2022年1月浙江卷
B
The United States rose to global power on the strength of its technology, and the lifeblood that technology has long been electricity. By providing long-distance communication and energy, electricity created the modern world. Yet properly understood, the age of electricity is merely the second stage in the age of steam, which began a century earlier.
“It is curious that on one has put together a history of both the steam and electric revolutions." writes Maury Klein in his book The Power Makers, Steam, Electricity, and the Men invented Modern America. Klein, a noted historian of technology, spins a narrative so lively that at times it reads like a novel.
The story begins in the last years of the 18th century in Scotland, where Watt perfected "the machine that changed the world”. Klein writes, “America did not invent the steam engine, but once they grasped its passwords they put it to more uses than anyone else.”
Meanwhile, over the course of 19th century, electricity went from mere curiosity to a basic necessity. Morse invented a code for sending messages over an electromagnetic circuit. Bell then gave the telegraph a voice. Edison perfected an incandescent bulls that brought electric light into the American home.
Most importantly, Edison realized that success depended on mass electrification, which he showed in New York City. With help from Tesla, Westinghouse's firm developed a system using alternating current, which soon became the major forms of power delivery.
To frame his story, Klein creates the character of Ned, a fictional witness to the progress brought about by the steams and electric revolutions in America during one man's lifetime. It's a technique that helps turn a long narrative into an interesting one.
24. What is Klein's understanding of the age if electricity?
A. It is closely linked to the steam age.
B. It began earlier than proper thought.
C. It is a little-studied period of history.
D. It will come to an end sooner or later.
25.What can be inferred about Ned?
A. He was born in New York City.
B. He wrote many increasing stories,
C. He created an electricity company.
D. He lived mainly in the 19th century.
26.What is the text?
A. A biography. B. A book review. C. A short story. D. A science report.
答案解析：
24. A根据文章第二段中的"Yet properly understood, the age of electricity is merely the second stage in the age of steam, which began a century earlier."可知，Klein认为电力时代仅仅是蒸汽时代的第二阶段，这两个时代是紧密相连的，故选A。
25. D根据文章最后一段中的"To frame his story, Klein creates the character of Ned, a fictional witness to the progress brought about by the steam and electric revolutions in America during one man's lifetime."可知，Ned是一个虚构的角色，他见证了蒸汽和电力革命在一个人的生命周期内给美国带来的进步。由于蒸汽革命开始于18世纪末，电力革命主要发生在19世纪，可以推断Ned主要生活在19世纪，故选D。
26. B整篇文章讲述了Klein的书《The Power Makers, Steam, Electricity, and the Men Who Invented Modern America》的内容，包括对蒸汽和电力革命的历史叙述，以及对Klein写作技巧的评价。因此，这篇文章是一篇书评，故选B。
