We all know that frightening moment. You drop your mobile and watch, shocked, as it drops towards the floor, fearing it will land screen-side down – with shattering results.

But now Apple plans to spare you that anxiety, with an invention that will stop your iPhone hitting the ground face-first. The technology giant was approved a patent last week on an invention that can detect when a handset is falling – and flips it to ensure the screen doesn’t hit the ground. The idea could also work with iPads and other devices. Apple’s design features on-board sensors that measure the speed that the phone is falling and predict when it will land and which side of the device will hit the floor. If sensors calculate a delicate component, such as the screen or camera, will hit the ground, they can instantly activate a motor within the phone. This moves an internal weight fast enough to affect the “rotational velocity” of the device and spin it around as it falls, so that it lands on a strong area.

The effect is similar to how a falling cat always manages to land on its feet. And that’s not all. The patent even includes a system that would force out the headphone wire to avoid damage to the connector.Victor Seidel, a lecturer in science entrepreneurship at Oxford University, said: “This does what a lot of successful innovations do: combines ideas in a way others had not considered, such as adding gyroscopic action within a smartphone. But applying this idea into current slimline designs may be a challenge. Of course, no one will really know the possible benefits and limitations until Apple gets products into the hands of users – hands that are indeed sometimes clumsy.”

Industry insiders say an iPhone featuring the new technology may appear within three years.

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1.According the passage, what are the users worried about when the handset drops towards the floor?

A Broken screen.

B Damaged system.

C Shattering sensors.

D Non-working camera.

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。由文章第1段“You drop your mobile and watch, shocked, as it drops towards the floor, fearing it will land screen-side down – with shattering results.”在手机或手表落地的瞬间，我们最担心的是屏幕着地而被摔坏。

2.When a handset is falling, what can the invention do to ensure the screen won’t be damaged?

A Slow down the handset.

B Turn over the handset.

C Add a frame to the handset.

D Prevent it dropping with the earphone wire.

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。由文章第2段“The technology giant was granted a patent last week on an invention that can detect when a handset is falling – and flips it to ensure the screen doesn’t hit the ground.”可知，这项专利技术使得手机掉落时，系统通过自动识别和翻转以避免手机屏幕着地。

3.The underlined word activate in the second paragraph probably means_____.

A break down

B turn on

C take over

D get in

解析：选B。B。词义猜测题。通过上下文可知，在手机落地时，感应器能够立即激活或启动机器内的发动机器，所以选turn on.

4.According to the text, we can learn that_______.

A the patent can only be applied into iPhones and iPads

B the advantages of the patent have already been proved

C the patent has been equipped on the newly released iPhone 6

D the patent also can protect the headphone of a falling handset

解析：选D。D。推理判断题。由文章中“The patent even includes a system that would force out the headphone wire to avoid damage to the connector.”可知，这项专利也能保护数据线。

5.Which is the best title of the text?

A A new iPhone with a firm screen

B An advertisement of a new iPad

C A patent to protect your falling handset

D The benefits and limitation of an invention

解析：选C。C。主旨大意题。本文主要是向我们介绍了苹果公司的一项保护坠落手机的新专利。