Question

【题目】C

Burning less calories while walking seems like a bad idea, but making the walk easier may actually keep people on their feet longer, and that scientists say, has substantial health benefits.

Analyzing the human walk, biomedical engineers Steven Collins and Greg Sawicki concluded that our ankles and calves perform motions similar to a spring coupled with a clutch that intermittently stores and releases energy.

Sawicki, from the University of North Carolina, explained what’s involved.

“We found in basic science experiments that that system, your calf and Achilles tendon, works a lot like a catapult. So, the muscle holds on to the tendon and your body actually stretches your Achilles tendon quite a bit and then stores the energy in the tissue and then it’s given back to propel you forward in the world,” he said.

Sawicki said he and his colleague Steven Collins at Carnegie Mellon University designed a mechanical device, made of carbon fiber and metal, that performs the same sequence of energy give-and-take outside the body. The system takes over part of the work of walking, and reduces the amount of required energy by as much as seven percent.

Wearing the unpowered ankle exoskeleton can help people either walk farther with the same amount of energy, or restore the normal movement pattern for people who have trouble walking.

Sawicki said it takes only a few minutes to get used to the exoskeleton but the wearer quickly learns to tone down the muscle energy as the device takes over part of the load.

“You really don’t notice it until when you take it off. And when you take it off you realize that it was there and giving you the boost,” he said.

Sawicki added that the device is primarily intended for people recovering from surgery or a stroke. But all persons who spend a lot of time walking, such as police officers or hospital personnel, could benefit from it.

At the moment there are no plans to develop the ankle exoskeleton for the market, but the inventors say some manufacturers have expressed interest.

【1】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. How to reduce energy whiling walking.

B. Ways to make walking easy.

C. Introduction to a mechanical device to make walk easier

D. Guidelines for people recovering from surgery.

【2】What is true according to the passage ?

A.The device can only benefit people with walking problems.

B. All people could benefit from it.

C. With the device, the walkers need seven percent as much as the energy otherwise.

D. The device can benefit people in the long term.

【3】What does the underlined word ” propel” mean in paragraph 3?

A. put B. keep C.help D. push

【4】What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A. The ankle exoskeleton will have a bright future.

B. The ankle exoskeleton hasn’t appeal to manufacturers.

C. The ankle exoskeleton will be launched in the market soon.

D. The ankle exoskeleton will never be produced.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】D

【3】D

【4】A

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍发明家发明了一种让走路更轻松的设备，文章介绍这种设备的功能和好处。

【1】主旨题：根据文章内容： 可知文章介绍发明家发明了一种让走路更轻松的设备，文章介绍这种设备的功能和好处。故答案为C。

【2】细节题：根据文章第一段的句子：but making the walk easier may actually keep people on their feet longer, and that scientists say, has substantial health benefits.可知从长远角度看这种设备对人们的健康有好处。故答案为D。

【3】猜词题：根据文章第四段的句子：then it’s given back to propel you forward in the world,可知储存的能量可以推动你走得更远。故答案为D。

【4】推理题：根据最后一段的句子：but the inventors say some manufacturers have expressed interest.可知这种设备的前景还是光明的.故选A。