第4部分：阅读理解(第31～45题，每题3分，共45分)
下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道题，每道题后面都有4个选项。请仔细阅读短文并根据短文回答其后面的问题，从4个选项中选择1个最佳答案涂在答题卡相应的位置上。
第一篇
TapeStore: A New Tape Storage System
TapeStore is a new kind of tape storage system which can store up to 6,000 computer tapes. No other tape storage system can hold as many computer tapes as TapeStore. The tapes look exactly like video cassettes. Many hundreds of data files can be stored on each tape, up to a maximum of 500 million bytes (字节) of data. If you stored the same amount of information on paper, you would "need nearly 4.5 billion printed pages.
The machine is a tall black box with a mechanical arm. The machine is 2.5 metres high and 3.0 metres wide. This is how it works. Each tape has a code printed on it. You feed the code number into TapeStore, which then looks for the code. As soon as TapeStore locates the code, the arm reaches in and pulls out the tape.
The system is very fast. It takes the mechanical arm about 10 seconds to find the tape it is looking for. The machine then searches the tape to extract (提取) the required file, and this takes less than a minute. A human technician would have to locate and remove the tape by hand, and could take at least an hour to find the right file on the tape.
Some of the world's biggest companies, including banks, insurance companies, airlines, telephone companies, utilities and computer centres, have bought the system.
They like it particularly because the system guarantees the security of their data.
TapeStore was originally developed in Canada and is now being marketed worldwide. In Europe alone, 750 have already been installed at a cost of 480,000 dollars each.
1 TapeStore is better than any other storage system because
A it can store more video cassettes.
B itis extremely small.
C it stores more tapes.
D it stores data files on the same tape.
2 The mechanical arm finds a tape by
A recording the file name on the tape.
B identifying the printed code on the tape
C looking for its file name.
D searching for the tape number.
3 The TapeStore system is popular among big companies mainly because
A it costs less than a skilled worker.
B it looks impressive.
C the information it stores is valuable.
D it ensures the safety of their data.
4 Which of the following statements about TapeStore is NOT true?
A It can store a large amount of information.
B It is very cheap.
C It is very fast.
D It is secure.
5 The word "marketed' in the last paragraph can be replaced by
A installed.
B used.
C promoted.
D designed.
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