12．What does the word"patent （專利權(quán)）"mean to you？Does it interest you？If it does，stop and think a moment about some of the commonplace things that you use every day：the telephone，radio，television，and the thousands of other things that enrich our lives today，were once only ideas in the minds of men．If it had not been possible to patent their ideas，so as to protect them from being copied，these inventions might never have been fully developed to serve human beings．
If there were no patent protection there would be little encouragement to invent，for once the secrets of an invention became known，those who did not experience the inventor's risks and expenses（花費） might well fill the market with their copies of his product and steal much of the benefit （益處） of his efforts．
The most basic values in the U．S．patent system came from England．During the rule of Queen Elizabeth I in England，the growing technology was furthered by the giving of exclusive privileges （獨家特權(quán)） to people who had invented new processes （程序） or tools-a step that did much to encourage creativity．Later，an important value was added：society had everything to gain and nothing to lose by giving exclusive privileges to an inventor，because a patent for an invention was given for something new that society never had before．
George Washington signed the first patent law on April 10，1790，and less than four months later，the first patent was given to a man named Samuel Hopkins for a chemical process，an improved method in soap making．
In 1936，the Patent Office became a separate department and it has grown into an organization of over 2，500people who every week deal with more than 1，600patent applications，and of those，give more than 1，000．A patent may be given for any new and useful process，machine，or planning method．
The patent system has also helped to improve the pay of the American worker to an unexpected level； he can produce and earn more by using computers or adding machines，two important patented inventions．Patented inventions also help keep prices down by encouraging competition．
Our patent laws，like the Constitution from which they grew，have stood the test of time．They have encouraged creative processes，brought great benefits to society as a whole，and enabled American technology to outstrip that of the rest of the modern world．
56．From the passage，what can we learn about inventors？D
A．They make a lot of money．
B．They fight against copiers．
C．They have a lot of experience．
D．They put effort into inventions．
57．Why were inventors given exclusive privileges？B
A．Because their inventions made leaders happy．
B．Because their creativity is very important．
C．Because their inventions could enlarge society．
D．Because they were the smartest people in society．
58．According to the passage，the patent system is good for America becauseC．
A．it helps more workers get jobs
B．it provides a first-class service
C．it produces less expensive things
D．it helps inventors find markets
59．What is the meaning of"outstrip"in the last paragraph？A
A．be better than
B．catch up with
C．make better use of
D．cost more than．
分析 文章大意：主要介紹了專利，美國誕生了第一部專利法，鼓勵創(chuàng)造性的過程，帶來了巨大的利益的社會作為一個整體，并且促使美國在科技上能夠超越現(xiàn)代世界里的其他國家．
解答 56-59：DBCA
56題答案：D考查細(xì)節(jié)理解題，根據(jù)文中的最后一段可知，鼓勵創(chuàng)造性的過程，帶來了巨大的利益的社會作為一個整體，使美國的技術(shù)超越了現(xiàn)代世界的休息．所以人們努力發(fā)明創(chuàng)造，故答案是D．
57題答案：B考查細(xì)節(jié)理解題，根據(jù)文中的第二段可知 因為他們的創(chuàng)造力很重要，故答案是B．
58題答案：C考查細(xì)節(jié)理解題，根據(jù)文中的倒數(shù)第二段two important patented inventions．Patented inventions also help keep prices down by encouraging competition．可知 物品的價錢降低了，故答案是C．
59題答案：A考查細(xì)節(jié)理解題，根據(jù)文中的句意并且促使美國在科技上能夠超越現(xiàn)代世界里的其他國家，故答案是A．
點評 本文是一篇日常生活類閱讀，題目涉及多道細(xì)節(jié)理解題，做題時結(jié)合原文和題目有針對 性找出相關(guān)語句進行仔細(xì)分析，結(jié)合選項選出正確答案．推理判斷也是要在抓住關(guān)鍵句子的基礎(chǔ)上合理的分析才能得出正確的答案．
