A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world’s first long-distance signing device(裝置), the LongPen.
After many tiring……from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them . She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. Here’s how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet(手寫(xiě)板) using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams(網(wǎng)絡(luò)攝像機(jī)) and computer screens。
Work on the LongPen began in Atwood’s basement(地下室). At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. The investing finally completed, teat runs w ere made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. From here , Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City.
The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used.
“It’s really fun”, said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs. “Obviously you can’t shake hands with the author but there are chances for a connection that you don’t get from a regular book signing..
The response to the invention has not been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she is trying to end book tours. But she said, “It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn’t  afford it.”
【小題1】Why did Atwood decide to invent the LongPen?
A. To set up her own company
B. To win herself greater popularity
C. To write her books in a new way
C. To make book signings less tiring
【小題2】How does the LongPen work?

A．I copies the author’s signature and prints it on a book.
B．It signs a book while receiving the author’s signature.
C．The webcam sends the author’s signature to another city.
D．The fan uses it to copy the author’s signature himself.
【小題3】What do we know about the invention of the LongPen?
A．It has been completed but not put into use.
B．The basement caught fire by accident.
C．Some versions failed before its test run.
D．The designers were well-prepared for the difficulty.
【小題4】How could the LongPen be used in the future?
A．To draft legal documents.
B．To improve credit card security
C．To keep a record of the author’s ideas.
D．To allow author and fan to exchange videos
【小題5】What could be inferred from Paragraphs 5 and 6?
A．Atwood doesn’t mean to end book tours.
B．Critics think the LongPen is of little use
C．Bookstore owners do not support the LongPen
D．Publishers dislike the LongPen for its high cost


【小題1】D
【小題2】B
【小題3】C
【小題4】B
【小題5】A

解析【文章大意】這是一篇記敘文。短文敘述了Atwood的發(fā)明遠(yuǎn)距離的簽名裝置—Longpen的原因，是為了避免簽名帶來(lái)的煩惱，他的發(fā)明經(jīng)過(guò)幾次失敗后，終于成功了，得到了社會(huì)的認(rèn)可。
【小題1】D. 考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。為什么Atwood決定發(fā)明Longpen?根據(jù)After many tiring book-signing tours from city to city,Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them.可知Atwood為了使簽名不再是令人煩惱的事，而發(fā)明了這種遠(yuǎn)距離的簽名裝置—Longpen，故選D。
【小題2】B. 考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。Longpen是怎樣工作的？根據(jù)The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet using a special pen.On the receiving end,in another city,a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book.可知作者現(xiàn)在電腦上有一支特殊的筆簽名，之后用這種機(jī)器筆寫(xiě)在要簽名的書(shū)上。故選B。
【小題3】C. 考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。我們了解Longpen的哪些內(nèi)容？根據(jù)The device went several versions,including one that actually had smoke coming out of it.The inventing finally completed.可知經(jīng)過(guò)幾次試驗(yàn)后，終于試驗(yàn)成功。故選C。
【小題4】B. 考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。Longpen怎樣在未來(lái)能夠被使用？根據(jù)It has several other potential applications.It could credit card security .可知必須保證信用卡的安全，故選B。
【小題5】A. 考查判斷推理。從5、6段能夠推理出什么？根據(jù)It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the published couldn’t afford it.可以推知Atwood的發(fā)明并不意味著阻止作者的簽名旅行。故選A。這題干擾最大的是選項(xiàng)D，考生會(huì)認(rèn)為是出版商不喜歡這種產(chǎn)品的高額的費(fèi)用。
考點(diǎn)：科普類(lèi)閱讀。

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。
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B．Android＞W(wǎng)indows Mobile＞iOS＞Symbian
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A huge cloud of dust rose and an overpass disappeared. This was the scene in Zhuzhou，Hunan Province on May 17.Nine people were killed and 16 injured.
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【小題1】What does the passage mainly introduce?

A．The collapse of an overpass in Zhuzhou，Hunan Province. 
B．The Sichuan earthquake 
C．A material that turns red before it breaks. 
D．A way of preventing building from collapsing. 
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【小題3】Which of the following is a WRONG statement?
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D．A color­changing material can turn red before it breaks. 
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A．The color­changing molecules are certain to be used outside the lab. 
B．There will be no collapse with the help of the color­changing material. 
C．There is a long way to go before the material can be applied. 
D．The problem caused by bright light will be solved by scientists. 

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