电大学位英语阅读.理解.docVIP

（一） Most great inventors in the capitalist society meet with much opposition to their inventions from the people who place their own interests before those of the people. Big monopolies try to buy inventions and turn them to their own profits. When they fail, they resort to other tricks. Inventors have to overcome thousands of difficulties put in their path before they can see their dreams realized. When George Stephenson was experimenting with the stream engine, there was much opposition from the Parliament, the newspaper, and landlords. They claimed that the noise and the smoke would kill cows, horses and sheep, that the engine would burst or that hot coals from it would set fire to their houses. So it was a very difficult matter for George Stephenson to persuade the people that trains could go on smooth rails, could pull carriages and wagons full of people and goods, and that there was no great danger of accidents. However, he was able to do it, and the first train driven by Stephenson himself showed that the newly invented steam engine was a complete success. 56. The word those in the first sentence refers to A. inventors B. inventions C. interests D. monopolies 57.Why do big monopolies buy inventions? A. They want to make a further research. B. They want to improve them. C. They want to make more money. D. They want to play tricks with inventors. 58.Which of the following is not the very reason for the opposition to Stephensons experiment? A. It would make terrible noise. B. It would give off heavy smoke. C. It would waste coal. D. It would set fire to houses. 59. The word dream in the first paragraph refers to _____ A. inventors interests in inventions B. inventors plans for inventions C. the profits inventors would make D. the difficulties in their inventions. 60. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A. Stephenson invented the stream engine. B. Big monopolies opposed to inventions.