Isaac Singer, another American inventor, was also a manufacturer who made improvements to the design of sewing machines. He invented an up-and-down-motion mechanism that replaced the side-to-side machines. He also developed a foot treadle (脚踏板) to power his machine. This improvement left the sewer’s hands free. Undoubtedly, it was a huge improvement of the hand-cranked machine of the past. Soon the Singer sewing machine achieved more fame than the others for it was more practical, it could be adapted to home use and it could be bought on hire-purchase. The Singer sewing machine became the first home appliance, and the Singer company became one of the first American multinationals.

　　However, Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented. As a result, Howe accused him of patent infringement（侵犯）. Of course, Elias Howe won the court case, and Singer was ordered to pay Howe royalties（版税）. In the end, Howe became a millionaire, not by manufacturing the sewing machine, but by receiving royalty payments for his invention.

　　33. Barthelemy Thimonnier’s garment factory was burned down because _____.

　　A. people did not know how to put out the fire

　　B. Elias Howe thought Thimonnier had stolen his invention

　　C. workers who feared the loss of their jobs to a machine set fire

　　D. the sewing machines couldn’t work finally

【河北省武邑中学2016届高考英语一轮复习单元检测：31】相关文章：

★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (34)

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习课时训练：19（含解析）

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(三十九)选修8Unit 4《Pygmalion》

★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (25)

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(二)必修1Unit 2《English around the world》

★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练：选修8 unit5《Meeting your ancestors》

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(二十三)必修5Unit 3《Life in the future》

★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (73)

★ 贵州省贵阳市2014高考英语（新人教版）一轮阅读训练（10）附答案

★ 【北师大版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导课时作业：Unit 2 B卷 Word版含解析