C
Would you be able to go through a whole day without using a light bulb? Most people probably wouldn’t. Today, almost every building uses light bulbs as their main light source. Although we use them daily without much thought, light bulbs were once a costly and the newest technology. A lot of people’s hard work led to the light bulb’s invention, which has impacted our lives greatly.
The first light bulbs were glass containers that release light when an electric current heated a part inside called a filament(灯丝). Electric light bulbs are also known as incandescent(白炽的) light bulbs. These days, we use energy-saving bulbs that are better for the environment. Nick Holonyak, Jr., an American engineer, invented the first light-emitting diode light (LED) in 1962. An LED light bulb uses one-third the electricity as an incandescent light and lasts far longer.
In 1802, a British scientist named Humphry Davy created the first electric light. Then, in 1835, other British scientists created the first constant stream of electric light, although the light didn’t shine very long. In the following decades, scientists experimented with light bulb filaments made of different types of materials, hoping to create a longer stream of electric light. In I860, Joseph Swan found a material that produced a good light, but it burned out quickly. By this time, none of the light bulbs created were ready to be sold to the public for everyday use. Then, in 1878, Thomas Edison made more progress. He spent a lot of time researching what previous scientists had done. He and his team spent years experimenting with light bulb filaments. They eventually created the first light bulb that could release constant electric light for 1,200 hours. Edison immediately patented(取得专利) his light bulb design so that light bulbs could be produced and sold.
Light bulbs were safer and more convenient to use than oil lamps and candles. Increased use of light bulbs resulted in people being able to have a longer work day, so the average work day increased. Light bulbs also led to changes in building designs. Architects created windowless buildings, and lights could be placed in elevators and other new places.
76. From Paragraph 1, we can learn that light bulbs were __________ in the past.
A. common B. expensive C. hard D. great
77. According to the passage, which one invented the first electric light bulbs?
A. Nick Holonyak. B. Humphry Davy. C. Joseph Swan. D. Thomas Edison.
78. According to the passage, what was the main problem in improving light bulbs?
A. There was not enough money and engineering support.
B. There were no materials that could be used to save power.
C. Scientists from different countries couldn’t work together.
D. It was hard to find a filament material that shone long.
79. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Light bulbs were as convenient as candles and oil lamps.
B. Edison made it possible to sell light bulbs to the public.
C. LED can save more power and make people’s work time longer.
D. Light bulbs make people stay in windowless rooms on work days.
80. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A. The invention we depend on. B. The great inventors.
C. The history of science and technology. D. What changes building designs?
非选择题部分 共45分
VII.选词填空(10分)
A. 阅读短文,从方框中选择适当的单词填空 (每词限用一次)。
in one value lazy know |
China and Western countries may have different cultures about certain animals. But when it comes to pigs, we all nod in agreement that pigs are ugly, (81) _________ and stupid.
However, the truth is that pigs do have some finer qualities. And there’s probably no better time to clear their names than now, with the Year of the Pig in China. Science has proved that pigs aren’t stupid at all. They have good long-term memories. And they (82)_________ the difference between those who treat them well and those who don’t. Also, there are cute pig characters (83)_________ cartoons too. Peppa Pig, for example, is now (84)_________of the most popular cartoons in the world. The four members of the cartoon’s pig family teach children about love, friendship, and the (85)_________ of family.