The starting price for the car is just $6,800. It has only one door, on the left side, which cuts a few hundred dollars off the manufacturing costs. Having three wheels also makes it cheaper. It has air conditioning, power windows and door locks and an AM/FM radio. More features can be ordered through Elio's long list of suppliers. Elio will also sell the cars directly through its own stores and not through franchised dealers (特约经销商).

Paul Elio dreamed as a kid that he would one day own a car company called Elio Motors. In 2008, tired of high gas prices, he started working on a car that burns gas in a more effective way. Equally important to him was creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and making the car inexpensive enough to attract buyers who might otherwise be stuck in their old, unreliable cars. “Whatever matters to you, this can move the needle on it,” he said.

Already, more than 27,000 people have reserved (预订) one. Paul hopes to make 250,000 cars a year by 2016. So far, reservation holders are those who will use the Elio as a second or third car for work. Finally, though, he believes the car will interest high school and college students as well as used-car drivers who want something newer and more reliable.

【1】Which of the following shows the design of the Elio?

(○ = wheel, □ = seat)

A. B. C. D.

【2】Paragraph 2 shows that the Elio ________.

A. will be available in most stores B. is sold at affordable prices

C. has a fixed temperature D. does no harm to the environment

【3】The underlined words “move the needle” in Paragraph 3 probably mean “________”.

A. take a chance B. stand in the way C. break into pieces D. make a difference

【4】What would be the best title for the text?

A. The history of Elio Motors B. Cool car or stupid vehicle?

C. Paul Elio: a kid with big dreams D. What car to choose: new or used?

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】D

【4】B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文主要介绍了一款只有三个轮子和两个座椅的机动车，这样一辆造型奇特的车究竟如何呢？

【1】细节理解题。由第一段中的two seats, three wheels — two in front and one in the back 和 Its two seats sit front and back可知，应选C项。

【2】细节理解题。由该段中的the car is just $6.800可知，Elio是一款便宜的小汽车，故选B项。

【3】词义猜测题。Paul认为Elio这款车经济节油、价格低廉，而且还会带来就业机会，所以move the needle在此应该是表示带来可见的变化，故选D项。

【4】标题归纳题。本文主要介绍了一款只有三个轮子和两个座椅的机动车，这样一辆造型奇特的车究竟如何呢？所以文章标题用B项Cool car or stupid vehicle?最恰当。

依据逻辑推理猜测词义：运用逻辑推理猜测词义是使用最广考查最多也最易失分的猜词方式。要求考生具备整合分散、复杂信息的能力，充分利用上下文中相关的词汇并结合具体的语境，从形式和内容上把握语言之间的内在联系，理顺语言之间的逻辑关系，进而达到猜词的目的。常见的逻辑关系有：因果关系，同位关系，对比关系，转折关系等。

此题的第3题为猜测词义题中依据逻辑推理猜测词义。

答案定位：

根据第三段In 2008, tired of high gas prices, he started working on a car that burns gas in a more effective way. Equally important to him was creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and making the car inexpensive enough to attract buyers who might otherwise be stuck in their old, unreliable cars.可知Paul认为Elio这款 车经济节油、价格低廉，而且还会带来就业机会。

推理关系：

题干The underlined words “move the needle” in Paragraph 3 probably mean

文章内容In 2008, tired of high gas prices, he started working on a car that burns gas in a more effective way. Equally important to him was creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and making the car inexpensive enough to attract buyers who might otherwise be stuck in their old, unreliable cars.可知，Paul认为Elio这款车经济节油、价格低廉，而且还会带来就业机会，所以“Whatever matters to you, this can move the needle on it意思是：无论是哪一点，都带来了巨大变化。

答案：

“move the needle”D. make a difference