Ford' s cars b ,came available to ordinary people thanks to

lastic, no ATMs, no DVDs. Illnesses like tuberculosis, diphtheria, pneumonia meant only death. Of course, cloning appeared only in science fiction. Not to mention, computer and Internet.

Today, our workplace are equipped with assembly lines, fax machines, computers. Our daily life is cushioned by air conditioners, cell phones. Antibiotics helped created a long list of miracle drugs. The bypass operation saved millions. The discovery of DNA has revolutionized the way scientists think about new therapies. Man finally stepped on the magical and mysterious Moon. With the rapid changes we have been experiencing, the anticipation for the future is higher than ever.

A revolutionary manufacturing process made it possible for anyone to own a car. Henry Ford is the man who put the world on wheels.

When it comes to singling out those who have made a difference in all our lives, you cannot overlook Henry Ford. A historian a century from now might well conclude that it was Henry Ford who most influenced all manufacturing everywhere, even to this day, by introducing a new way to make cars—one, strange to say, that originated in slaughter houses.

Back in the early 1900s, slaughter houses used what could have been called a " disassembly line." That is, the carcass of a slain steer or a pig was moved past various meat-cutters, each of whom cut off only a certain portion. Ford reversed this process to see if it would speed up production of a part of an automobile engine called a magneto. Rather than have each worker completely assemble a magneto, one of its elements was placed on a conveyer, and each worker, as it passed, added another component to it, the same one each time. Professor David Hounshell, of The University of Delaware, an expert on industrial development tells what happened: "The previous day, workers carrying out the entire process had averaged one magneto every 20 minutes. But on that day, on the line, the assembly team averaged one every 13 minutes and 10 seconds per person."

Within a year, the time had been reduced W five minutes. In 1913, Ford went all the way. Hooked together by ropes, partially assembled vehicles were towed past workers who completed them one piece at a time. It wasn't long before Ford was turning out several hundred thousand cars a year, a remarkable achievement then. And so efficient and economical was this new system that he cut the price of his cars in half, to $260, putting them within reach of all those who, up until that time, could not afford them. Soon, auto makers over the world copied him. In fact, he encouraged them to do so by writing a book about all of his innovations, entitled Today and Tomorrow. The Age of the Automobile had arrived. Today, aided by robots and other forms of automation, everything from toasters to perfumes is made on assembly lines.

Edsel Ford, Henry's great-grandson, and a Ford vice president: "I think that my great-grandfather would just be amazed at how far technology has come."

Many of totay's innovations come from Japan. Norman Bodek, who publishes books about manufacturing processes, finds this ironic. On a recent trip to Japan he talked to two of the top officials of Toyota. "When I asked them where these secrets came from, where their ideas came from to manufacture in a totally different way, they laughed, and they said. 'Well. We just read it in Henry Ford's book from 1926: Today and Tomorrow.'"

To call Henry Ford "the man who put the world on wheels", the author means

A．he made quality wheels famous to the whole world.

B．he produced cars for free for people all over the world.

C．his innovation made it possible for anyone to own a car.

D．his innovation provided everyone in the world with a car.

in 1863. He had an interest in mechanics. He invented a car called the quadricycle which had four wheels. It essentially (实质上) had four bicycle tires and no cab (司机室).

Henry built race cars in the 1890’s and even became a race car driver. But he wanted to build cars for everyone: to use, so he began the Ford Motor Company in 1903. He had formulated (制定) a business motto which would be the reason for his success. "The way to make automobiles is to make one automobile like another automobile, to make them all alike." His company declared that they could make automobiles in any color, as long as it was black.

Henry gave much credit to his wife whom he called "The Believer". From the earliest days of their relationship she was the one who encouraged him to build a horseless carriage. Her belief in him was a constant encouragement to produce what would become tile primary mode of transportation in the future.

Henry's greatest task was to produce a gasoline engine that would be the power for his car. He finally produced so many hours each day that his friends called him crazy Henry. tie was inspired to work until his invention would work effectively.

When he designed the Model T, he decided he could build it cheaply for what he called "the great multitude(批量)." To do this he had to design an assemble line where many cars could be bilt in a single day. Each worker would have only his individual parts to put on each car. Then he could limit himself to the few tools needed for the task.

The Model T was introduced in 1908 and began to be produced on an assembly line in 1913. Henry Ford was the major figure in the auto industry for the next fifteen years.

On May 26, 1927, Henry watched the 15 millionth Model T Ford roll off the assembly tine. He had become the richest man in America. He was able to bring the price low enough so that most Americans could buy his car. This gave every family much independence, for they could move about freely without the aid of others’ transporting them.

Because he did not change his Model T, others began experimenting with different types of cars. However, the Ford Motor Company still exists and all car owners are indebted (受惠于) to the creation of the automobile by Henry Ford.

To make cars, Henry first of all needed ______.

A．his wife’s encouragement

B．a lot of money to buy equipment

C．engineers and technicians

D．to produce a gasoline engine that would be the power for his car

The new Ford cars are cited as an example to show that______.

A．it is foolish to criticize a famous brand

B．one should not always agree to others' opinions

C．personal tastes are not something to be challenged

D．it is unwise to express one's likes and dislikes in public

Ford's higher-wage and lower-cost strategy was strongly_____________________

A．criticized by the media

B．the low wage in the auto industry

C．their lower prices

D．produce cars in large numbers

E．the 8-hour shift

F．combined technology and market

Ford’s higher-wage and lower-cost strategy was strongly_________．

A．criticized hy the media

B．the low wage in the auto industry

C．their lower prices

D．produce cars in large numbers

E．the 8．Hour shift

F．combined technology and market

The new Ford cars are cited as an example to show that ______.

A．it is foolish to criticize a famous brand

B．one should net always agree to others' opinions

C．personal tastes are not something to be challenged

D．it is unwise to express one's likes and dislikes in public

Which of the following is NOT true about Ford's cars after 1913？

A．Their price was reduced to $ 260.

B．They were assembled more efficiently.

C．A lot more of them were made.

D．All Americans could afford them.

Ford’s higher-wage and lower-cost strategy was strongly___________

A．criticized by the media

B．the low wage in the auto industry

C．own a car

D．produce cars in large numbers

E．the 8-hour-shift'practice

F．combined technology and market