Question

【题目】 Today's personal computers are very different from the huge machines that were born during World War II-and the difference isn't only in their size. By the 1970s, these early PCs could not perform many of the tasks that today's computers can. Users could only do mathematical calculations(数学计算) and play simple games. Today PCs are used in many different kinds of ways. At home and at work, we use our PCs to do almost everything. It is nearly impossible to imagine modern life without them.

The earliest computers were not "personal" in any way: They were large and expensive, and they required a team of engineers and other experts to keep them running. One of the first and most famous of these, the Electronic Numerical Integrator Analyzer and Computer (ENIAC), was built at the University of Pennsylvania. ENIAC cost ﹩500, 000, weighed 30 tons and took up nearly 2, 000 square feet of floor space.

ENIAC and other early computers proved that the machines were worth so much money, space and manpower they needed. For example, ENIAC could solve in 30 seconds a problem that could take a team of human "computers" 12 hours to complete. At the same time, new technologies were making it possible to build smaller computers.

But one of the most important of the inventions that make way for the PC revolution was the microprocessor(微处理器). Microprocessors were the size of a nail. They could run the computer's programs, remember information and manage data(数据) all by themselves.

These new ideas made it cheaper and easier to produce computers than ever before. As a result, the smaller, cheaper "microcomputer"-soon known as the "personal computer"-was born. Today, portable computers, smart phones and ipads allow us to have a PC with us wherever we go.

【1】What's mainly talked about in the first paragraph? ______

A.An even more relaxing lifestyle without PCs.

B.PCs can be made full use of to do everything.

C.Differences between modern and early PCs.

D.The difficult situation of PCs being born.

【2】What do we know about the earliest computers? ______

A.It was easy to control them.B.They took up too much room.

C.Nobody could afford one.D.They were built by universities.

【3】Why does the writer take ENIAC for example? ______

A.To predict high technology will make computers smaller.

B.To show computers are really smarter than human beings.

C.To explain why computers could deal with any problem.

D.To prove spending money on early computers was meaningful.

【4】Which of the following makes the biggest contribution to microcomputers? ______

A.Microprocessors.B.Programs.C.Money.D.Imagination.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】D

【3】D

【4】A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。今天的个人电脑与第二次世界大战期间诞生的巨型机器有很大的不同，而且这种不同不仅仅体现在它们的大小上。文章主要说明了以最早最著名的ENIAC为代表的早期电脑的一些情况。

【1】主旨大意题。根据第一段中At home and at work, we use our PCs to do almost everything. It is nearly impossible to imagine modern life without them.(无论是在家里还是在工作中，我们几乎可以用电脑做任何事情。几乎难以想象没有它们的现代生活)可知本段主要讲述了个人电脑可以用来做任何事情。故选B。

【2】细节理解题。根据第二段中One of the first and most famous of these, the Electronic Numerical Integrator Analyzer and Computer (ENIAC), was built at the University of Pennsylvania.(其中最早也是最著名的电子数字积分分析仪和计算机(ENIAC)就是在宾夕法尼亚大学制造的)可知最早的计算机是由大学建造的。故选D。

【3】推理判断题。根据第三段中ENIAC and other early computers proved that the machines were worth so much money, space and manpower they needed. For example, ENIAC could solve in 30 seconds a problem that could take a team of human "computers" 12 hours to complete.( ENIAC和其他早期的计算机证明了这些机器的价值，它们需要大量的金钱、空间和人力。例如，ENIAC可以在30秒内解决一个需要人类“计算机”团队12小时才能完成的问题)可知作者要ENIAC为例是为了证明在早期电脑上花钱是有意义的。故选D。

【4】细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中But one of the most important of the inventions that make way for the PC revolution was the microprocessor(微处理器).(但是为个人电脑革命开路的最重要的发明之一是微处理器)可知微处理器对微型计算机的贡献最大。故选A。