阅读理解。
When Babbage was working at Cambridge, a new idea occurred to him. He wanted to construct a
calculating machine to work out the solutions (解法) to maths problems not only with correctness but
also with a speed beyond the power of any human mind. His machine could solve problems involving
(涉及) long rows of figures in one continuous operation (运算).
In 1822 Babbage exhibited his invention and won a prize from the government. After that, he
immediately started to work on a larger machine designed to solve more difficult problems. Although he
received some money left by his father, the money was not enough to support his design. He wrote to
the government about his plan and was given ￡2500 to start with, a sum worth much more in those days
than it is now.
Babbage continued his work in London for four years. Then his health broke down, and he had to take
a long holiday abroad. When he returned to London in 1828, he was at the end of his resources. Many bills
remained unpaid. His chief assistant and co-workers quarreled with him and left with many expensive tools.
For one year no work was done. During this period, Babbage, whose mind was always active, suddenly
thought of a completely new idea for the machine. He rushed to meet the government officials to explain his
new idea. But this time, they were unwilling to help him. For eight years, they refused to say whether they
wanted the machine or not, and their final answer was "No."
From 1828 to 1839, Babbage held the position of professor at Cambridge very successfully. But his
greatest work was the unfinished calculating machine which stood covered in dust in his house. It was the
beginning of the modern computer.
1. The machine Babbage designed would solve difficult maths problems ______.
A. in one operation with few mistakes
B. in more than one operation without any mistakes
C. in more than one operation with slight mistakes
D. in one operation without any mistakes
2. Babbage failed to continue his research work in 1828 mainly because _______.
A. he was in poor health
B. he almost ran out of money
C. his co-workers argued with him
D. he spent all his money on his bills
3. Babage explained his new idea to the government officials, expecting that _______.
A. they would agree to his plan
B. they would pay for his new idea
C. they would support him with money
D. they would exhibit his new design
4. From the passage, we can infer that _______.
A. Babbage failed to be a famous scientist at Cambridge
B. Babbage always had new ideas but gave them up easily
C. Babbage always needed support from the government officials
D. Babbage was the first designer of the modern computer
