Americans love cars. They go everywhere in them. 8 5%of people in the US go to and from work by car. And most adults have driving licenses. Why does this car culture exist?

How it started

America’s love of cars started after the war(战争)when soldiers returned home from World War II to rebuild their lives. They borrowed money from the government to buy houses and cars which became the symbols of status(地位). The more money they had, the bigger their cars were.

Making of roads

During the war, President Eisenhower noticed what good roads Germany had. He decided to build new four-lane(四车道)roads in America. He said if something happened suddenly, the two-lane roads wouldn’t be able to carry all the cars that would suddenly leave the cities. Car and oil companies liked his idea and building started.

Car lover

Not just teenagers are crazy about cars. Some Americans love their cars so much that they paint their cars beautifully. These are called Art Cars. Every April there is an activity in Houston, Texas, where they show their cars.

Pollution

Cars have polluted the environment. American President Bush refused a worldwide law that is against pollution. Many countries were angry about it. Bush said he had to think of the American economy(经济)and all the American people that make money from cars. Factories say they want to make cars that pollute less. But others say making cars that pollute less will never be as good as having fewer cars.

1.When did Americans begin to love cars?

A.Before the new two-lane roads were built.

B.After World War II.

C.During World War II.

D.Before World War II.

2.New four-1ane roads were build _______.

A.in Germany B.by car and oil companies

C.in America D.when something suddenly happened

3.The underlined word “building” here means “the building of _______”.

A.companies B.soldiers’ lives C.houses D.roads

4.What were other countries’ feelings about Bush’s decision?

A.They agreed with him. B.They showed anger to it.

C.They paid no attention to it. D.The passage doesn’t tell us.

5.What does the last sentence mean?

A.It’s better to have fewer cars.

B.It’s better to make cars that pollute less.

C.It’s easier to make cars that pollute less.

D.It’s easier to make people have fewer cars.

If you put a buzzard in a pen six to eight feet square and open at the top, the bird will be a prisoner, though it can fly. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten to twelve feet. Without space to run, as its habit, it will not even try to fly, but remain a prisoner for life in its small prison with no top.

The bat that flies around at night cannot take off from the ground. If it is placed on the ground, all it can do is to walk slowly about helplessly and no doubt, painfully. If it reaches a higher place, it will be able to throw itself into the air. Then it takes off immediately. But on flat(平的) ground, it will never fly.

A bee dropped into a cup will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but keeps trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will look for a way where none exists(存在), until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and difficulties, not realizing that the answer is right there above them.

1.Which of the following is a “pen” according to Paragraph 1?

A. B. C. D.

2.Why can’t a buzzard fly through the top of a pen?

A.It is too big and heavy to fly up. B.The space is too small for it to start flying.

C.It is too hungry and weak to get out. D.The space is comfortable for it to live in.

3.What does Paragraph 2 mainly tell us about the bat?

A.It prefers walking to flying. B.It can take off at once on flat ground.

C.It flies only when it is dark. D.It takes off only from a higher place.

4.What can a bee do if it drops into a cup?

A.It will escape from the top. B.It will stay at the bottom without moving.

C.It will lose the ability to fly. D.it will die of tiredness at last.

5.What can we learn from the story?

A.Many people like the buzzard, the bat and the bee.

B.Animals will also give up when in trouble.

C.We should try new ways to deal with difficulties.

D.We should solve problems by ourselves.

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