評論
打印
(C)
Humans have sewn by hand for thousands of years. It was said that the first thread was made from animal muscle and sinew. And the earliest needles were made from bones. Since those early days, many people have been involved in the process of developing a machine that could do the same thing more quickly and with greater efficiency.
Charles Wiesenthal, who was born in Germany, designed and received a patent on a double-pointed needle that eliminated the need to turn the needle around with each stitch(縫合) in England in 1755. Other inventors of that time tried to develop a functional sewing machine, but each design had at least one serious imperfection.
Frenchman Barthelemy Thimonnier finally engineered a machine that really worked. However, he was nearly killed by a group of angry tailors when they burned down his garment factory. They feared that they would lose their jobs to the machine.
American inventor Elias Howe, born on July 9, 1819, was awarded a patent for a method of sewing that used thread from two different sources. Howe's machine had a needle with an eye at the point, and it used the two threads to make a special stitch called a lockstitch. However, Howe faced difficulty in finding buyers for his machines in America. In frustration, he traveled to England to try to sell his invention there. When he finally returned home, he found that dozens of manufacturers were adapting his discovery for use in their own sewing machines.
Isaac Singer, another American inventor, was also a manufacturer who made improvements to the design of sewing machines. He invented an up-and-down-motion mechanism that replaced the side-to-side machines. He also developed a foot treadle(腳踏板) to power his machine. This improvement left the sewer's hands free. Undoubtedly, it was a huge improvement of the hand-cranked machine of the past. Soon the Singer sewing machine achieved more fame than the others for it was more practical, it could be adapted to home use and it could be bought on hire-purchase. The Singer sewing machine became the first home appliance, and the Singer company became one of the first American multinationals.
However, Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented. As a result, Howe accused him of patent infringement（侵犯）. Of course, Elias Howe won the court case, and Singer was ordered to pay Howe royalties（版稅）. In the end, Howe became a millionaire, not by manufacturing the sewing machine, but by receiving royalty payments for his invention.
72. Barthelemy Thimonnier's garment factory was burned down because _____________.
A. people did not know how to put out the fire
B. Elias Howe thought Thimonnier had stolen his invention
C. the sewing machines was couldn't work finally
D. workers who feared the loss of their jobs to a machine set fire
73. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A. Singer is an American inventor and manufacturer.
B. The Singer sewing company became more practical.
C. The foot treadle helped to make the sewer's hands free.
D. Singer made improvements to the design of sewing machines.
74. Why did the court force Isaac Singer to pay Elisa Howe a lifetime of royalties?
A. Because the judge was against Singer for his surly attitude.
B. Because Howe had already patented the lockstitch used by Singer.
C. Because Singer had borrowed money from Howe and never repaid it.
D. Because Singer and Howe had both invented the same machine.
75. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A. A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
B. The Case between Howe and Singer
C. Patent Laws on the Sewing Machine
D. The Early History of the Sewing Machine
Section C
Directions: Read the following text and choose the most suitable heading from A-F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading which you do not need.
A. What are SIGs?
B. What types of memberships are available?
C. Who can join IATEFL China?
D. What and where is IATEFL China?
E. What links does IATEFL China have?
F. What happens at the Annual Conference?
76.
IATEFL China is the International Association of English Language Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, China Branch. Its mother organization IATEFL was founded in the UK in 1967; it now has over 3,500 members in more than 100 countries throughout the world.
IATEFL China core activities are managed by the Secretariat headed by the President. The others include, Volunteer activities, SIG Coordinators, and the Publication Committee.
It is based in Tonghua City, Jilin Province of the People's Republic of China and is managed by the President of the association. Other office staff include the General Secretary, the International Affairs Administrator, the Membership Secretary, the Newsletter Distribution, and the General Assistant.
77.
You can join as a full member and receive the association's newsletter six times per year, two free publications, free membership to one SIG (Special Interest Group), discounts on publications, reduced conference registration fees, and voting rights.
There are also special membership packages for institutional members and for members of IATEFL China's associates (basic members).
By the end of this year, members of IATEFL China can benefit from the special rights provided by the mother organization (IATEFL) at some rate.
78.
This is the most important event in the association's calendar and takes place each year in August somewhere in China. It is attended by around 800 delegates each year and includes plenary sessions by eminent practitioners, a large number of workshops, talks and round table discussions given by able speakers, as ELT Exhibition and Pre-Conference Events organized by Special Interest Groups.
79.
Members can join any number of the 10 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) including: FLT Teaching & Learning Policy; FLT Curriculum & Syllabus Study; Coherence Research on Primary-secondary School and Secondary-Tertiary Transition; Primary School Classroom Instruction Model; Secondary School Classroom Instruction Model; Modern IT in FLT; Applied Linquistics; FL Learning Strategies; FL Teacher Development and Training; FL Textbook, Materials and Teaching Aids Design.
80.
IATEFL China has associate agreements with other teachers' associations throughout the world. Among other things, there are usual agreements to exchange newsletters and to provide a speaker to attend each other's conference at least once every year. More so, committee members from IATEFL China are willing to attend the conferences, meetings, etc. of related associations upon invitation.
Section D
Directions: Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words.
Relations between the United States and Spain were not very good in 1898. On February 15, a battleship called the USS Maine blew up and sank in the harbor at Havana, Cuba. More than 260 Americans were killed. Many Americans thought that Spanish saboteurs (破壞者) had set an underwater mine that caused the explosion.
Witnesses and survivors had different versions of what happened. Some said that they heard two explosions. It was discovered that the magazine—which is a storage place for arms, ammunition(軍火), and explosives—had exploded. Questions were raised about what caused the first explosion. Did the first explosion come from outside the ship, causing the magazine to explode? Or, did something on the ship blow up the magazine?
Other witnesses said that there was only one explosion. If they are right, then what on the ship caused the magazine to explode? A theory supporting the two-explosion version was that rebels from Cuba had caused the explosion. The rebels were aware of the bad feelings between the United States and Spain. They would have been willing to cause trouble between the nations to bring an end to Spanish rule in Cuba.
The United States government issued an ultimatum(最后通牒) to the Spanish government to end its occupation of Cuba. When Spanish officials refused, Congress and President William McKinley declared war on Spain. The war did not last long, because the United Sates forced an early surrender.
More than 100 years after the explosion of Maine, the cause of the explosion is still unknown. Many questions remain. If an attack from outside the ship caused the magazine to explode, why didn't witnesses see a splash in the water? Why were there no dead fish in the water if there was an external explosion?
With the mystery still unsolved, the question of what really happened to the USS Maine may never be answered.
(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN EIGHT WORDS.)
81. On February 15, 1898，more than 260 Americans lost their lives because of __________ .
82. According to the passage, the “magazine” was used to _________.
83. According to the two-explosion version, what's the probable purpose of the Cuban rebels to cause the explosion?
84. What's the main topic of the passage?
第II卷（共45分）
I. Translation
Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
1. 這個故事激勵年輕人為更美好的生活奮斗。 (inspire）
2. 時光飛逝，尤其當你聚精會神地讀一本好書時。（absorb）
3. 安全系統不會允許你進入大樓，除非你有正確的密碼。(unless)
4. 我從未想到過會在機場遇到多年未曾謀面的老朋友。(It)
5. 無用信息的傳播會對人類社會產生不利影響的事實已經引起公眾的注意。（that）
II. Guided Writing
Directions: Write an English composition in over 120 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
當你在生活中遇到問題或困難時，你會如何解決？請就你親身經歷的1至2件事具體介紹一下你解決問題的辦法，并簡要談談你對困境的態度。
（文中請不要出現真實的校名和人名。）
