To read a new book, you simply need good light, time and the right frame of mind. But to read a new software package, you need a thousand pounds’ worth of hardware, considerable computer knowledge, plenty of time and, most important of all, endless determination.
Generally speaking, all books are very much alike, and the experienced reader has no difficulty coping with an unfamiliar book. But imagine how frustrating it would be if you had to make a mental adjustment, if you had to read in a different way every time you read a book from a different publisher, yet this is exactly what it is like when you use a new software package.
You can be encouraged in a good book within a minute, but getting new software running takes ages. Learning to use a new piece of software is like trying to ride a trick bicycle, on which the handlebars have a reverse action. It looks easier than it really is. This is partly because you must first unlearn what you’ve learnt on the last package; no two packages use the control characters on the keyboard in quite the same way. How much easier it would be if there are some standards to which all software writers adhered!
Since you can’t rely on your precious experience, the only way to understand your new software package is to rely on the manual. Some software manuals are written with the beginner in mind and have explicit instruction with well-designed exercises that lead you gently on from stage to stage. But most assume that you are already an expert, and have complicated explanations which only confuse and irritate you. All require a full set of fingers and thumbs to mark pages while hunting out information. Yes, perhaps the information is in the manual, but where?
1.When learning to use a new software package you may probably feel （ ）.
2.The author mentions the trick bicycle, on which the handlebars have a reverse action, in order to show （ ）.
3.How could a software package become easier to users according to the author?
4. What is the most common problem in software manuals according to the passage?
5.The word “explicit” underlined in paragraph 4 probably means “ （ ）”.
问题1选项
A.frustrated
B.encouraged
C.engrossed
D.dismayed
问题2选项
A.how difficult it is to learn to ride a bicycle
B.it is impossible to learn to ride this bicycle
C.how difficult it is to learn a new software package
D.to leam to ride a bicycle is the same thing as to leam a new software package
问题3选项
A.All software packages are made by the same software company.
B.The users are familiar with all kinds of software packages.
C.There are some standards to which all software writers adhere.
D.There is a committee which examines all software packages.
问题4选项
A.They have complicated explanations which are quite beyond your understanding.
B.They are printed in very small characters.
C.Their instructions and explanations are too simple.
D.They are written with the beginner in mind.
问题5选项
A.confusing
B.clear
C.complicated
D.involved
第1题:A
第2题:C
第3题:C
第4题:A
第5题:B
1.细节事实题。题干询问‘当你学习使用一个新的软件包时，你可能会觉得…’。根据文章第二段中第二句 “But imagine how frustrating it would be if you had to make a mental adjustment, if you had to read in a different way every time you read a book from a different publisher, yet this is exactly what it is like when you use a new software package. 但是想象一下，如果你必须在思想上做出调整，如果你每次阅读不同出版商的书时都必须以不同的方式阅读，这将是多么令人沮丧的一件事，而这正是你使用新软件包时的情况。”确定A选项‘懊恼的，沮丧的’正确。
2.推理判断题。题干询问‘作者提到的自行车车把的反作用，是为了显示…’。骑特技自行车的例子在文章第三段。第一句是该段的中心句，然后骑特技自行车的例子是为了论证这一句，所以答案在中心句找。“You can be encouraged in a good book within a minute, but getting new software running takes ages. 你可以在一分钟内读完一本好书，但让新软件运行起来需要很长时间。”确定C选项‘学习一个新的软件包有多难’。
3.细节事实题。题干询问‘根据作者的观点，软件包如何变得对用户更容易?’。根据文章第三段中的最后一句 “How much easier it would be if there are some standards to which all software writers adhered! 如果有一些所有软件作者都遵循的标准，那该多容易啊!”确定C选项‘所有软件作者都遵循一些标准。’。
4.细节事实题。题干询问‘根据这篇文章，软件手册中最常见的问题是什么?’。根据文章最后一段中的第三句“But most assume that you are already an expert, and have complicated explanations which only confuse and irritate you. 但是大多数人都认为你已经是专家了，并且有复杂的解释，这些解释只会让你困惑和恼怒。”确定A选项‘他们的解释很复杂，你根本无法理解’正确。
5.词汇题。题干询问‘第4段下划线的“explicit”一词可能是指…’。“explicit”出现在文章最后一段的第二句话中。该句中与“have explicit instruction”并列的是“with the beginner in mind站在初学者的角度”，而后文中是用but表示相反意思的 “But most assume that you are already an expert, and have complicated explanations但是大部分的使用手册都认为你是该领域的专业人员，手册中的解释都非常复杂”，所以该词是与‘complicated’词义相反，B选项‘清楚的’正确。
