The Segway Human Transporter was invented by Dean Kamen．It is a two-wheeled vehicle designed for a single rider standing upright over its single axle（軸） and navigate using a set of handlebars resembling those on a bicycle．Electrically powered, it could travel over 15 miles on a single charge and reach speeds up to twelve miles per hour．Its speed and direction can be controlled by riders' changing their weights．
A college dropout and self-taught engineer, Kamen already held over 100 patents for his inventions when he developed the one he hoped would revolutionize short-distance travel．While still in college, Kamen started developing the medical devices （設備） that made his name．Later, he changed focus to the challenges faced by wheelchair users．His robotic wheelchair known as IBOT could climb stairs．This robot ended up paving the way for the Segway．
Before showing his most recent invention, Kamen had kept it a top secret for months．When it turned out to be little more than a motor scooter, many publicly expressed their disappointment．On closer examination, however, even his critics（批評家） had to admit that the vehicle was an engineering achievement．It answered the prayers of anyone who is worn out when walking downtown．Not everyone welcomed the Segway's arrival, though．Some complained it was too expensive, while others said it would further weaken the average American ' s fitness．A Japanese inventor even accused Kamen of stealing the idea for the Segway from him．
Despite the controversy, the U．S．postal service began using Kamen's invention a month after its appearance, and a factory was built with plans to produce about 40,000 Segways every month．The argument is still on whether the Segway will be remembered as the greatest invention since the light bulb, or just another forgettable electronic device．Anyway, trips to the local supermarket will never be the same again．
1.Which statement best describes the critics' reaction to the Segway?
A．Nothing but an electrical device．
B．A disappointing engineering mistake．
C．An expensive and disappointing invention．
D．Disappointing, but still a successful device．
2.Which is not a feature of the Segway?
A．One person at a time can ride on it．
B．It has two wheels with a single axle．
C．It is powered by electricity and can go up to 12mph．
D．Riders increase the speed by moving the handlebars
3.Some people expressed dissatisfaction with the Segway because of its______.
A．high cost B．danger to traffic
C．being difficult to use D．contribution to laziness
4.Shortly after the Segway appeared, there were _________.
A．hopes for a larger model of it
B．no plans to do anything more with it
C．some discussions on the unforgettable device
D．plans to make tens of thousands of them a month
1.D
2.D
3.A
4.D
【解析】
試題分析：本文講述了Dean Kamen發明的一種交通工具。這是一個有兩個輪子的、適合一個人騎行的獨輪車。它的速度和方向都要靠騎行者改變重量來控制。對于這種發明人們有著褒貶不一的看法。
1.D細節理解題。 從文章第三段many publicly expressed their disappointment．On closer examination, however, even his critics had to admit that the vehicle was an engineering achievement可以判斷這些批評家失望之余，不禁承認這是一項成就，故D選項正確．
2.D細節理解題。從文章第一段末句 Its speed and direction can be controlled by riders' changing their weights．可以判斷D選項內容錯誤。
3.A細節理解題。從文章第三段Some complained it was too expensive可知人們對這種發明的不滿是因為它的價格過高，故A選項正確。
4.D細節理解題。根據文章末段 a factory was built with plans to produce about 40,000 Segways every month可知D選項正確。
考點：考查科學發明類短文閱讀。
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課程達標測試卷闖關100分系列答案科目：高中英語 來源：浙江省杭州二中2012屆高三第一次仿真英語試題 題型：050
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科目：高中英語 來源：浙江省模擬題 題型：閱讀理解
Gadgets (小裝置) can be wildly expensive and quickly out-of-date, but Steven Poole is still the
first to buy them. Technological innovations (創新) are often quite stupid. The idea that you might
want to walk down the street holding a mobile phone in front of your face, just to experience the
wonders of video calling, is clearly ridiculous. Luckily for the tech companies, however, there are
some people who jump at the chance to buy into new gadgets before they are fully ready and cheap
enough for the mass-market. They are called early adopters, and their fate is a terrible one. I should
know, since I am one myself.
Early adopters have a Mecca: it’s Tokyo’s Akihabara district, also known as “Electric City”.
There, in 1999, I bought a digital camera, a gizmo that few people in Britain had heard of. Over the
next few years I watched in great sadness as digital cameras became more popular, cheaper and more
powerful, until better models could be had for a quarter of the price I had paid. Did I feel stupid? What
I actually did was this: I splashed out more money last year for a new one, one that let me feel pleasantly
ahead of the curve once again. But I know that cannot last, and I’ll probably have to buy another in a
few years.
Thus early adopters are betting on other people eventually feeling the same desires. And it’s worse
if that future never arrives. Early adopters of the Betamax home-video format in the 1970s could only
look on in sadness when their investment was nullified（使無效）by the success of VHS. All sorts of
apparently splendid inventions, such as videogame consoles like the Atari Jaguar have been abandoned
to the dustbin of history right after a few early adopters bought in. Those who invested thousands in a
Segway motorized scooter on the wave of ridiculous advertising campaigns that accompanied its launch
a couple of years ago can join the club.
You might think we should just stop being so silly, save our money, and wait to see what really
catches on. But the logic of the industry is such that, if everyone did that, no innovation would become
popular. Imagine the third person to buy an ordinary telephone soon after Alexander Graham Bell had
invented it. Who was he going to call? Maybe he simply bought two phones, one for a special friend.
But still, the usefulness and eventual popularity of the device wasn’t clear at the time. Nobody dreamed
of the possibility of being able to speak to any one of millions of people. And yet if he, and the hundreds
and thousands of early adopters after him, had not bought into the idea, the vast communication networks
that we all take for granted today would never have been built.
The same goes, indeed, for all new technologies. Those guys holding bricks to their ears that we
laughed at in the 1980s made the current mobile phone possible. People who bought DVD players
when they still cost a fortune, instead of today’s cheap one at the local supermarket, made sure that
the new format succeeded. Early adopters’ desire for desires supported the future financially. And
what did they get for their pains? They got a hole in their bank accounts and inferior, unperfected
technology. But still, they got it first. And today they are still at work, buying overpriced digital radios,
DVD recorders and LCD televisions, and even 3G phones, so that you will be eventually be able to
buy better and less expensive ones.
So next time you see a gadget-festooned geek (滿身新潮玩意的土包子) and feel tempted to
sneer (譏笑), think for a minute. Without early adopters, there would be no cheap mobile phones or
DVD players; there would be no telephone or television either. We are the tragic, unsung foot soldiers
of the technology revolution. We’re the desire-addicted pioneers, pure in heart, dreaming of a better
future. We make expensive mistakes so you don’t have to. Really, we are heroes.
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
Direction: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
| A. individual B. financial C. certain D. stick AB. meant AC. costly AD. powered BC. ride BD. medical CD. emergency |
A new transportation device called the Segway was reported to have been in use for quite a while. Its inventor called it the world’s first self-balancing ___41___ transport vehicle for short distance travel.
The Segway looks like a large ___42___ with two wheels. The wheels are connected to a platform. The stick has handles for a person to hold. The person stands on the platform and holds the handles. The transporter moves forward or backward when the person moves his or her body in that direction. The driver turns the handles to go left or right.
Computers and ___43___ devices on the Segway make the vehicle move and balance. It is ___44___ by batteries that are recharged with electricity. It can travel at a speed of 19 km an hour.
Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway says it was ___45___ to reduce pollution and solve other environment problems in cities.
A Segway costs about five thousand dollars. People who have bought Segways say they are extremely useful though quite ___46___. But they can use the Segways instead of their cars for short trips, and it is a great way to save money on gasoline. The Segway also makes it convenient for people who have trouble walking because of ___47___ problems.
Segways are being used in more than twelve American airports. Security officers say they are able to move quickly on the devices in ___48___ situation.
People on vacation are also learning to use Segways. Segway tours are popular in several American cities including Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D. C. Tour company officials say it takes from ten to thirty minutes to teach people how to ___49___ a Segway. Then the group uses them to move around the city.
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