In what now seems like the prehistoric times of computer history, the early postwar era, there was a quite widespread concern that computers would take over the world from man one day. Already today, less than forty years later, as computers are relieving us of more and more of the routine tasks in business and in our personal lives, we are faced with a less dramatic but also less foreseen problem. People tend to be over-trusting of computers and are reluctant to challenge their authority. Indeed, they behave as if they were hardly aware that wrong buttons may be pushed, or that a computer may simply malfunction.
Obviously, there would be no point in investing in a computer if you had to check all its answers, but people should also rely on their own internal computers and check the machine when they have the feeling that something has gone awry. Questioning and routine double checks must continue to be as much a part of good business as they were in pre-computer days. Maybe each computer should come with the following warning: for all the help this computer may provide, it should not be seen as a substitute for fundamental thinking and reasoning skills.
1.What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To look back to the early days of computers.
B. To explain what technical problems may occur with computers.
C. To discourage unnecessary investment in computers.
D. To warn against a mentally lazy attitude towards computers.
2.According to the passage, initial concerns about computers were that they might_____
A. lead us into the post-war era
B. be quite widespread
C. take control
D. take over routine tasks
3.The passage recommends those dealing with computers to_____
A. be reasonably skeptical abort them
B. check all their answers
C. substitute them for basic thinking
D. use them for business purposes only
4.An "internal computer" is_____
A. a computer uses exclusively by one company for its own problems
B. a person's store of knowledge and the ability to process it
C. the most up-to-date in-house computer a company can buy
D. a computer from the post-war era which is very reliable
5.The passage suggests that the present-day problem with regard to computers is_____
A. challenging
B. psychological
C. dramatic
D. malfunctioning
[难点]
1.widespread 普遍的，广泛的
2.relieve 减轻，解除，使得到解脱
3.dramatic 引人注目的，突然的
4.foreseen 预见的，预知的
5.reluctant 不情愿的，不愿意的
6.authority 权威
7.malfunction 发生故障，发生功能障碍
8.invest 投资;花钱买;耗费，投入
9.rely on 依赖，依靠
10.go awry 出岔子，失败;(人)背离正道
11.substitute 代替物，代用器
[答案]
1.D
考点：这是一道典型的文章主旨题。
解析：文章分析了人们过分依赖电子计算机这一问题，在结尾向人们提出了忠告：尽管电子计算机可以提供各种帮助，但是它不应被视为代替人们基本思维和推理的东西。文章主要目的是警告人们在心理上对计算机不要采取懒惰的态度。
2.C
考点：这是一道细节题。
解析：问题的答案在文章的第一句之中："In what now seems like the prehistoric times of computer history, the early postwar era, there was a quite widespread concern that computers would take over the world from man one day."(在计算机历史的前期即战后初期，人们普遍担心计算机可以能会代替人类统治世界)选项C与这一句的含义完全一致，故为正确答案。
3.A
考点：这是一道推断题。
解析：文章第二段第二句说："Questioning and routine double checks must continue to be as much a part of good business as they were in pre-computer days."由此我们可以推断出，文章建议那些与计算机打交道的人应该对它们采取合理的怀疑态度。
4.B
考点：这是一道理解题
解析：理解："internal computer"的含义的关键是确定"internal"的意思。这个词几个基本含义：内部的，体内的，内在的。从它所在的上下文来看，它的意思是：" 体内的"。"internal computer"是一种比喻说法，指人的大脑，它比计算机更聪明、更复杂，具有储存知识和运用知识的能力。因此，选项B是正确答案。
5.B
考点：这是一道推断题。
解析：根据文章内容我们得知，当今电子计算机的问题既不是令人深思的也不是容易出故障。而选项C与文章内容不符。它的问题是人们在心理上过分信赖它，对它的能力毫不怀疑。
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