A
More than a hundred years ago, two boys were fishing in a small river. They sat in a heavy-bottomed boat, each holding a long, bent pole in his hands and eagerly waiting for “a bite”. When they wanted to move the boat from one place to another they had to push against a long pole into the bottom of the stream.
“This is slow work, Robert,” said the older of the boys. “Yes, Christopher, and it’s hard work, too.” answered Robert. “I think there’s some better way of moving a boat.”
Christopher advised rowing it and Robert promised to make some paddles (桨). The next day Robert’s aunt heard a great noise in her house. The two boys were there, busily working. “What are you making, Robert?” she asked. He told his plan. His aunt laughed and said, “Well done! I hope you’ll succeed.”
After much work, they succeeded in making two paddle wheels. They were very rough, but strong and usable. They fixed each of these wheels to the end of an iron rod (长杆) which they passed through the boat from side to side. The rod was bent in the middle. When the work was finished, the old fishing boat looked rather strange, with a paddle wheel on each side. The boys lost no time in trying it. One of the boys could guide the boat while the other turned the paddle wheels.
That night when Christopher went home, he told his father a wonderful story. “Robert Fulton planned the whole thing,” he said, “and I helped him make the paddles and put them on the boat.” When Robert Fulton became a man, he didn’t forget his experiment with the old fishing boat. He kept on thinking and working, until at last he succeeded in making a boat with paddle wheels that could be run by steam. He’s now honored as the inventor of the steamboat.
1. How did the two boys move their heavy boat at first?
A. By moving two paddle wheels. B. By pushing two paddles in the water.
C. By using a long pole in the water. D. By moving their hands in the water.
2. What did Robert’s aunt do when she knew about his plan?
A. She helped Robert work on it. B. She didn’t care about Robert.
C. She laughed at Robert much. D. She wished Robert success.
3. The underlined words “a wonderful story” in the last paragraph may refer to __________.
A. the invention of paddle wheels B. Christopher’s successful plan
C. Christopher’s skill in guiding the boat D. the old fishing boat
【答案】1. C 2. D 3. A
【解析】
本文是一篇记叙文，讲述了蒸汽船的发明者Robert小时候和朋友Christopher一起发明和制作浆轮的故事。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段中的“When they wanted to move the boat from one place to another they had to push against a long pole into the bottom of the stream.”可知，他们用一根长杆来移动船，故C项正确。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段中的“He told his plan. His aunt laughed and said, “Well done! I hope you’ll succeed.””可知，听到Robert的计划后，他的姑姑希望他能成功，故D项正确。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据画线部分后的““Robert Fulton planned the whole thing,” he said, “and I helped him make the paddles and put them on the boat.””可知，Christopher告诉爸爸的就是Robert发明浆轮的故事，故A项正确。
