8.
Choose the best answer. (根据短文内容, 选择最恰当的答案。)
Most
great inventors often met with much trouble in their work. Before they could succeed,
they had to overcome thousands of difficulties which were put in their way. The
following is one of such examples.
George
Stephenson(1781-1848), a famous British inventor, made the first train in 1825,
using a steam engine. When he was experimenting with the engine on the train, he
met with troubles from the government, the newspapers and the gentlemen in the country.
They said that the noise and the smoke would kill cows, horses and sheep. The
engine would burst or that the hot coals from it would set fire to their houses.
People believed what they said.
George
Stephenson told the people that the train could go on small rails, could pull
carriages full of goods and passengers and that there was no great danger to
them. It was a very difficult matter for him to make them believe. However, after
some time, he was able to do it, and the first train that was driven by
Stephenson himself proved what he had said. On the train there was a new steam
engine. It was invented by him. and was proved a complete success.
The
first day when the train ran on the rails, people along the way heard the noise
of the train in the distance, and saw it running quickly to them. They thought
it was a genie(妖怪). They ran quickly back
home for fear and closed their doors tightly. They did not dare to come out
until it had passed. A week later an old woman still said that her hen had been
so frightened that it hadn't laid any eggs for three days.