A
When you hear the name Leonardo da Vinci, what comes to mind? Maybe his paintings, Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Maybe it's his flying machine invention. When I think of this great man, I think of the term “Renaissance Man”. Why? The term “Renaissance Man” comes from fifteenth-century Italy and refers to the idea of a person with knowledge and skills in a number of different areas. Perhaps, no single individual defines the idea of a Renaissance man better than Leonardo da Vinci-an artist, scientist, architect, engineer and inventor.
Leonardo da Vinci will most likely go down in history for his famous works as an artist. But,did you know that he spent a significant amount of time working on his endeavors in science and technology? Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most productive inventors in history. Some of his most famous inventions are the flying machine, the parachute and the revolving bridge. Leonardo has also been given credit by historians for many more inventions.
Once in the courtyard of Senor Ludovico, Leonardo da Vinci constantly invented various “labour-saving devices” for use in the kitchen. At the same time, he began to keep notebooks. The funny thing was that most of the drawings found there, which for several hundred years were considered by researchers to be mechanisms for military (军事） operations, in fact, turned out to be quite peaceful meat grinders, dishwashers, mechanical devices for cracking nuts. The restless Leonardo invented the manual garlic press, which has remained virtually unchanged to our day, a foot-operated napkin dryer, an egg cutter, and many other useful things.
But his most important discovery is the invention of spaghetti. Of course, pasta (意大利面食） has existed in Italy since ancient time. But it was a hard and very broad substance, like a heavy lump of lasagna (面块）. Leonardo changed the shape of the pasta, making a machine that cut it into long thin strips, which after boiling turned into spaghetti.
1. Leonardo da Vinci is mentioned as “Renaissance Man” for his _
A. individual ideas
B. diverse talents
C. representative works
D. birth time and place
2. What is known about his inventions in the courtyard of Senor Ludovico?
A. They were practical for everyday use.
B. They reached record high at that time.
C. They have remained unchanged to our day.
D. They were intended for military operations.
3. In what way did Leonardo da Vinci change pasta?
A. Taste.
B. Color.
C. Fragrance.
D. Shape.
【答案】1. B 2. A 3. D
【解析】
【分析】本文是记叙文。讲述了达芬奇不仅是伟大的艺术家，但同时对科学研究感兴趣，发明了许多在日常生活非常实用的发明，还改变了意大利面的形状。
【1题详解】
推理判断题。根据第一段的“Why？The term “Renaissance Man” comes from fifteenth-century Italy and refers to the idea of a person with knowledge and skills in a number of different areas. Perhaps, no single individual defines the idea of a Renaissance man better than Leonardo da Vinci-an artist, scientist, architect, engineer and inventor.( 为什么？“文艺复兴之人”一词来自15世纪的意大利，指一个在许多不同领域拥有知识和技能的人。也许，没有一个人比莱奥纳多·达芬奇——一个艺术家，科学家、建筑师、工程师和发明家，能更好定义“文艺复兴之人”这个想法。)”可知，莱奥纳多·达文奇被称为“文艺复兴之人”是因为他的各种天赋。故选B。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段的“Once in the courtyard of Senor Ludovico, Leonardo da Vinci constantly invented various “labour-saving devices” for use in the kitchen.( 曾经在卢多维科参议员的院子里，莱奥纳多·达芬奇不断地发明各种用于厨房的“省力装置”)”以及“in fact, turned out to be quite peaceful meat grinders, dishwashers, mechanical devices for cracking nuts. The restless Leonardo invented the manual garlic press, which has remained virtually unchanged to our day, a foot-operated napkin dryer, an egg cutter, and many other useful things.( 事实上，原来是相当和平的绞肉机，洗碗机，裂纹螺母的机械装置，不安分的莱奥纳多发明了手工大蒜压榨机，这直到我们的时代几乎也没有改变，一个脚踏餐巾干燥机，一个切蛋机，以及许多其他有用的东西)”可知，达芬奇的很多发明在日常生活中是实用的。故选A。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据最后一段的“Leonardo changed the shape of the pasta, making a machine that cut it into long thin strips, which after boiling turned into spaghetti.( 莱奥纳多改变了意大利面的形状，做了一台机器，把它切成长长的薄条，煮熟后就变成了意大利面。)”可知，达芬奇改变了意大利面的形状。故选D。
