A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world’s first long-distance signing device(裝置), the LongPen.

After many tiring book-signing tours 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)絡攝像機) 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, test runs were 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.”

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.

D . To make book signings less tiring.

2.How does the LongPen work?

A.It 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.

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.

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

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 don’t support the LongPen

D. Publishers dislike the LongPen for its high cost.

 

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.B

5.A

【解析】

試題分析: 本文是一篇說明文，介紹了世界著名的加拿大作家Margaret Atwood發(fā)明的一種特殊的遠程簽字筆LongPen。這種筆可以讓作者在很遠的城市為讀者簽名。在文章中介紹了這種發(fā)明的起因以及發(fā)明過程等信息。

1.根據(jù)文章第二段第一行After many tiring book-signing from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them .可知在很多次令人疲憊的簽名售書的活動以后，他認為應該有一個更好的方法。說明他想這樣做是因為簽名這項任務令他感到疲憊了。故選D。

2.根據(jù)第二段中Here’s how it works: 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.可知當作者在一個城市里用一支特殊的筆簽名時，另外一個城市里的自動手臂會接收到信號也會寫下同樣的內(nèi)容，故選B。

3.推理判斷題。由文中第三段第三句：The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it.可知這個裝置的發(fā)明經(jīng)歷了很多次的失敗，最后才獲得成功，故選C。

4.細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章第四段內(nèi)容It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province.可知這種技術可以應用在信用卡技術方面以提高信用卡的安全性，選B。

5.推理判斷題。根據(jù)第六段末句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.”可知宣傳書的活動會讓作者有機會去更多沒有去過的地方，說明他發(fā)明LongPen并不想結(jié)束book tours.，而是讓自己有更多的機會到處走走，故A正確。

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