Have you dreamed of building your own machine? Do you wish you could invent something new? Here we look at a few British inventions of recent times.

Adaptable glasses

Do you wear glasses? If so, can you imagine life without them? In 1985, Joshua Silver, a professor at Oxford University, asked himself, “Can I invent a pair of glasses that could be changed by the wearer?” He designed two plastic lenses（透镜）that are filled with a special liquid. Using syringes（注射器）you change the liquid between the lenses until you can see clearly. The glasses are not beautiful but they are easy to use and cheap to make.

The wind-up radio

When you switch your TV on tonight, think about all those people without electricity. Thinking about this, Trevor Baylis came up with the idea of designing a radio that could be powered by hand. In common with Joshua Silver he wanted his invention to be cheap and easy to use. He wanted even the poorest people in developing countries, who don’t have electricity and cannot afford batteries, to use it. The radio has a generator (发电机) which is powered by turning a handle. In 1996 it won a BBC Design Award for Best Protect and Best Design.

The Dyson cleaner

In many homes around the world you can see a cleaner that looks like a spaceship. This is the Dyson vacuum (真空) cleaner which uses something called “cyclonic separation” to separate the dirt. You do not need a bag for your cleaner and it does not get blocked so it is very practical. The idea came to Sir James Dyson after he kept having problems with his vacuum cleaner. He decided he could design a better one and in 1993 he opened his own factory. The Dyson is now one of the best-selling cleaners in the UK and Dyson is believed to have earned over a billion pounds.

The Zapata fly-board

Ever dreamed of zooming through the water and leaping in the air like a dolphin? Now you can thanks to a fly-board, built by water sports enthusiast Frank Zapata. With it you can dive back in the water and out again. It’s possible to jump to incredible heights out of the water — over 30 feet. The basic fly-board model comes in at ￡4,200.

So keep dreaming and inventing. One day you might get it right.

1.What can we learn about Adaptable glasses?

A. They are very expensive.                                                  B. The inventor is a student.

C. The glasses are fragile.                                            D. They don’t look very nice.

2.Which invention won an award?

A. Adaptable glasses.                                                           B. The wind-up radio.

C. The Dyson cleaner.                                                           D. The Zapata fly-board.

3.The Dyson cleaner was invented with the purpose of _________.

A. helping people use cleaners more easily

B. making Dyson a rich businessman

C. keeping the house cleaner than before

D. taking the place of human cleaners

 

Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing. Three years ago, few people would go swimming in the icy waters, But now there is a Winter-swimming Enthusiast’s club(冬泳爱好者协会)and it has more than 2,000 members. The oldest is 84years old and the youngest in only 7. The members are from all walks of life. They may be workers, peasants, soldiers, teachers, students...

Though it is now the coldest part of the season and the water temperature in the city’s lakes is around 0℃, many winter swimmers still swim in the icy waters, even when it is snowing. They enjoy themselves in the lake, while the people by the side of the lake are wearing heavy clothes.

Why are so many people interested in winter-swimming? Because winter-swimming can be good for one’s health.

Bei Sha is a good example. He is 69,and he once suffered from heart trouble for 26 years. After ten years of winter-swimming he is now in good health. Scientists are now studying the effects of winter-swimming on health.

1.Among the winter-swimmers the oldest man is _______ years older than then youngest one.

        A. 91                 B.84               C.77            D.7

2.Guess what “The members are from all walks of life” means?

A. The members do different jobs at different places.

B. They come from all parts of Beijing.

C. They are persons of different ages.

D. They are men and women, old and young.

3.The winter-swimmers are able to swim in the icy waters, even on snowy days  because______.

A. They are not afraid of coldness.

B. They often swim in the icy waters.

C. They know that they can benefit from it.

D. winter-swimmers can make people healthy.

4.Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing because_____________.

   A. more and more people like to swim Beijing

B. it is more interesting than swimming in summer

C. winter-swimmers are brave men

D. winter-swimmers does a lot of good to one’s health

5.What’s the best title for this passage?

A. People in Beijing Like swimming in Winter

B. Winter-swimming—A Craze in Beijing [来源:Z*xx*k.Com]

C. People Benefit from Winter-swimming

D. winter-swimmers Are Brave Men

 

The people below are all looking for books to help themselves. After the description of these people, there is information about six books A---F. Decide which book would be most suitable for the person mentioned in questions 61---65 and mark the correct letter (A---F) on your answer sheet. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.

_____ Jim bought a home computer earlier this year and he’s become very enthusiastic about it, spending hours each evening ‘playing’ with it as his wife says. Unfortunately, he’s

getting a bit forgetful about things he’s promised to do!                             

___ Freda prefers action to reading or watching TV. She is planning to redecorate the

living room and she isn’t expecting any help from others!                             

____ Susan Laughton is taking ‘A’ Levels in English, History and Art next year and if she passes, she’s hoping to become a teacher.                                   

____Tony is very interested in animals and at the moment he wants to be a vet (a doctor for animals) when he grows up.                                   

___ Jessica loves flowers, though, as her family lives in a second floor flat, there’s no

garden for her to grow anything in.                                        

A: Book One

By Rachel Lawson

Over 100 color photographs, $ 22.00

Written to accompany an exciting new 13-part ITV television series, Nature Watch, this book describes the people who spend their lives working with the birds, animals and plants in various parts of the world. Their enthusiasm is brought to life with their own outstanding color photographs. Hints on nature watching for the amateur are found throughout.

B: Book Two

By Bob Dillard

150 color photographs and 490 color pictures, $ 16.50

Just the book for the job! With over 600 color photographs and pictures it covers the most popular DIY tasks around the home---painting, wall coverings, finishing furniture and woodwork, and putting up shelves. Full of handy tips and clear instructions

C: Book Three

By Will Smith, $ 7.5

Week to a page. A truly delightful family science magazine, each issue brings to light new software to make time before the screen interesting. This pocket diary provides a wide range of information for the enthusiast. Try it for 3 weeks for just 6.6. You can save 0.9.

D: Book Four

By Martin Ferguson

Color throughout, Paperback $ 9.5

Another title in the popular and practical Learn to Paint series, this beautifully illustrated book show you how to paint animals, birds, fish and butterflies in the studio and in the field. Every issue contains plenty of usable samples and provides a free photography page.

E: Book Five

By Cynthia Wildman

12 double-page color paintings 170 line drawings, $ 17.8

A fresh and useful approach to indoor gardening. A month-by-month guide to jobs to do, plants to look for, planning ahead and enjoying seasonal variations — to give year-round color in the home. Illustrated by original paintings for each month.

F: Book Six

By Conrad Ellis & Richard Hopkins, Paperback $ 9.8

A guide to success in written work, study and examinations for students in all subjects at colleges, and universities. Topics covered include: grammar, punctuation, and spelling; sentence and paragraph structure; research and library work; charts and diagrams; essays, reports, and exams; letters and application forms; listening and note-taking; talking and reading skills.

Riding a motorcycle is a popular way to travel. A motorcycle often has better acceleration than the fastest     . A motorcycle can      traffic jams and can speed ahead while the cars wait. A motorcycle is      to run --- you need less petrol per mile for a motorcycle than for most cars.

   But this doesn’t explain why, for some people, motorcycles are      a way to travel, they are a way of life. Everybody knows about the problems of riding a motorcycle. It’s quiet dangerous. It’s very uncomfortable too. However well dressed for a ride the motorcyclist is, wind and rain make the journey difficult and     . And then, motorcycles often      .

   But the       motorcyclist doesn’t care! 

   Take a look at any motorcycle magazine and you will have an idea of what motorcycling means to the enthusiast. The keen motorcyclist may sometimes think about the       of his way of life. But he will still go ‘on the ride’ whenever he can!

1.A. car                               B. bike           C. bus                     D. train

2.A. limit         B. control              C. avoid                  D. break

3.A. faster              B. easier                C. greater              D. cheaper

4.A. more than         B. less than                C. better than          D. worse than

5.A. puzzling             B. astonishing           C. tiring                   D. boring

6.A. break out          B. break down        C. break up               D. break in

7.A. generous          B. cautious                C. responsible          D. enthusiastic

8.A. safety                       B. excitement          C. difficulties            D. problems