes, a city in France. These jeans were particularly created for the sailors, who loved wearing jeans very much. These jeans could be worn when wet and it could even be rolled over with ease. This was particularly useful when the sailors were busy with their everyday work.

     Our favorite pair of blue, jeans was originally worn by workers particularly during World War II. Perhaps the strong and durable(耐用的) look made these blue jeans popular among all the factory workers. A strange thing that can be noticed happened in the early period of the 1950s when blue jeans worn by teens were considered to be a form of being against others. Besides, adults who wore blue jeans were not allowed to enter a movie theatre. It was only during the 1960s that blue jeans were accepted as a fashion trend in the United States of America. Movie stars wore them in films and in public. Many young people follow them.

The different looks of the regular blue jeans which are enjoyed by people were introduced by the mid 1950s. It was Donald Freeland who gave jeans a whole new look and brought it to the front. Originally, jeans were always worn loose. At first, jeans worn by men had the zipper(拉链)on the front. However, for women, it was on the side. By the late 1960's , the zipper finally was on the front side for women as well.

Today, there are many new designs that are being created by fashion designers to meet the increasing demands from jean lovers! A pair of basic blue jeans, however, is one such piece of clothing that will never go out of fashion! When you open one's cupboard, there is always one pair of jeans one likes best.

1.The sailors originally were interested in wearing jeans because jeans     .

       A．could give them a pleasant look            B．were convenient and easy to use

       C．were cheaper than other trousers           D．could be washed and made easily

2.According to the passage, blue jeans          .

       A．were once a sign of being against their parents

       B．were popular with people of different ages in the 1950s

       C．began to be poplar with American people in the 1960s

       D．have been worn by the factory workers after World War II

3.The following all lead to the popularity of jeans EXCEPT        .

A．American culture                                 B．various designs

C．movie stars' influence                             D．its cloth quality

4.It is known from the passage that       .

    A．Donald Freeland gave jeans a whole new design

    B．the zipper was always on the front side of all jeans

    C．The jeans were introduced into America in the 1950s

    D．Donald Freeland was the first to make jeans popular in the world

5.In the last paragraph, the writer is trying to          .

       A．show his interest in blue jeans

       B．tell us the popularity of jeans

       C．praise the benefits of blue jeans

       D．discuss the development of jeans

My 6-year-old daughter went to the dentist’s nervously, but the smiling doctor put her __ in no time.

A. with ease    B. in ease  C. at ease              D. for ease

Inventors are always looking for ways to make our lives easier, greener and a whole lot more fun. Take a look at the following breakthroughs in science and technology. What in the world will inventors dream up next?
Superhero Suit
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a superhero? Dream no more. There’s a real Iron Man suit, XOS 2, which instantly transforms the person wearing it. The suit provides the power to lift 200 pounds with ease and break slabs（厚片）of wood with a single karate chop. It was designed to help the military with heavy lifting. One person in the suit could do the work of three soldiers.
Up, Up and Away!
It took him 30 years to develop it, and now Glen Martin’s invention is ready to take off. The Martin Jetpack allows its operator to fly 8,000 feet into the air. Unfortunately, you can’t soar through the skies too long. The jetpack holds only 30 minutes’ worth of fuel. The aircraft will sell for $100,000.
Hardworking Robot
The EMIEW2 robot is the perfect office helper. Need a document delivered? No problem! It can also guide visitors to their destinations. The three-foot-tall robot can identify different human voices and respond to commands. One day, it may serve as a receptionist or a security guard.
Green Machine
Say goodbye to gasoline! The AirPod car runs on air power. That means this car won’t pollute the environment. A high-pressure air tank can fill the car in minutes. The three-wheeler can travel about 130 miles between fill-ups.
Beef Power
All aboard the beef train! Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer runs partly on fuel that is made from cow fat. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 10%. The train travels between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas.
Robo-Guard
EMILY is a robotic, four-foot-long buoy (救生圈). She can swim through riptides (激流) at up to 24 miles per hour. Her inventor, Tony Mulligan, says that’s 15 times as fast as human lifeguards! EMILY is powered by a tiny electric pump and operated by remote control.
【小题1】What is the disadvantage of Glen Martin’s invention?

Picasso, the famous Spanish painter, was born in 1881. His father was an art teacher. Picasso began to paint very early. He was admitted to the Royal Academy at the age of 15. After 1900, he spent much time in Paris, living there from 1904 to 1947, when he moved to the south of France.

    Throughout his career, Picasso moved from style to style with ease. He practiced sculpture, illustrated books and also showed great interest in pottery design and other fields of art.

    Picasso produced a great number of drawings during his lifetime. No later artist of the School of Paris has replaced him in international influence.

    Picasso is generally considered to be the foremost figure in 20th century French art. His paintings are now exhibited in leading European and American galleries.

The main idea of the passage is ______.

    A. Picasso is considered to be the foremost figure in the French art

    B. Picasso is a famous Spanish painter

    C. Picasso spent much time in Paris, living there from 1904 to 1947

    D. Picasso’s life and art

According to the writer, Picasso was ______.

    A. more important than any other French artist in international influence

    B. more important than any other Spanish artist in international influence

    C. the most important figure in Spain

    D. the most important figure in France

How long did he stay in Spain and France?

A. Over 19 years in Spain and the rest life in France.

B. 15 years in Spain and 43 years in Paris.

C. 15 years in Spain and the rest life in Paris.

D. He did not stay so long in Pads than in Spain.

Picasso moved from style to style with ease. It means ______.

A. he did not like only one style

B. he changed his style without difficulty

C. he liked not only sculpture, but also pottery design

D. he showed great interest in other fields of art

Picasso, the famous Spanish painter, was born in 1881. His father was an art teacher. Picasso began to paint very early. He was admitted to the Royal Academy at the age of 15. After 1900, he spent much time in Paris, living there from 1904 to 1947, when he moved to the south of France.
Throughout his career, Picasso moved from style to style with ease. He practiced sculpture, illustrated books and also showed great interest in pottery design and other fields of art.
Picasso produced a great number of drawings during his lifetime. No later artist of the School of Paris has replaced him in international influence.
Picasso is generally considered to be the foremost figure in 20th century French art. His paintings are now exhibited in leading European and American galleries.
【小题1】The main idea of the passage is ______.