Today we’ll talk about the history of blue jeans. For many people, blue jeans stand for (代表) American culture.

The history of blue jeans usually began with a man named Levi Strauss. He did not invent jeans. But he is the first person to produce and sell them in large numbers. Levi Strauss was born in Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the United States. He opened a small store and sold jeans. These pants were especially useful for miners (矿工) in California. They needed strong clothing. Levi Strauss worked with Jacob Davis, who had invented a step for making rivets (铆钉) for jeans. They helped make the blue jeans stronger.

In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent (专利) to own this invention. Nineteenth century workers would probably be surprised to know that their pants would one day become fashions. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and prices. Fashion designers even create very costly jeans. 

Writer James published a book called Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon (偶像). In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).

1. Why did Jacob use rivets for jeans? 

A．Because they made the blue jeans stronger.	B．Because they had a history.
C．Because they are fashionable.	D．Because they were dear.

2.Which of the following is WRONG about blue jeans? 

A．Miners like to wear strong clothing.

B．Jeans have only one color — blue.

C．James wrote a book about jeans.

D．Levi Strauss is the first person to produce jeans in large numbers.

3.The two American values are rebellion and _____________.    

A．protection

B．ambition

C．friendship

D．creativity

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Jeans are popular.	B．Jeans become fashions.
C．The history of blue jeans.	D．Levi Strauss was a German.

 

There have been many great inventions, things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today- the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distances.
For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect(影响) as the wheel. Then in the early 1800’s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn’t have to explore(探测) much anymore. They began to work instead to make life better.
In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the light and the radio. These all became a big part of our life today.
The first part of the 20th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909. Movies with sound in 1926. The computer in 1928. And jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wear.
By this time most people had a very good life, Man has a desire to explore again, the world was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. Since then other countries, including China and Japan, have made their steps into space.
In 1969 man took his biggest step from the earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning thought. New inventions will someday allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.
【小题1】This passage talks mainly about________.
A. why cars were very important        
Ｂ. when light was invented
C. which country made the first step into space 
D. how inventions effect people’s life
【小题2】Nylon came out nearly at the same time as _______.

A．radio

B．camera

C．jet planes

D．movies

【小题3】Which of the statements is not true?

A．The wheel was the first great invention that is still very important today. For hundredsof years after that there were many other inventions having as much effect as the wheel.

B．America, Russia, Japan and China began to explore the stars before1969.

C．In the early 1800’s people began to work instead of exploring more unknown land to make life better.

D．New invention will change our life greatly in the future.

【小题4】What does “ a desire” mean in the sentence “Man had a desire to explore more.”?　

A．a good way

B．a new invention

C．a strong wish

D．a wonderful idea

【小题5】Man didn’t have a desire to explore a lot_______.

A．at the beginning of the 1800’s	B．in the 1960’s
C．since the 1900’s	D．from the 1800’s to the 1960’s

阅读短文，根据短文内容及首字母提示，在空白处填入一个适当的单词。

One day a farmer’s donkey (驴) fell down a well (井). The animal cried for hours as the farmer tried to find a way to get it out. Finally, he d____86____ to give up the animal, because it was very old and the well needed to be covered up.

He invited all of his neighbours to come and help him. They all began to fill the well w____87____ dirt (泥土). The donkey realized what was h____88____ and began to cry. Then, to everyone’s surprise, it became quiet.

A few minutes l____89____, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was a____90____ at what he saw. With each shovel (铲) of the dirt that hit its b____91____, the donkey shook it off and took a step up.

As the farmer’s neignbours went on to shovel dirt on top to the animal, he s____92____ shook it off and took a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey h____93____ got out.

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. E____94____ of our troubles is stepping stone. You can g____95____ out of the deepest well just by not stopping and never giving up! Shake (摇) it off and take a step.

 

There have been many great inventions or things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was the one that is still very important today——the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distance.
For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that as much effect as the wheel . Then in the early 1800s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn’t have to explore much any more. They began to work instead to make life better.
In the second half of the 19^th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the light and the radio. These all play a big part in our daily life today.
The first part of the 20^th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909, movies with sound in 1926, the computer in 1928, jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wore.
The middle part of the 20^th century brought new ways to help people get over diseases. They worked very well. They made people healthier and allowed them to live longer. By the 1960s most people could expect to live to be at least 60.
By this time most people in developed countries had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire(渴望) to explore again. The earth was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then United States took a step. Since then other countries , including China and Japan, have made their own steps into space.
In 1969 man took his biggest step away from earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning, though. New inventions will some day allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.
【小题1】 This passage talks mainly about         .

A．why cars were very important

B．when light was invented

C．how inventions affect people’s daily life

D．which country made the first step into space

【小题2】According to the passage man didn’t have a desire to explore a lot         .

A．at the beginning of 1800s	B．in the 1960s
C．since the 1900s	D．from the 1800s to 1960s

【小题3】In the 1800s, people began to work in order to make      

A．explorations

B．their life better

C．discoveries

D．a trip to space

【小题4】 Nylon came out of five years later than        .

A．radio

B．camera

C．jet planes

D．movies

【小题5】People can live longer lives because        that help cure diseases have worked very well.

A．doctors

B．new ways

C．medicines

D．new hospitals

Today we’ll talk about the history of blue jeans. For many people, blue jeans stand for (代表) American culture.

The history of blue jeans usually began with a man named Levi Strauss. He did not invent jeans. But he is the first person to produce and sell them in large numbers. Levi Strauss was born in Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the United States. He opened a small store and sold jeans. These pants were especially useful for miners (矿工) in California. They needed strong clothing. Levi Strauss worked with Jacob Davis, who had invented a step for making rivets (铆钉) for jeans. They helped make the blue jeans stronger.

In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent (专利) to own this invention. Nineteenth century workers would probably be surprised to know that their pants would one day become fashions. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and prices. Fashion designers even create very costly jeans. 

Writer James published a book called Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon (偶像). In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).

1. Why did Jacob use rivets for jeans? 

A．Because they made the blue jeans stronger.	B．Because they had a history.
C．Because they are fashionable.	D．Because they were dear.

2.Which of the following is WRONG about blue jeans? 

A．Miners like to wear strong clothing.

B．Jeans have only one color — blue.

C．James wrote a book about jeans.

D．Levi Strauss is the first person to produce jeans in large numbers.

3.The two American values are rebellion and _____________.    

A．protection

B．ambition

C．friendship

D．creativity

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Jeans are popular.	B．Jeans become fashions.
C．The history of blue jeans.	D．Levi Strauss was a German.