# The history of barcodes - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 2） - 考频：高频 - 最近考试：2025.2.22/2022.4.30/2018.8.11 - 题目数：14 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/be6eaa5c-dd55-4bc0-b831-a2548cd7eea8（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A Barcodes may seem common enough today that it`s tough to imagine a shopping trip without them. However, barcodes were actually not of much importance until the 1970's. The first product to be barcoded and scanned with the first barcode scanner ever used was in 1974. The idea of barcodes, on the other hand, is not quite as recent. In 1932, Wallace Flint claimed that it might be feasible to create an automated retail checkout system. Even though his idea was ruled out as a possibility in his time, Flint maintained his support for the creation of automated checkouts throughout his working life. It was Flint himself who ended up being a key player in developing UPC code, and went on to become the vice-president of the association of food chains about 40 years later. B It seems that there is a misunderstanding concerning retail UPC barcode being the very first “barcode.” In fact, the first barcode symbology wasn’t referred to as a barcode when it was first invented. At that time, it resembled a bull’s eye target consisting of a set of concentric circles. This particular design was chosen for its ability to be scanned from any direction, later gaining the apt nickname of the “Bullseye barcode.” Two college students, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, created this design after they realized that something similar was necessary in order to track huge inventories in rapidly growing supermarkets. The backstory behind this begins when Woodland started working at IBM in 1951. He then persuaded the company to bring in a consultant to learn more barcodes. As he considered the needs of grocery stores in the future, he based his initial idea on Morse Code. But rather than use dots and dashes, he lengthened them into a series of both wide and thin lines, thus creating the first lineal barcode. Developing this further, the vertical pattern of lines were then arranged into a circle. C Meanwhile, a scanner that could read these codes was also in simultaneous development. Finally in 1952, the Bull’s-Eye code and linear version were patented, along with the mechanical and electrical scanner systems to read them. IBM suggested that they buy out the patent, but did not agree to match their price as they didn’t think the product was marketable enough at that point. However, Philco did match their price, eventually selling the patent to RCA. This event marked the beginning of a new era in automatic identification and electronics as a whole. D It was not until 1967, when RCA started promoting the Bullseye to the grocery industry, that it was even used. One Kroger Grocery store agreed to be the first to try the Bullseye, as RCA tried to draw attention the amount of potential savings made possible by automating the checkout counter. However, even though the Bullseye didn’t need as much scanner orientation, the code used large quantities of space, and the round design restricted amounts of encoded data. The Bullseye never caught on, as it seems technology at that particular moment in time could not do variable printing, and scanners were still being improved through development. E At the same time that developers were learning more to increase capabilities of scanning equipment and computer technology, technological progress in auto-identification became focused on the railroad system supporting the retail and manufacturing industries. These freight cars usually go from one end of the country to the other, and are sometimes also borrowed from one rail line by another. Therefore, tracking the freight trains as they move about is extremely challenging. F Initially, barcodes were applied as part of the American railroad system in the late 1960’s. It was at this time when the Association of American Railroads (AAR) put system called KarTrak in place, which was designed by a railroad employee and MIT graduate named David Collins. The idea was to use blue and red reflective stripes painted on steel plates that were textured with in different combinations along railroad cars’ sides. With 13 horizontal labels on every plate, they very much resembled barcodes. They had “start” labels, “stop” labels and check numbers. The particular placement of these stripes had a 4-digit railroad company identifier encoded, as well as a 6-digit car number. When railcars passed the rail yard scanners, they would be able to identify them by scanning that information. G Yet around 10 years later, the very same program fell into disuse after an economic downturn, as well as the system being called unreliable and error prone due contamination with dirt. When the 1980’s arrived, radio tags had become the dominant way of tracking railroad cars. Collins still saw different potential uses for barcodes, especially in industrial settings. He went on to found a company that he named Computer Identics Corporation. General Motors became one of the first plants to monitor production and distribution of car parts by using these barcodes, while another early system was used in a distribution facility. ## 题目与答案 ### 14. paragraph_main - barcodes take various forms - the problem of how to read the code - barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock - how barcode brought about a shopping‘revolution’ - the barcode is brought back into use - addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system **答案**：how the idea was eventually put into practice 原文定位：In 1932, Wallace Flint claimed that it might be feasible to create an automated retail checkout system. Even though his idea was ruled out as a possibility in his time;It was Flint himself who ended up being a key player in developing UPC code;The first product to be barcoded and scanned with the first barcode scanner ever used was in 1974 ### 15. paragraph_main - barcodes take various forms - the problem of how to read the code - barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock - how barcode brought about a shopping‘revolution’ - the barcode is brought back into use - addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system **答案**：addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system 原文定位：Two college students, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, created this design after they realized that something similar was necessary in order to track huge inventories in rapidly growing supermarkets. The backstory behind this begins when Woodland started working at IBM in 1951. He then persuaded the company to bring in a consultant to learn more barcodes. As he considered the needs of grocery stores in the future, he based his initial idea on Morse Code. But rather than use dots and dashes, he lengthened them into a series of both wide and thin lines, thus creating the first lineal barcode. Developing this further, the vertical pattern of lines were then arranged into a circle 同义替换：「addressing the need」↔「realized that something similar was necessary」；「effective way to create an automated scanning system」↔「creating the first lineal barcode」 ### 16. paragraph_main - barcodes take various forms - the problem of how to read the code - barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock - how barcode brought about a shopping‘revolution’ - the barcode is brought back into use - addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system **答案**：the problem of how to read the code 原文定位：Meanwhile, a scanner that could read these codes was also in simultaneous development. Finally in 1952, the Bull’s-Eye code and linear version were patented, along with the mechanical and electrical scanner systems to read them. IBM suggested that they buy out the patent, but did not agree to match their price as they didn’t think the product was marketable enough at that point. However, Philco did match their price, eventually selling the patent to RCA 同义替换：「the problem of how to read the code」↔「a scanner that could read these codes」 ### 17. paragraph_main - barcodes take various forms - the problem of how to read the code - barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock - how barcode brought about a shopping‘revolution’ - the barcode is brought back into use - addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system **答案**：how the idea was eventually put into practice 原文定位：It was not until 1967, when RCA started promoting the Bullseye to the grocery industry, that it was even used. One Kroger Grocery store agreed to be the first to try the Bullseye, as RCA tried to draw attention the amount of potential savings made possible by automating the checkout counter. However, even though the Bullseye didn’t need as much scanner orientation, the code used large quantities of space, and the round design restricted amounts of encoded data. The Bullseye never caught on, as it seems technology at that particular moment in time could not do variable printing, and scanners were still being improved through development 同义替换：「how the idea was eventually put into practice」↔「it was even used」 ### 18. paragraph_main - barcodes take various forms - the problem of how to read the code - barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock - how barcode brought about a shopping‘revolution’ - the barcode is brought back into use - addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system **答案**：barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock 原文定位：At the same time that developers were learning more to increase capabilities of scanning equipment and computer technology, technological progress in auto-identification became focused on the railroad system supporting the retail and manufacturing industries. These freight cars usually go from one end of the country to the other, and are sometimes also borrowed from one rail line by another. Therefore, tracking the freight trains as they move about is extremely challenging 同义替换：「rolling stock」↔「freight cars」 ### 19. paragraph_main - barcodes take various forms - the problem of how to read the code - barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock - how barcode brought about a shopping‘revolution’ - the barcode is brought back into use - addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system **答案**：barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock 原文定位：Initially, barcodes were applied as part of the American railroad system in the late 1960’s. It was at this time when the Association of American Railroads (AAR) put system called KarTrak in place;When railcars passed the rail yard scanners, they would be able to identify them by scanning that information 同义替换：「barcodes help companies keep track of」↔「identify them by scanning that information」；「rolling stock」↔「railcars」 ### 20. paragraph_main - barcodes take various forms - the problem of how to read the code - barcodes help companies keep track of rolling stock - how barcode brought about a shopping‘revolution’ - the barcode is brought back into use - addressing the need for an effective way to create an automated scanning system **答案**：barcode technology becomes more widespread 原文定位：Yet around 10 years later, the very same program fell into disuse after an economic downturn, as well as the system being called unreliable and error prone due contamination with dirt. When the 1980’s arrived, radio tags had become the dominant way of tracking railroad cars. Collins still saw different potential uses for barcodes, especially in industrial settings. He went on to found a company that he named Computer Identics Corporation. General Motors became one of the first plants to monitor production and distribution of car parts by using these barcodes, while another early system was used in a distribution facility ### 21. 21 Barcodes were invented by Wallace Flint to use in automated checkout systems. 21 Barcodes were invented by Wallace Flint to use in automated checkout systems. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：In 1932, Wallace Flint claimed that it might be feasible to create an automated retail checkout system;It was Flint himself who ended up being a key player in developing UPC code;Two college students, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, created this design [the first barcode/Bullseye barcode] after they realized that something similar was necessary in order to track huge inventories in rapidly growing supermarkets ### 22. 22 The idea for using extended dots and lines for a barcode’s design was inspired by Morse code. 22 The idea for using extended dots and lines for a barcode’s design was inspired by Morse code. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：As he considered the needs of grocery stores in the future, he based his initial idea on Morse Code. But rather than use dots and dashes, he lengthened them into a series of both wide and thin lines, thus creating the first lineal barcode ### 23. 23 The circular design was better than a linear design as it allows scanners to read a barcode from any direction. 23 The circular design was better than a linear design as it allows scanners to read a barcode from any direction. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：This particular design was chosen for its ability to be scanned from any direction, later gaining the apt nickname of the “Bullseye barcode.” Two college students, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, created this design after they realized that something similar was necessary in order to track huge inventories in rapidly growing supermarkets. The backstory behind this begins when Woodland started working at IBM in 1951. He then persuaded the company to bring in a consultant to learn more barcodes. As he considered the needs of grocery stores in the future, he based his initial idea on Morse Code. But rather than use dots and dashes, he lengthened them into a series of both wide and thin lines, thus creating the first lineal barcode. Developing this further, the vertical pattern of lines were then arranged into a circle ### 24. 24 IBM bought the original patent for the Bullseye barcode, but found it difficult promote it in the market of that time. 24 IBM bought the original patent for the Bullseye barcode, but found it difficult promote it in the market of that time. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：IBM suggested that they buy out the patent, but did not agree to match their price as they didn’t think the product was marketable enough at that point. However, Philco did match their price, eventually selling the patent to RCA ### 25. 25 The KarTrak system was never put into use because due to the unreliability of dirty strips. 25 The KarTrak system was never put into use because due to the unreliability of dirty strips. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：Initially, barcodes were applied as part of the American railroad system in the late 1960’s. It was at this time when the Association of American Railroads (AAR) put system called KarTrak in place;Yet around 10 years later, the very same program fell into disuse after an economic downturn, as well as the system being called unreliable and error prone due contamination with dirt ### 26. 26 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as being a characteristic of early barcode designs? 26 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as being a characteristic of early barcode designs? - A though the code designs were small, they could encode large amounts of data - B scanners had to be developed alongside codes to be able to read them - C the design were based on longer versions of the dots and lines seen in Morse code - D circular designs could be scanned from any direction **答案**：A though the code designs were small, they could encode large amounts of data 原文定位：the code used large quantities of space, and the round design restricted amounts of encoded data;Meanwhile, a scanner that could read these codes was also in simultaneous development;he based his initial idea on Morse Code. But rather than use dots and dashes, he lengthened them into a series of both wide and thin lines, thus creating the first lineal barcode;This particular design [circular Bullseye barcode] was chosen for its ability to be scanned from any direction ### 27. 27 What was one of the causes mentioned for KarTrak becoming obsolete? 27 What was one of the causes mentioned for KarTrak becoming obsolete? - A other technology that was cheaper became available on the market - B the economy fell into a slump - C unpredictable weather often made scanning extremely time-consuming - D trains were no longer the dominant means of transporting goods around the county **答案**：B the economy fell into a slump 原文定位：Yet around 10 years later, the very same program fell into disuse after an economic downturn, as well as the system being called unreliable and error prone due contamination with dirt --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。