Question

The Swiss army knife is a popular device that is recognized all over the world. In Switzerland, there is a saying that every good Swiss citizen has one in his or her pocket. But the knife had poor beginnings.

In the late nineteenth century, the Swiss army issued（发给） its soldiers a gun that required a special screwdriver（螺丝刀） to take it apart and clean it. At the same time, canned food was becoming common in the army. Swiss generals decided to issue each soldier a standard knife to serve both as a screwdriver and a can opener.

It was a lifesaver for Swiss knife makers, who were struggling to compete with cheaper German imports. In 1884, Carl Elsener, head of the Swiss knife manufacturer（maker） Victorinox, seized that opportunity with both hands, and designed a soldier's knife that the army loved. It was a simple knife with one big blade(刀片), a can opener, and a screwdriver.

A few years after the soldier's knife was issued, the "Schweizer Offizier Messer," or Swiss Officer's Knife, came on the market. Interestingly, the Officer's Knife was never given to those serving in the army. The Swiss army purchasers considered the new model with a corkscrew（瓶塞钻） for opening wine not "essential for survival," so officers had to buy this new model by themselves. But its special multi-functional design later launched(发行) the knife as a global brand. After the Second World War, a great number of American soldiers were stationed in Europe. And as they could buy the Swiss army knife at shops on army bases, they bought huge quantities of them. However, it seems that "Schweizer Offizier Messer" was too difficult for them to say, so they just called it the Swiss army knife, and that is the name it is now known by all over the world.

1.What is the main purpose of the passage­?

A. To explain the origin of the Swiss army knife.

B. To introduce the functions of the Swiss army knife.

C. To emphasize the importance of the Swiss army knife.

D. To tell a story about the designer of the Swiss army knife.

2.What does "It" in the third paragraph refer to­?

A. The Swiss army needed a knife for every soldier.

B. Every good Swiss citizen had a knife in his pocket.

C. Swiss knives were competing with imported knives.

D. Canned food was becoming popular in the Swiss army.

3.Why didn't the Swiss army purchase the Swiss Officer's Knife­?

A. The design of the knife was too simple.

B. The knife was sold out to American soldiers.

C. The army had no budget to make the purchase.

D. The new design was not considered necessary for officers to own.

4.Who gave the name "the Swiss army knife" to the knife discussed in the passage­?

A. Carl Elsener.B. Swiss generals.

C. American soldiers. D. German businessmen.

 

Answer 1

1.A

2.A

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍了瑞士军刀的起源以及美国士兵给起的名字“瑞士军刀”。

1.主旨题：根据The Swiss army knife is a popular device that is recognized all over the world. In Switzerland, there is a saying that every good Swiss citizen has one in his or her pocket. But the knife had poor beginnings. 可知这篇文章主要的目的是说明瑞士军刀的起源，故选A。

2.推测题：根据Swiss generals decided to issue each soldier a standard knife to serve both as a screwdriver and a can opener.可知"It"指的是瑞士军队为每位士兵配把刀子，故选A。

3.Interestingly, the Officer's Knife was never given to those serving in the army. The Swiss army purchasers considered the new model with a corkscrew（瓶塞钻） for opening wine not "essential for survival," so officers had to buy this new model by themselves.可知D选项表述正确，故选D。

4. 细节题：根据After the Second World War, a great number of American soldiers were stationed in Europe. And as they could buy the Swiss army knife at shops on army bases, they bought huge quantities of them. However, it seems that "Schweizer Offizier Messer" was too difficult for them to say, so they just called it the Swiss army knife, and that is the name it is now known by all over the world.可知美国士兵给起的名字“瑞士军刀”，故选C。

考点：考查历史文化类阅读