A lazy Susan is an addition to a table, which is designed to assist in moving food from one person to another while dining. This is accomplished through the use of a turntable(转盘), which usually moves the food in a circle when pushed by those at table. In this way, the food never has to be picked up and passed around the table. Instead, it remains in place as the lazy Susan is turned about.
A lazy Susan may also be a part of a kitchen cabinet. One may spin the lazy Susan in order to find certain goods stored in it. From the outside, a lazy Susan appears to be two cabinets. When one of these cabinets is pushed, however, both doors move an
d the lazy Susan is revealed inside.
Whether the lazy Susan is on a tabletop or within a cabinet, it can be made of a variety of materials. Most commonly, a lazy Susan is made of either plastic, wood or glass. Some people believe that Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan, though it was referred to as a dumb waiter(上菜升降架) at that time. It is said that Jefferson invented the lazy Susan because his daughter complained she was always served last at table and, as a result, never found herself full when leaving the table. Othe
rs believe that Thomas Edison was the inventor, as he is believed to have invented the turntable for his phonograph(留声机), which later developed into the lazy Susan.
Regardless of who invented it, it wasn’t until 1917 that the term lazy Susan was created in an advertisement for the invention. In Britain, however, the term dumb waiter is still used rather than the term lazy Susan. The reason for the name lazy Susan remains a mystery. One theory is that it was named after either Jefferson’s or Edison’s daughter, both of whom were named Susan.
小题1: According to the passage, a lazy Susan _____.
A．is a person who serves food at table
B．is a waitress who helps move dinner tables
C．is an additiona
l round table in a dining room
D．is a turntable that passes food around the table小题2:Which of the following is NOT true of the lazy Susan?
A．On a tabletop, it is convenient for people to have dinner.
B．Within a cupboard, it is easy for people to see what is inside.
C．The turntable was invented in 1917.
D．It can be made of many kinds of materials.小题3:Why did Jefferson’s daughter complain she was served last when having meals?
A．Because she was too lazy.
B．Because she was the youngest.
C．Because the table was too tall for her.
D．Because the table couldn’t move food for her.小题4: From the passage, we can know that _____.
A．the lazy Susan was invented earlier than the phonograph
B．Susan was the name of Jefferson’s and Edison’s daughter
C．Jefferson and Edison invented the lazy Susan at the same time
D．When people talk about a lazy waitress they u
se the term “Susan”小题5:What is the main idea of the passage?
A．What is a lazy Susan?
B．When was the lazy Susan created?
C．Why do inventions come from the daily life?
D．How was “dumb waiter” replaced by “lazy Susan”?
