阅读理解 Although there had been various small cameras developed, it was not until George Eastman introduced the Kodak in 1888 that the mass appeal of photography attracted America and Europe and thereafter spread quickly to the far corners of the earth. Eastman called his new famous camera the Kodak for no particular reason except that he liked the word. It was easy to remember and could be pronounced in any language. An immediate consequence of Eastman'' s invention was a blizzard of amateur photographs that soon became known as snapshots. The word came from hunters'' jargon. When a hunter fired a gun from the hip, without taking careful aim, it was described as a snapshot. Photographers referred to the process of taking pictures as shooting, and they would take pride in a good day''s shoot the way country gentlemen would boast about the number of birds brought down in an afternoon. Photography became not only easy but fun because of the Kodak. Almost overnight photography became one of the world''s most popular hobbies. A new and universal folk art was born; the showing of one''s latest pictures and the creation of family albums became popular social pastimes. Camera clubs and associations numbered their members in the millions. One ardent amateur was the French novelist Emile Zola, who took a lot of photographs of his family, friends, and travels. Interviewed about his favorite hobby in 1900, he observed, "I think you cannot say you have thoroughly seen anything until you have got a photograph of it." "The little black box," as the Kodak was affectionately dubbed, revolutionized the way people communicated. "A picture is worth a thousand words" was the claim and there were literally billions of pictures. In one year alone― 1988, the centenary of the invention of the Kodak ― it is estimated that almost thirty billion were taken in America alone. The impact of the sale of photographic equipment on the economy is equally mind-boggling. Photography has played an essential role in the media revolution. It has greatly enhanced our ability to convey information, so that the concept of the global village has become a commonplace. Photographs have greatly extended our understanding of and compassion for our fellow human beings. Did Mr. Eastman have the faintest idea of the power residing in his "little black box" ?
单选题 What was the underlying significance of the invention of the Kodak?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】从第一段可知:the mass appeal of photography attracted American and Europe and thereafter spread quickly to the far comers of the earth.大众迷恋摄影,这种潮流从美国、欧洲迅速漫延到世界各地。由此可推断,柯达胶卷的发明,使摄影在普通人之间一下子流行起来。故应选B。
单选题 Snapshot, as is explained in the passage, refers to
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】snapshot“快拍”。第二段第二行:when a hunter fired a gun from the hip,without taking careful aim,it was described as a snapshot.摄影师也把摄影称为打猎。故应选C。
单选题 Which of the following is NOT a result brought out by the Kodak according to the passage?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】文章第二段:a blizzard of amateur photographs。指业余摄影师迅速增加掀起了摄影风暴,而不是专业摄影师迅速增长。故应选C。
单选题 From context clues, we can guess that the word "centenary" (Para.4,line 3) means
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】centenary“百年纪念”,从文中1888年到1988可推断是100年。故应选B。
单选题 The popularity of photography has not only revolutionized the way people communicate, but it has
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】摄影的普及不仅改变了人们的交流方式,也:选项A:促进经济大幅增长。正确,第四段最后一句:The impact of the sale of photographic equipment on the economy is equally mind-boggling.摄影器材的销售,对经济产生的增长幅度会把人吓一大跳。选项B:提高信息的转换效益。正确,文章最后一段第一行:It has greatly enhanced our ability to convey information.选项C:增进人类之间的理解。正确,文章倒数第二行:photographs have greatly extended our understanding of and compassion for our fellow human beings.故应选D。