Question

In today’s world of cellphones, mini laptops and MP3 players, most people have at least one timetelling tool with them. Since these devices are so common, is time running out for the 500­year­old watch? According to some consumers, yes. New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman says a watch is “an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function”. Many young adults agree — and use their cellphones to tell time. Louis Galie, a senior vice president at Timex, said that fewer young people wear watches today than five years ago. As a result, some people claim that the watch industry is at a crossroads.

However, watchmakers optimistically say that watches regain popularity when consumers reach their 20s and 30s. By then, they are willing to spend money on a quality timepiece that doesn't just keep good time. Fifty years ago, watchmakers boasted about their products' accuracy. But in recent years, the watch industry has transformed itself into an accessory business. And for many today, the image a watch communicates has become more important than the time it tells.

“Complications” — features that go beyond simple timekeeping — are an important part of a watch's image. Today's watches offer a lot of features that suit almost any personality. These features include altitude trackers, compasses, lunar calendars, USB drives, and even devices that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!

Creativity is also a key element in today's watches. For example, Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don't even look like watches. The company's popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell time. It looks more like a futuristic (未來主義的) bracelet than a watch. Another Japanese watchmaker, EleeNo, makes a “handless” watch. Using a ring of circles to keep time, this watch makes an excellent conversation piece.

Whether a watch communicates fashion sense, creative flair or a love of sports, consumers want their timepieces to stand out. Nowadays, everyone has the same kind of gadget (小玩意兒) in their bags, so people want to make a statement with what's on their wrists. Will this interest in wrist fashion last? Only time will tell!

1.Why aren't watches popular with young people as before?

A. Because watches cannot keep good time as cellphones, mini laptops and MP3 players.

B. Because watches are featured by the disadvantages of simple function.

C. Because watches are too expensive to afford.

D. Because watches don't have beautiful appearance as other modern time­telling tools.

2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. Watch­making becomes the sunrise industry.

B. Watch­making is faced with the developing opportunity.

C. Watch­making is facing a survival crisis challenge.

D. Watch­making has a specific development target.

3.It can be implied that ________.

A. people will gradually lose interest in watches as they grow older

B. watchmakers scarcely change the development strategy for watches

C. today's watches are better than those in the past in quality

D. customers used to be more concerned with the quality of a watch than with its image

4.The following qualities can make a watch popular EXCEPT ________.

A. multifunction B. accuracy

C. nice design D. low price

Answer 1

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.D

【解析】

試題分析：隨著越來越多的電子產(chǎn)品的出現(xiàn)，越來越少的年輕人喜歡戴手表了，因為他們覺得手表的功能有限，因此手表行業(yè)看起來好像正面臨著生存的困境，不過有關人士分析，有過去的人們不同的是，現(xiàn)在的人帶手表不是因為需要它報時，而是更看重它的款式，因為它是個性的體現(xiàn)，因此，也許將來手表會作為一種時尚再次回到年輕人。

1.1】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第一段第四、五句話New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman says a watch is “an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function”. Many young adults agree — and use their cellphones to tell time.可知，年輕人之所以不喜歡戴手表，主要是因為手表的功能過于單一，故B項正確。

2.2】句意猜測題。根據(jù)第一段內(nèi)容可知，現(xiàn)在越來越少的年輕人使用手表，即手表制造產(chǎn)業(yè)面臨著生存危機，即C項正確，其他幾項均與原內(nèi)容不符。

3.3】推理判斷題。文章第二段第三句Fifty years ago, watchmakers boasted about their products' accuracy. But in recent years, the watch industry has transformed itself into an accessory business.提到，五十年前制造手表的廠家吹噓他們手表時間的，而接下來的兩句話告訴我們，現(xiàn)在生產(chǎn)的手表更注意手表的款式而不是他報，故D項正確。

4.4】細節(jié)理解題。通讀全文可知A、B、C三項都有影響手表受歡迎的因素；而D項未提及。

考點：科教類閱讀。