2017pets3公共英語(yǔ)三級(jí)閱讀理解考前沖刺練習(xí)（14）

　　A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement(新拓居地)spread ever farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with troublesome mechanical problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best means of land transportation.By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and western lines.

　　The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first transcontinental,system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pacific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land.Actural work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor,while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish labourers. The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah.Many visitors came there for the great occasion.There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.

　　The railroad was very important in encouraging Westward Movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant markets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States.

　　1.The major problems with America's railroad system in the mid 19th century lay in _______.

　　A. lack of financial support for development

　　B. poor quality rails and unreliable stopping systems

　　C. limited railroad lines

　　D. lack of a transcontinental railroad

　　答案B.從第二句話開始寫道：早期的火車是不實(shí)用的新奇玩意兒，很長(zhǎng)一段時(shí)間鐵路公司都遇到了麻煩的機(jī)械問題。最嚴(yán)重的是建造能承重的鐵軌和開發(fā)安全有效的剎車系統(tǒng)。一旦這些解決了，鐵路就成為陸上運(yùn)輸?shù)淖罴逊绞健Ｓ纱丝芍�，正確答案為B.

　　2.The building of the first transcontinental system ________.

　　A. brought about a rapid growth of industry and farming in the west.

　　B. attracted many visitors to the construction sites

　　C. attracted labourers from Europe

　　D. encouraged people to travel all over the country

　　答案A.第二段的大致內(nèi)容是：隨著第一個(gè)橫跨大陸鐵路線的修建，鐵路建設(shè)達(dá)到了高峰。西起California，東至Nebraska修建了一條橫跨大陸的鐵路線。1869年這條鐵路線在Utah會(huì)合。第三段寫道：這條鐵路線在西進(jìn)運(yùn)動(dòng)中起了很重要的作用。通過運(yùn)送原材料和快速發(fā)送物品到遙遠(yuǎn)的市場(chǎng)，它促進(jìn)了西部工農(nóng)業(yè)的發(fā)展。所以正確答案是A.

　　3.The best title for this passage would be ________.

　　A. Settlements Spread Westward

　　B. The Importance of Railroads in the American Economy

　　C. American Railroad History

　　D. The Coast-to-Coast Railroad: A Vital Link

　　答案D.第一段寫道：當(dāng)新拓居地向西進(jìn)發(fā)的時(shí)候，一種快速的長(zhǎng)途交通工具對(duì)美國(guó)來說成為必要。以下講述了早期火車和鐵路存在的問題。一旦這些問題解決之后，鐵路就成為最好的陸上運(yùn)輸工具。到1860年美國(guó)已擁有幾千里的鐵路。第二段主要講述第一個(gè)跨大陸鐵路系統(tǒng)的修建。最后一段講述這條鐵路線對(duì)促進(jìn)美國(guó)政治和經(jīng)濟(jì)所起的重要作用。綜上所述，可知本篇第一段是引言段;第二段是發(fā)展段;第三段是結(jié)論段。根據(jù)第三段里的結(jié)論，不難選出本題的正確答案D.

　　4.The construction of the transcontinental railroad took ________.

　　A. 3 years

　　B. 7 years

　　C. 4 years

　　D. 9 years

　　答案A.從第二段得知，1862年國(guó)會(huì)授權(quán)二個(gè)鐵路公司修建跨大陸鐵路。這個(gè)工程實(shí)際上是在四年之后才真正動(dòng)工的，也就是在1866年才動(dòng)工。1869年這條鐵路會(huì)合。由此可知，正確答案是A項(xiàng)。

　　5.What most likely made people think about a transcontinental railroad?

　　A. The possibility of government support for such a task.

　　B. The need to explore Utah.

　　C. The need to develop the railroad industry in the west.

　　D. The need to connect the east coast with the west.

　　答案D.從第二段得知，國(guó)會(huì)授權(quán)二個(gè)鐵路公司修一條跨大陸鐵路線，東起Nebraska向西修筑，西起California向東修筑，最后到達(dá)一個(gè)會(huì)合點(diǎn)，以此可以穿越大陸，把大西洋海岸和太平洋海岸連接起來。由此可知，修筑這條鐵路是為了把東海岸和西海岸連接起來。所以，正確答案是D項(xiàng)。