阅读理解
Yasuda is 95 years old. He and his colleagues, looking for easier ways to search the Web and
send e-mail, represent a potential market for Apple (AAPL)'s iPad. The company has sold 3.27
million iPads since its launch in April, but doesn't break down sales figures by customer age, making
it impossible to know with certainty how many old people are buying them. However, evidence
suggests it's popular with the old.
The iPad's intuitive interface (直观界面) makes it attractive to old citizens around the world, says
Takahiro Miura, a researcher at the University of Tokyo: "The iPad is a good tool for the elderly
because it's very forgiving of mistakes." Miura's team uses computers to help train senior citizens to
rejoin the workforce. "Unlike the PC, it doesn't require previous(先前的) knowledge," he says.
James Cordwell, a technology analyst at Atlantic-Equities in London, says the iPad's popularity
with the elderly is helping Apple reach beyond its traditional base of younger customer. "The world's
population, especially in developed markets, is getting older, and it's probably a market where Apple
has least entered," Cordwell says. Elderly users are "a key source of growth for them in the future."
The elderly in Japan, who make up an estimated 22 percent of the population, may prove particularly
quick to accept the iPad. They spend more than any other group in the country except for those under
30, according to a report by Japan's Cabinet Office. Motoo Kitamura, 78, a former gas salesman,
bought an iPad to help him communicate with his 2-year-old grandson and prevent against dementia
(痴呆). "Trying new things like that is a good mental exercise," he says.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The iPad was only intended for elderly people.
B. The use of iPad requires previous knowledge.
C. The use of iPad is mentally useful to the old.
D. Only the elderly in Japan can use iPad.
2. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?
A. The old get a bit strike from the iPad.
B. The iPad causes a heavy burden to the old.
C. The iPad is accepted by the old.
D. The old are very familiar with the iPad.
3. Which of the following is NOT the advantage of the iPad over the PC?
A. It has intuitive interface.
B. It is easier to operate.
C. It is more accessible to beginners.
D. It is a good mental exercise.
4. What can we learn from the passage?
A. The old are the largest consumers in Japan.
B. The iPad is traditionally accepted by the young.
C. The old in Japan are fond of latest hi-tech products.
D. The old customers will soon replace the younger ones.
5. What could be the best title for the passage?
A. The iPad Leads Apple to the Elderly
B. Ipad Hits Japan's Store Shelves
C. Ipad's Arrival in Tokyo Causes Japanese to Excite
D. AAPL Tries to Balance the Old and the Yong