名校最新大学英语四级阅读精讲的系列讲义：(145)

　　Design of all the new tools and implements is based on careful experiments with electronic instruments. First, a human guinea pig is tested using a regular tool. Measurements are taken of the amount of work done, and the buildup of heat in the body. Twisted joints and stretched muscles can not perform as well, it has been found, as joints and muscles in their normal positions. The same person is then tested again, using a tool designed according to the suggestions made by Dr. Tichauer. All these tests have shown the great improvement of the new designs over the old.

　　One of the electronic instruments used by Dr. Tichauer, the myograph (肌动记器), makes visible through electrical signals the work done by human muscle.

　　Another machine measures any dangerous features of tools, thus proving information upon which to base a new design. One conclusion of tests made with this machine is that a tripod stepladder is more stable and safer to use than one with four legs.

　　This work has attracted the attention of efficiency experts and time-and-motion-study engineer, but its value goes far beyond that. Dr. Tichauer s first thought is for the health of the tool user. With the repeated use of the same tool all day long on production lines and in other jobs, even light manual work can put a heavy stress on one small area of the body. In time, such stress can cause a disabling disease. Furthermore, muscle fatigue is a serious safety hazard.

　　Efficiency is the by-product of comfort, Dr. Tichauer believes, and his new designs for traditional tools have proved his point.

　　1. What are involved in the design of a new tool according to the passage?

　　A) Electronic instruments and a regular tool.

　　B) A human guinea pig and a regular tool.

　　C) Electronic instruments and a human guinea pig .

　　D) Electronic instruments, a human guinea pig and a regular tool.

　　2. From the passage we know that joints and muscles perform best when __________________.

　　A) they are twisted and stretched

　　B) they are in their normal positions

　　C) they are tested with a human guinea pig

　　D) they are tested with electronic instruments

　　3. A myograph is an electronic instrument that ________________.

　　A) is able to design new tools

　　B) measures the amount of energy used

　　C) enable people to see the muscular movements

　　D) visualizes electrical signals

　　4. It can be inferred from the passage that ________________.

　　A) a stepladder used to have four legs.

　　B)it is dangerous to use tools

　　C) a tripod is safer in a tool design

　　D) workers are safer on production lines

　　5. Dr. Tichauer started his experiments initially to _________________.

　　A) improve efficiency

　　B)increase production

　　C) reduce work load

　　D) improve comfort

　　答案与解析：

　　1. D) 由第一段的前两句综合所有的细节。

　　2. B) 见第一段的第四句。

　　3. C) 本题考察利用上下文理解生词的能力。单词myograph所在的第二段说，这种仪器make visible through electrical signals the work done by human muscle，与C)基本是同样的意思。

　　4. A) 由第三段的第一句中的 a new design 可知，第二句中提到的a tripod ladder是a new design，相比之下，四条腿的梯子就是an old design了，也就是说，过去的stepladder是四条腿的。

　　5. D) 本题考察寻找细节。线索位于倒数第二段的第二句话。句子中的 Dr. Tichauer s first thought 对应于题干中的initially，后面的句子都是说明为了舒适;本题的另一线索是最后一段的第一句，Efficiency is the by-product of comfort，由此可知，Dr. Tichauer最初关心的是comfort。