問題詳情
五、閱讀測驗 （ 占 3 2分 ）第 36 至 39 題為題組Born in 1785 in southwestern Germany, Baron Karl Drais was one of the most creative Germaninventors of the 19th century. The baron’s numerous inventions include, among others, the earliest typewriter,the meat grinder, a device to record piano music on paper, and two four-wheeled human-powered vehicles.But it was the running machine, the modern ancestor of the bicycle, that made him famous.The running machine, also called Draisine or hobby horse, was in effect a very primitive bicycle: ithad no chains and was propelled by riders pushing off the ground with theirfeet. Though not a bike in the modern sense of the word, Drais’ inventionmarked the big bang for the bicycle’s development. It was the first vehiclewith two wheels placed in line. The frame and wheels were made of wood;the steering already resembled a modern handlebar. Drais’ big democraticidea behind his invention was to find a muscle-powered replacement for thehorses, which were expensive and consumed lots of food even when not inuse. The machine, he believed, would allow large numbers of people fastermovement than walking or riding in a coach.Drais undertook his first documented ride on June 12, 1817, covering a distance of 13 kilometers inone hour. A few months later, Drais created a huge sensation when he rode 60 kilometers in four hours.These were later followed by a marketing trip to Paris, where the hobby horse quickly caught on. The fadalso quickly spread to Britain.The success of the hobby horse was short-lived, though. They were heavy and difficult to ride. Safetywas an issue, too: They lacked a brake, as well as cranks and pedals. There were frequent collisions withunsuspecting pedestrians, and after a few years Drais’ invention was banned in many European andAmerican cities. Drais’ ideas, however, did not disappear entirely. Decades later, the machine was equippedby Frenchmen Pierre Lallement and Pierre Michaux with pedals to become the modern bicycle.
【題組】36. Why did Drais invent the running machine?
(A) To prove his creativity as an inventor.
(B) To protect the horses from being abused.
(C) To provide a new gadget for the royal class.
(D) To give the general public a better means of transportation.
參考答案
答案：D
難度：適中0.5
統計：A(0),B(0),C(0),D(0),E(0)