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  3. Experimenting with household objects can often get young people in trouble, but for one intelligent, inquisitive boy, it created

Experimenting with household objects can often get young people in trouble, but for one intelligent, inquisitive boy, it created

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问题     Experimenting with household objects can often get young people in trouble, but for one intelligent, inquisitive boy, it created the foundation of his future. Young Henry Ford discovered through his curious mind that many objects were useful for much more than their intended purposes. For example, he used to tinker with his father’s fanning tools to see what they could do. He used his mother’s darning needles to help him repair watches. And once, in an effort to study the power to steam, he sat and watched water boil in his mother’s teapot. Little did Ford know that these experiments would lead him to creating a means of transportation that would change the world forever.
    Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, near Detroit, Michigan. He was the oldest of six children and the grandson of immigrants from Ireland who came to America in 1847. His family were farmers, and he grew up on the family farm where he began to develop mechanical skills. Through his experiences on the farm with his father, Henry developed a great curiosity about how things worked.
    When traveling in his father’s wagon, Henry would often wonder if there were a faster and easier way to travel. A time he remembered for the rest of his life happened when he was only thirteen years old. He was riding in the wagon with his father, and he spotted a steam engine traveling along the road under its own power. Henry was so excited that he ran toward the engine and asked its driver question after question about the incredible machine.
    This machine was used for sawing wood and other tasks that required it to remain stationary, but the engine was mounted on wheels to propel itself from one location to another. Henry was so excited that the driver let him fire the engine and even run it. From that point on, Henry Ford’s dream of creating a self-propelled vehicle began to materialize.
    Ford wanted to move to Detroit to work in the machine shops, but he stayed on the family farm until he was seventeen. At that time, he started his successful journey by moving to Detroit. He began working at the Michigan Car Company for $1.10 a day, but he was fired because he was faster than anyone else at making repairs. It took him only one hour to do what took others five hours to do! From there he took on a variety of different jobs but his dream continued to be the creation of a "horseless carriage." No matter where he worked, he continued to read about gas engines and experiment in his own workshop.
    In 1896 Ford’s efforts began to pay off when he was working at the Detroit Edison Illuminating Company. His first self-propelled vehicle was ready for a try-out. As it started to run, it actually frightened the horses and caused many people to protest, but it ran.
    It was at the Detroit Edison Illuminating Company where Ford met Thomas Edison. Ford had always admired Thomas Edison’s work and was excited when he discovered that Edison agreed that it had possibilities and encouraged him to continue. This gave Ford the incentive to invent an operable car that was written up in the Detroit Journal where he was described as a "mechanical engineer." Soon his work on automobiles caused him to have to leave the Detroit Edison Illuminating Company. Ford wanted more time to work on automobile building so he was forced to quit his job.
    Ford’s dream began to materialize with his invention of automobiles and the development of the assembly line. His dream of creating a "motor car for the great multitude.., constructed of the best materials by the best men to be hired.., so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one..." came true with the invention of his ninth car, the Model T. It sold more than any other car for eighteen years between 1908 and 1926. This commonplace, hard working, sturdy car made up over one half of all the cars sold at this time.
    Today we are reminded of Ford’s genius whenever we see one of his "horseless carriages" traveling across the many highways in our world. Who would have guessed for the world? The next time you see a child experimenting with different common objects, keep in mind that you may be witnessing the beginning of another great invention.
What conclusion can be drawn from the essay about the United States during the time of Henry Ford’s youth?
选项 A、Horse-drawn carriages were used as a popular means of transportation.
B、Most people were tired of horse-drawn carriages and wanted a better way to travel.
C、The assembly line made it more difficult for people to invent new products.
D、Many inventors were trying to invent a fast and comfortable way to travel.
答案A
解析 本题可参照文章的第三段。从儿时的Henry和父亲一起坐马车出行可以推断美国当时普遍的交通工具是马车，因此正确答案为A。
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