题文
Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle was invented in Germany in 1818. Because it was made of wood, it wasn’t very strong nor did it have pedals (脚踏板）.Riders moved it by pushing their feet against the ground.In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated levers, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t look much like the modem bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved pedal mechanism. They called their bicycle a velocipede，but most people called it a “bone shaker” because of the effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the impolite nickname, the velocipede was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for fun-seeking young people.
Ten years later, James Starley , an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient，and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-heavy，and ridden mostly for entertainment.
It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it easier to ride. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the back wheel. By 1893，the safety bicycle had been further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements provided by Lawson; bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
小题1:This passage was most likely written in order to _____.A．compare bicycles used for different purposesB．describe the problems early bicycle makers experiencedC．persuade readers to use bicycles for transportationD．tell readers about the early history of the bicycle小题2:Macmillan covered the wheels of his bicycle with iron to _____A．add weight to the bicycleB．make the bicycle easier to rideC．allow the wheels to last longerD．let the bicycle be more comfortable小题3:Which of the following bicycle types was invented by James Starley?
小题4:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?A．Two hundred years ago，bicycles did not exist.B．The first bicycle could be ridden at a very quick pace.C．The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a “bone shaker”.D．Macmillan’s machine had wheels with rubber tires.小题5:The information about bicycles in this passage is arranged according to _____.A．importanceB．timeC．placeD．Interest 题型：未知难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:D
小题2:C
小题3:B
小题4:A
小题5:B
解析
这篇文章讲述了自行车的发展历程，如今，自行车在全世界广泛流行。
小题1:细节题。这篇文章主要给读者介绍了自行车的早期发展历程。故选D
小题2:细节题。根据文章Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. 可知，麦克米伦给他的自行车轮子加铸了铁是为了减少轮子的磨损，可以使用的更长时间。故选C
小题3:细节题。根据文章He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient，and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes.可知，詹姆斯·史达雷发明的自行车，前轮比后轮要大好多倍，脚踏板上加放了齿轮使自行车更方便。故选 B
小题4:细节题。根据文章可知，第一辆自行车在1818年问世，它的速度不快，米修兄弟称他们的自行车“脚踏两轮车”，麦克米伦的自行车没有橡胶轮胎。故选A
小题5:细节题。这篇文章是按照时间的顺序讲述自行车的发展历程的。故选B
点评：本文对自行车的发展进行了说明，对于此类题，可以通过对于时间的把握来迅速的理解全文。答题过程中可以对文章的大意进行了解，在结合题目，相信每个题目都在文章中能找到相应的地方，把握好作者的意思准确作答。
考点
据考高分专家说，试题“Today, bicycles are .....”主要考查你对 [历史文化类阅读 ]考点的理解。历史文化类阅读
什么是历史文化类阅读：
本类题型常用的方式是夹叙夹议。叙述的目的是为了议，所以要把握其议才是主要方面。阅读这类文章，先弄清其引入的话题，再弄清里面人物对其不同的看法，然后理解作者本身对话题的观点看法或思考。
历史文化类阅读技巧：
【题型说明】历史文化类阅读理解文章属高考常选材料之一。这类文章常涉及历史、文化、法制、宗教等方面的文学艺术、发明创造、文化遗产保护、宗教与文化、风俗与习惯、道德与法制、中外文学名著节选、等等。这类材料的命题点往往落在主旨大意题、事实细节题上。
【答题方法】在做这类阅读理解题时，我们应注意以下几个方面：
1、采用先题后文：先读题目，再带着问题读文章。这类阅读理解文章相对来说事实细节题稍多一点，如果带着问题读文章，有利于我们抓细节。
2、先做细节题。因为做完了局部性的事实细节题后，自然会加深我们对文章的理解，这样更有利于做主旨大意题。
3、重点敲定主旨题。主旨大意题提问的形式主要有两大类：一类是Main idea型；一类是Topic或Title型。
在解答这类试题时应注意以下几点：
a．读首句抓大意。
文化教育类阅读理解文章多采用说明文、议论文体裁，而这类文章大都采用文章段落的中心，即主题句在文章开头。因此，要寻找这类文章的主旨大意就需要研究文章的首句。
b．读尾句抓大意。
有时这类文章的主题句安排在文章的结尾，作为对全篇的总结。
c．读首段抓大意。
有些文章或段落的开头和结尾部分都有主题句。这种结构是为了突出主题思想而使用两次点题的写作方法。这两个主题句在句子结构和用词上有所不同，而且在内容上前句和后句也不重复。
d．从段落中抓大意。
有些文章或段落的主题句在文章中，这种文章或段落往往以一句话或几句话引出要表达的主题，在主题句出现后，再举例子陈述细节或继续论证。
e．归纳要点抓大意。
有些文章或段落无明显的主题句，只是暗示性地体现主题。这就要求同学们在阅读过程中根据文中所叙述的事实或线索来概括总结主旨大意。
