A
David Braben is a very wellknown game developer who runs the UK development studio, Frontier Developments, but is just as wellknown for being the developer of “Elite”．Over his career his studio has brought us the “Rollercoaster Tycoon” series and most recently “Kinectimals”．
In the background, however, Braben has been trying to solve another problem: getting programming and general learning of how computers work back into schools.
Braben says that education since we entered the 2000s has turned towards teaching useful skills such as writing on computer, how to get information, and learning basic computer use skills.And those have supplanted more computer sciencelike skills such as basic programming and understanding the hardware (硬件) contained in a computer.
His solution is not to create his own course, but instead to make a lowcost PC that can be given to kids for free and his courses are built up around their use.A personal computer is important for each student to have in class.When we say “low cost”， we mean the cost is so low that even “One Laptop per Child” would be realized.Braben has developed a tiny PC.How much is the cost？$25.This is the answer to anyone that says he/she can't afford a computer.The hardware being offered is good, too.The new tiny PC will let the user look through the Internet and give the user a fully functional(功能) computer to play with.And it can be carried in your pocket or on a key chain.
This tiny cheap PC is going to be given to schools through a new charitable foundation(慈善机构) called the Raspberry Pi Foundation.It will help computer science studies in schools.Braben says he hopes that they will be given within the next 12 months.
【语篇解读】 David Braben研制了只有钥匙扣那么小的计算机，并且免费送给学校的孩子们。
1．What David Braben has been trying to do is ________．
A．running the UK development studio
B．letting children learn sciencelike skills
C．creating more advanced computers
D．creating more computer games
B [推理判断题。根据第二段的“Braben has been trying to solve another problem: getting programming and general learning of how computers work back into schools.”可以推断出答案。]
2．What does the underlined word “supplanted” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A．Used. B．Changed.
C．Designed. D．Replaced.
D [词义猜测题。根据语境可知此处指电脑应用技术已取代了computer sciencelike skills。]
3．What do we know about the PC David Braben is developing?
A．It is small and very cheap.
B．Its hardware isn't very good.
C．It isn't a fully functional one.
D．It is cheap and not special.
A [细节理解题。根据最后一段的“This tiny cheap PC”可知David Braben研制的计算机又小又便宜。]
4．What kind of person do you think David Braben is?
A．He is mean, rich and famous.
B．He is able, wise and mean.
C．He is rich, selfish and successful.
D．He is able, famous and warmhearted.
D [推理判断题。通读全文后知道Braben是有名的电子游戏的开发者，开发了许多产品。他研制了小的计算机，并且免费送给孩子们，可知他是有才华的、著名并且充满爱心的。]
