Question

Often we take for granted the many household items we use every day. It is difficult to imagine there was a time in the past when these inventions did not exist. Actually, several of the most common inventions have been with us for quite some time. Inventions like toothbrush, contact lenses（隐形眼镜）, and credit cards came into use long ago.
The first toothbrush was introduced in China in the late 1400s but it was only 300 years later that this simple tool came into common use in Europe. By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental(牙齿的) care became more widespread. The first tube of toothpaste hit the market in Great Britain in 1891.
There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827. However, SirJohn Herschel was never able to create a working model of his idea. It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for producing precision (精密)lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses,and the Zeiss factory in Germany  began to produce contact lenses.
Credit cards have also been available for many years. They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world.
While it may be true that some of the greatest inventions and discoveries in history came about by chance, the majority of inventions that simplify our lives today came about through careful research and patient study. Of course, it still holds true that even with all the comforts of modern technology, inventors continue to search for ways of helping all of us get out of doing those necessary but tedious (乏味的) tasks which we still face. As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
【小题1】From the second paragraph we can learn that _____.

A．toothbrushes came into common use in Europe in the 17th century

B．people could enjoy a variety of paste and powder cleaners in the 18th century

C．more and more people paid attention to dental care throughout Europe in the 19th century

D．the English could use different kinds of tubes of toothpaste in the early 19th century

【小题2】All of the following made a contribution to the invention and use of contact lenses EXCEPT _______.

A．Diners Club	B．Sir John Herschel
C．Dr Eugen Frick	D．the Zeiss factory

【小题3】Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the fourth paragraph?
A. Credit cards have a history of about two hundred years.
B. Three kinds of credit cards are being used in the USA.
C. The use of credit cards is closely related to the economic development.
D. American Express is only used by American travelers now.
【小题4】The last paragraph mainly tells us that ______.

A．the greatest inventions came about by chance

B．inventions came about through careful research and patient study

C．inventors still continue to make inventions

D．necessity is the mother of invention

Answer 1

【小题1】C
【小题2】A
【小题3】C
【小题4】D

解析试题分析：
【小题1】这是细节理解题。根据By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental care became more widespread.可以看出应选C
【小题2】这是细节理解题。根据第三自然段There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827 It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for manufacturing precision lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses, which led the Zeiss factory in Germany to begin manufacturing contact lenses.可知应选A
【小题3】这是推理判断题。根据They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world.可知信用卡的使用和经济的增长有密切的关系。故选C
【小题4】这是总结段落大意题。短文的最后一句点题，是中心句，故选D
考点：这是一篇说明文。
点评：文中介绍了牙刷、隐形眼镜、信用卡的发明及使用的历史情况。做总结段意题要找出段落的中心句，一般情况是在段落的开头或末尾。