单选题
Did you know that the parachute was invented before the airplane? This is (1) but true. The first airplane was flown in 1903. However, Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian artist-scientist, drew sketches of a (2) over 450 years ago. The first successful parachute jump was made from a tower (3) a French scientist, Sebastien Lenormand, in 1783. In 1785 J. P. Blanchard of France used a parachute to eject a dog from a hot-air balloon. People (4) to use parachutes first for thrills and fun. Andre Jacques Garnerin, also of (5) , was the first to drop from a balloon at a (6) of 2000 feet using a parachute. Garnerin continued to parachute for a number of years, as (7) many others. It wasn't until World War I, (8) , that the parachute became important for saving lives. By the end of the war, it had become standard safety equipment for nearly all (9) . In addition, parachutes were also worn by military passengers on (10) . Today the parachute is used (11) several purposes. It is invaluable when firefighters must be dropped at the scene of a fire in (12) areas. These areas are often (13) isolated that they can't be reached by other means. The parachute is also used to drop rescuers and supplies to victims of disasters. It is also used by the military to (14) soldiers and equipment. Parachute jumping has also become a popular (15) . Many airports have schools that teach correct procedure. They also provide the airplanes to carry (16) aloft. Experienced jumpers often take up sky diving. In sky diving the jumpers don't open their parachutes immediately. (17) they fall freely toward the earth doing various tricks, after which they then open their parachutes. They do this just in time for a safe (18) . There are many (19) records in parachuting. The longest fall before opening a parachute for a safe landing was accomplished in 1962 by a Russian who fell over fifteen and one-half miles (20) using the parachute. The highest jump was made by an American in 1960. Air Force Captain Joseph Kittinger, Jr., jumped from a balloon nineteen and one-half miles high.
单选题
A. sad B. unfortunate C. strange D. humorous
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】
单选题
A. plane B. parachute C. painting D. sketch
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】
单选题
A. by B. through C. with D. as
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】by表示动作是由……完成的。
单选题
A. ended B. abandoned C. banned D. started
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】start to do...表示“开始做……”。此处意为人们最初使用降落伞是为了刺激和娱乐。
单选题
A. Italy B. Russia C. France D. America
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】Andre Jacques Carnerin与Leonardo da Vinci一样是法国人。
单选题
A. height B. place C. point D. average
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】height意为“高度”，此处表示Andre Jacques Garnerin是第一个借助降落伞从2000英尺高空中的气球上跳下来的人。
单选题
A. do B. did C. does D. done
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】叙述过去的事实要使用过去式。
单选题
A. when B. although C. that D. however
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】结合上下文，不难选出however，表转折。
单选题
A. soldiers B. sailors C. pilots D. mechanics
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】根据常识降落伞主要是由飞行员使用。
单选题
A. planes B. ships C. trains D. trucks
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】除了飞行员之外，使用降落伞的人还有军方的乘客。
单选题
A. to B. for C. as D. in
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】be used to...后接动词；be used for...接动名词或名词，表是使用目的；be used as...意为“作为……使用”，后面也接名词；be used in...意为“被用于……”。