12.(BBC)The"father of the personal computer"who kick-started the careers of Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen has died at the age of 68.Dr Henry Edward Roberts was the inventor of the Altair 8800,a machine that led to the home computer age.
Gates and Allen contacted Dr Roberts after seeing the machine on the front cover of a magazine and offered to write software for it.The program was known as Altair-Basic,the foundation of Microsoft's business."Ed was willing to take a chance on us-two young guys interested in computers,and we have always been thankful to him,"the Microsoft founders said in a statement.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told technology website CNET that Dr Roberts had taken"a critically important step that led to everything we have today".
Dr Roberts was the founder of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS),originally set up to sell electronics parts to model rocket hobbyists.The company went on to sell electronic calculator parts,but was soon overshadowed by bigger firms.
In the mid-1970's,with the firm struggling with debt,Dr Roberts began to develop a computer kit(配套零件) for hobbyists.The result was the Altair 8800.The﹩395kit (around£1,000today) was featured on the cover of Popular Electronics in 1975,resulting in a flood of orders.
Amongst those interested in the machine were Paul Allen and Bill Gates.The pair contacted Dr Roberts,offering to write software that would help people program the machine.The pair finally moved to Albuquerque-the home of MITS-where they founded Micro-Soft,to develop their software.
Dr Roberts sold his company in 1977.He died in hospital on 1April after a long period of pneumonia.(肺炎)
53.Why did Dr Roberts probably decide to sell his company?D
A.Because he was in heavy debt in the mid-1980's.
B.Because he wanted to take a chance on Gates and Allen.
C.Because he wanted to develop a computer kit for hobbyists.
D.Because he had difficulty competing with big companies.
54.What do we know about MITS?C
A.It was set up by Steve Wozniak.
B.It sold electronics parts to big firms.
C.It is located in Albuquerque.
D.It is a technology website.
55.We can learn that Popular Electronics is likely to beB.
A.a newspaper B.a magazine
C.a Website D.an organization
56.What is the best title of this passage?C
A.The story of the Altair 8800
B.The founder of MITS
C.Father of the personal computer died
D.The story of Dr Roberts.
分析 本文为新闻报道,主要介绍了"father of the personal computer"电脑之父"Dr Roberts"因病去世的事情.
解答 53---56 DCBC
53.D 细节理解题.在第四段"The company went on to sell electronic calculator parts,but was soon overshadowed by bigger firms."提到了由于不能于其他公司竞争,所以Dr Roberts 决定卖掉公司,故答案为D.
54.C 细节理解题.倒数第二段"he pair finally moved to Albuquerque-the home of MITS-"这句话推出,"Albuquerque"是MITS的所在地,故答案为C.
55.B 细节推理题."on the cover of Popular Electronics in 1975"这句话提到了"cover"意为"封面"所以可以判断是一本杂志的名字,故答案为B.
56.C 主旨大意题.根据全文内容可以看出,主要介绍了电脑之父"Dr Roberts"因病去世的事情,故答案为C.
点评 本篇阅读理解为新闻题材,难度不大,主要考生学生对新闻大意的把握,通常在第一段,然后带着问题去寻找答案.