2026年中考英语【时文阅读训练】苹果CEO称2012年苹果地图是重大错误-Apple CEO says 2012 Apple Maps was 'big mistake'

Apple CEO says 2012 Apple Maps was 'big mistake'  (27th April 2026)

Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has reflected on his time as head of the tech giant. Mr Cook will bow out as Apple boss in September. He revealed which Apple products he deemed to have been less than perfect. In particular, he singled out Apple Maps as being a "really big mistake". In 2012, he recommended using what he thought were more reliable map apps from Apple's competitors. He said admitting this was a hard thing to do. The original Apple Maps was widely criticised upon its release for guiding drivers to bizarre places due to faulty data and mapping errors. These included non-existent bridges, businesses in the ocean, and fields of wheat shown as airports.

Tim Cook was appointed CEO of Apple in 2011. He succeeded visionary pioneer and co-founder Steve Jobs. During his tenure, Cook transformed Apple from a $350 billion company into a $4 trillion company. It continues to generate enormous profits and growth through products like the iPhone. Cook has ensured Apple's brand represents a superlative lifestyle choice. Today, roughly one out of every five people on Earth uses an Apple device. Apple products are among the most integrated in our lives. Cook revealed that his greatest achievement was the Apple Watch, and its impact on health, fitness, and daily habits. He said: "Apple's greatest contribution ... will be in the health and wellness area."

1.Vocabulary Matching

Paragraph 1

1.	reflected on	a.	Companies selling similar products or services.
2.	bow out	b.	Thought or judged something to be true.
3.	deemed	c.	Very strange or unusual.
4.	singled out	d.	To leave a job or position.
5.	reliable	e.	Looked back at and thought carefully about something.
6.	competitors	f.	Easy to trust because it usually works well.
7.	bizarre	g.	Chose one person or thing from a group for attention.

 

Paragraph 2

8.	appointed	h.	The period when someone has an important job.
9.	succeeded	i.	Joined closely into something else.
10.	tenure	j.	Officially chosen for a job.
11.	transformed	k.	The state of being healthy and happy.

12.	generate	l.	Replaced someone in a position.
13.	integrated	m.	Changed something completely.
14.	wellness	n.	Produce or create something.

 

【答案】

1.e  2.d  3.b  4.g  5.f  6.a  7.c 8.j  9.l  10.h  11.m  12.n  13.i  14.k

 

2. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if “1-8” below are true (T) or false (F).

1. Tim Cook has reflected on his time as head of Apple.        T / F

2. Cook said Apple Maps was one of Apple's perfect products.       T / F

3. In 2012, Cook recommended some map apps from Apple's competitors.      T / F

4. The original Apple Maps was criticised for faulty data and mapping errors.      T / F

5. Tim Cook became Apple CEO before Steve Jobs left Apple.       T / F

6. Apple grew from a $350 billion company to about a $4 trillion company under Cook.                                                                                                                                                 T / F

7. The article says around one in five people on Earth uses an Apple device.      T / F

8. Cook said the iPhone was his greatest achievement.        T / F

【答案】

1.T  2.F  3.T  4.T  5.F  6.T  7.T  8.F

3. SYNONYM MATCH: (The words in bold are from the news article.)

1.	reflected	a.	period in office
2.	deemed	b.	selected
3.	singled out	c.	trusted
4.	reliable	d.	thought
5.	criticised	e.	huge
6.	bizarre	f.	complained about
7.	appointed	g.	success
8.	tenure	h.	looked back
9.	enormous	i.	named to a job
10.	achievement	j.	strange

 

【答案】

1.h  2.d  3.b  4.c  5.f 6.j  7.i  8.a  9.e  10.g

4. READING COMPREHENSION: MULTIPLE CHOICE

1)  What did Tim Cook reflect on?

a) his time leading Apple b) his school days

c) a movie role d) his first computer

2)  When is Cook expected to leave the Apple CEO role?

a) in April b) in June

c) in September d) in December

3)  Which product did Cook single out as a mistake?

a) the iPhone b) Apple Maps

c) the iPad d) Apple Music

4)  What did Cook recommend in 2012?

a) paper maps b) no maps

c) rival map apps d) new cars

5)  What were wheat fields shown as?

a) airports b) shops

c) bridges d) oceans

6)  Who did Cook succeed as Apple CEO?

a) Bill Gates b) Steve Jobs

c) Elon Musk d) Jeff Bezos

7)  What value did Apple reach during Cook's tenure?

a) $35 billion b) $350 billion

c) $4 trillion d) $40 trillion

8)  Which product is named as helping Apple generate profits?

a) the iPhone b) Apple Maps

c) a camera d) a bridge

9)  How many people on Earth use an Apple device, roughly?

a) one in ten b) one in five

c) one in two d) nine in ten

10)  What did Cook call his greatest achievement?

a) Apple Maps b) the Apple Watch

c) the first iPhone d) a wheat field

【答案】

1.a  2.c  3.b  4.c  5.a  6.b  7.c  8.a  9.b  10.b