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.