Question

【题目】The iPhone the iPad: each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad(一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i”—and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer—which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet—used the title in 2008. A lovely bear—popular in the US and UK一that plays music and vide is called “iTeddy”. A slimmed-down version(简装本) of London’s Independent newspaper was stated last week under the name “i”.

In general, single-letter prefixes(前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.

Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.

But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i” Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College, London, “i”works because its meaning has becomc ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or intcractive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he says.

“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now connected with portability.” adds Thorne.

Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.

Along with“Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted“i”as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.

But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was connected with all things advanced and modern. How ever, as we entered the new century, the fashion disappeared.

【1】People use iPlayer to .

A. listen to music

B. make a call

C. watch TV programs online

D. read newspapers

【2】We can infer that the Independent’s “i” is designed for .

A. young readers

B. old readers

C. fashionable women

D. engineers

【3】The underlined word “ambiguous” means “ .”

A. popular

B. uncertain

C. clear

D. unique

【4】The writer suggests that .

A. “i” products are often of high quality

B. iTeddy is a live bear

C. the letter “b” replaces letter “i” to name the products

D. the popularity of “i” products may not last long

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】A

【3】B

【4】D

【解析】本文为说明文。苹果公司推出的带有i前缀的产品销售得异常火爆，你知道为什么吗？本文就介绍了这方面的取名知识。CABAD 　

【1】C细节理解题。根据第一段的The BBC’s iPlayer --- which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet判断选C。

【2】A推理判断题。根据第三段的内容可判断Independent's “i”主要针对的读者群是年轻人。故选A。

【3】B词义推测题。根据第四段最后两句所讲的例子可以判断ambiguous是“不明确的，模棱两可的”意思。故选B。

【4】D推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句But as history shows, people grow tired of ads以及后面的例子可推知作者认为带有i前缀的产品的盛行也维持不了太长的时间。故选D。

推理判断题要求在理解原文表面文字信息的基础上，做出一定的推理判断，从而得到文章的隐含意义和深层意义。推理判断题所涉及的内容可能是文中的某一句话，也可能是某几句话，所以，推理题的答案只能是根据原文表面文字信息一步推出的答案：即对原文某一句话或某几句话所作的同义改写或综合。本题第4小题，根据最后一段第一句But as history shows, people grow tired of ads以及后面的例子可推知作者认为带有i前缀的产品的盛行也维持不了太长的时间。故选D。