阅读理解
Apple designs the iPhone, the iPad and the iPod. Each of Apple's products sounds cool and has
become a fad(时尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter "i" and many other
brands are following suit. The BBC's iPlayer , which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the
Internet , adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear ( popular in the US and UK ) that plays music and
video is called "iTeddy". A slimmed-down version of London's Independent newspaper came out last
week under the name "i". In general, single-letter prefixes have been popular since the 1990s, when
terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.
Most "i" products are aimed at young people and considering the major readers of Independent "i",
it is no surprise that they've selected this fashionable name. But it's hard to see what's so special about
the letter "i" . Why not use "a", "b" or "c" instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language
Center at King's College, London, "i" works
because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple
uses "i", no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Mr.Thorne told
BBC Magazines, "Even when Apple created the iPad, it seems it didn't have one clear definition ,
However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability (轻便)." Clearly the letter "i"
also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes
they have their own needs, and they love personalized products for this reason. Along with "Google"
and "Twitter", readers of BBC Magazines voted "i" as one of the top 20 words that have come to define
the last decade.
But as history shows, fads come and go. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with "2000" in their
names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However,
as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared.
1. People use the iPlayer to _________.
A. listen to music
B. make a call
C. read newspapers
D. watch TV programs online
2. From the passage We know that the Independent " i " is aimed at _________.
A. old readers
B. young readers
C. fashionable women
D. engineers
3. Nowadays, the "i" term often reminds people of the products which are _________.
A. portable.
B. advanced
C. recyclable
D. environmentally friendly
4. The author of the passage would probably agree that __________.
A. "i" products are often of high quality
B. all "i" products have something to do with Internet
C. the popularity of "i" products may not last long
D. the iTeddy is a live bear
