Question

【题目】There are two ways of driving in the world: if the driver's seat is on the left and cars travel on the right side of the road, it is called "left-hand driving", as it is in China, while the other way of driving is called "right-hand driving", as it is in Britain. Nowadays, around 65% of the world's population drives on the right of the road, while the rest is used to driving on the left.

Though no one knows the exact reasons, it seems likely that people in ancient times travelled on the left of the road. Roman coins show pictures of horsemen passing on each other's right. And right-hand people generally got on a horse from the animal's left. Obviously, it's safer to do this at the left side of the road, and it makes sense(行得通)for the horse to be ridden on the left.

A change happened in the late 1700s. When Napoleon(拿破仑)conquered(攻占)nations, he forced them to travel on the right side of the road, which spread left-hand driving throughout Europe. However, Britain still stuck with the right-hand driving rule and countries which were part of the British Empire were made to follow. This is why India, Australia and the former British colonies(前英国殖民地)in Africa continue to drive on the left. One exception(例外)is Egypt, as that country was defeated(打败)by Napoleon before becoming part of the British Empire.

Some countries changed sides until modern times. Sweden only moved to driving on the right in 1967 and Iceland changed the following year. Ghana changed sides in 1974. On September 7, 2009, Samoa became the third country ever to change from left-to-right-hand driving for the reason that it made it easier to import(进口) cheap cars from right-hand driving Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

So if you want to travel to another country or go on business, make sure you know whether it is left-or right-hand driving to avoid unnecessary troubles.

【1】Which picture shows the correct driving in Britain?

A. B. C. D.

【2】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Sweden changed to drive on the right in 1974.

B. People drive on the left side of the road in Egypt.

C. People have known the exact reasons for driving on the left.

D. Napoleon helped with the spread of left-hand driving.

【3】What is the writer's purpose for writing this passage?

A. To explain the advantages of the two ways of driving.

B. To introduce the development of the two ways of driving.

C. To complain about the change of the two ways of driving.

D. To compare the differences of the two ways of driving.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】 C

【2】 D

【3】 B

【解析】

这篇文章主要介绍了靠左行驶和靠右行驶，这两种驾驶方式的发展历史及现状。

【1】细节理解题。根据There are two ways of driving in the world: if the driver’s seat is on the left and cars travel on the right side of the road, it is called “left-hand driving”, as it is in China, while the other way of driving is called “right-hand driving”, as it is in Britain. 可知在英国，车是靠左行驶，驾驶位在车的右部。所以选C。

【2】推理判断题。根据文中A change happened in the late 1700s. When Napoleon(拿破仑)conquered(攻占)nations, he forced them to travel on the right side of the road, which spread left-hand driving throughout Europe.可知，拿破仑帮助扩大了左手驾驶的范围。选项D是正确的。故选D。

【3】推理判断题。根据There are two ways of driving in the world以及So if you want to travel to another country or go on business, make sure you know whether it is left-or right- hand driving to avoid unnecessary troubles. 可知作者写这篇文章的目的是介绍两种驾驶方式的发展。所以选B。