A
Here’s a simple challenge: name a famous inventor. Perhaps Leonardo da Vinci springs to mind. Or the pioneer of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell. But you might be hard-pressed to name many female inventors, even though women are behind some of the most widely used technologies in the modern world.
For example, where would we be without the windscreen wiper? Back on a freezing winter’s day in 1902, Mary Anderson was traveling by tram through New York city. Snow was falling, forcing the driver to stop repeatedly and get out to clear it. Each time the door opened, Mary suffered. She had a brainwave: why not make something that could be operated from inside the vehicle? And that’s exactly what she did.
Let’s step in from freezing New York for our next invention. The dishwasher dates back even earlier to the 19th Century, and to the dinner parties thrown by a lady called Josephine Cochrane. As a frequent host, she wanted a machine that could wash dishes faster than people. Her response was to develop what was to become the first commercially successful dishwasher.
Need something to do while the dishwasher is on? How about a round of Monopoly(强手棋游戏)? One of the most popular board games around, the rules were first drawn up by a lady called Elizabeth Magie, and patented in 1904.
To an altogether different kind of innovation: Kevlar is the lightweight fibre used in bulletproof(防弹)vests. The material is used by millions every day and has saved countless lives and its strength-to-weight ratio is five times higher than steel.
Finally, one of the most important inventions of the 20th Century must surely be the computer programme. The world of programming is unbalanced among men and women, with men taking home around 30% more pay than their female partners on average. But back in the 1940s and 50s, women were at the forefront of this new field and Grace Hopper was one of them.
21. What do we know about the inventions mentioned in the text?
A. They were mostly made in the 20th century.
B. They all used high technology.
C. Their inventors came from families of good education.
D. They were all made by accident.
22. Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the text?
A. Josephine Cochrane wanted a machine that operated automatically.
B. The game invented by Magie was popular merely among teenagers.
C. Kevlar is the super tough fibre and stronger than steel.
D. Grace Hopper was good at computer programming.
23. What is the best title of this passage?
A. Women Made Greater Contributions than Men
B. The Most Useful Inventions by Women
C. The Most Widely Used Technologies
D. Women can be Great Inventors
