E
(2014·天津)
A worldfamous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world's first longdistance signing device (装置), the LongPen.
After many tiring booksigning tours from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them. She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. Here's how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet (手写板)using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams (网络摄像机) and computer screens.
Work on the LongPen began in Atwood's basement (地下室) . At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. The inventing finally completed, test runs were made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. From here, Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City.
The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used.
“It's really fun，” said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs. “Obviously you can't shake hands with the author, but there are chances for a connection that you don't get from a regular book signing.”
The response to the invention hasn't been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she's trying to end book tours. But she said, “ It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn't afford it.”
文章大意：如果你是一位著名的作家，需要到处签名的话，你会感到很累的。有了the LongPen，一切烦恼皆无。
51.Why did Atwood decide to invent the LongPen?
A.To set up her own company.
B.To win herself greater popularity.
C.To write her books in a new way.
D.To make book signings less tiring.
答案：D 推理判断题。根据第二段第一句After many tiring...from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them.可知答案。
52.How does the LongPen work?
A.It copies the author's signature and prints it on a book.
B.It signs a book while receiving the author's signature.
C.The webcam sends the author's signature to another city.
D.The fan uses it to copy the author's signature himself.
答案：B 细节理解题。从第二段的 The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet(手写板) using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book.可知答案。
53.What do we know about the invention of the LongPen?
A.It has been completed but not put into use.
B.The basement caught fire by accident.
C.Some versions failed before its test run.
D.The designers were wellprepared for the difficulty.
答案：C 推理判断题。根据第三段第三句话The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. 可知答案。
54.How could the LongPen be used in the future?
A.To draft legal documents.
B.To improve credit card security.
C.To keep a record of the author's ideas.
D.To allow author and fan to exchange videos.
答案：B 推理判断题。从第四段的第三句话It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province.可知答案。
55.What could be inferred from Paragraphs 5 and 6?
A.Atwood doesn't mean to end book tours.
B.Critics think the LongPen is of little use.
C.Bookstore owners don't support the LongPen.
D.Publishers dislike the LongPen for its high cost.
答案：A 推理判断题。从最后一段的最后一句话But she said, “It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn't afford it.”可知答案。
