“We don’t have rush hours any more”, said Mr. Charles Mac Lean, who runs the nation’s busiest road. “We have rush periods, and they keep getting longer and longer.”

Mac Lean was describing Chicago’s 235 miles of expressway. But the same might be said about almost any of the expressways that have become an important part of American city life―and about the heavy traffic that often blocks them. In Chicago, a computerized system has been developed that controls traffic on the city’s seven expressways. Now one man―a controller―can follow the movement of Chicago’s traffic by looking at a set of lights. The system uses electronic sensors that are built into each expressway, half a mile apart. Several times a second, the computer receives information from each sensor and translates it into green, yellow, or red lights on a map in the control room. A green light means the traffic is moving forty-five miles an hour, yellow means thirty to forty-five miles an hour and red means heavy  traffic―cars standing still or moving less than thirty miles an hour.

“See that red light near Austin Avenue?” the controller asked a visitor. “That’s a repair truck fixing the road, and the traffic has to go around it”.

At the Roosevelt Road entrance to the expressway, the light kept changing from green to red and back to green again. “A lot of trucks get on the expressway there,” the controller explained. “They can’t speed up as fast as cars.”

The sensors show immediately where an accident or a stopped car is blocking traffic, and a truck is sent by radio to clear the road. The system has lowered the number of accidents by 18 percent. There are now 1.4 deaths on Chicago’s expressways for each one hundred million miles traveled, while in other parts of the country there are 2.6.

Traffic experts say that the Chicago system is the “coming thing”. Systems like Chicago’s are already in use on some expressways in Los Angeles and Houston. “Chicago has taken the lead,” says New York City’s traffic director; and he adds, “We are far behind…”

63. How does the controller follow Chicago’s traffic?

  A. By controlling the traffic lights.

B. By operating a computer in the control room.

C. By sending a truck to clear the roads.

D. By looking at a set of lights on the map in the control room.

64. The underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refers to ____________.

    A. a truck which needs repairing            B. a red light

C. Austin Avenue                                  D. a truck doing repairs on the road

65. Which of the statements is true about the computerized system in Chicago?

    A. It changes rush hours into rush periods.

B. It saves a lot of labor and meanwhile prevents some deaths.

C. It is the first system of this kind in America.

D. It will soon be followed by New York City.

66. What might be the best title for this passage?

    A. Computerized Traffic Control System         B. Rush Periods Getting Longer

C. No Rush Hours Any More                         D. Sensors on Expressways

“We don’t have rush hours any more”, said Mr. Charles Mac Lean, who runs the nation’s busiest road．“We have rush periods, and they keep getting longer and longer．”

Mac Lean was describing Chicago’s 235 miles of expressway． But the same might be said about almost any of the expressways that have become an important part of American city life—and about the heavy traffic that often blocks them．In Chicago, a computerized system has been developed that controls traffic on the city’s seven expressways．Now one man—a controller—can follow the movement of Chicago’s traffic by looking at a set of lights． The system uses electronic sensors that are built into each expressway, half a mile apart．Several times a second, the computer receives information from each sensor and translates it into green, yellow, or red lights on a map in the control room．A green light means the traffic is moving forty-five miles an hour, yellow means thirty to forty-five miles an hour and red means heavy  traffic—cars standing still or moving less than thirty miles an hour．

“See that red light near Austin Avenue?” the controller asked a visitor．“That’s a repair truck fixing the road, and the traffic has to go around it”．

At the Roosevelt Road entrance to the expressway, the light kept changing from green to red and back to green again．“A lot of trucks get on the expressway there,” the controller explained． “They can’t speed up as fast as cars．”

The sensors show immediately where an accident or a stopped car is blocking traffic, and a truck is sent by radio to clear the road．The system has lowered the number of accidents by 18 percent． There are now 1．4 deaths on Chicago’s expressways for each one hundred million miles traveled, while in other parts of the country there are 26．

Traffic experts say that the Chicago system is the “coming thing”．Systems like Chicago’s are already in use on some expressways in Los Angeles and Houston．“Chicago has taken the lead,” says New York City’s traffic director; and he adds, “We are far behind…”

1．How does the controller follow Chicago’s traffic?

      A． By controlling the traffic lights．

B． By operating a computer in the control room．

C． By sending a truck to clear the roads．

D． By looking at a set of lights on the map in the control room．

2．The underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refers to ____________．

      A． a truck which needs repairing      B． a red light

C． Austin Avenue                  D． a truck doing repairs on the road

3．Which of the statements is true about the computerized system in Chicago?

      A． It changes rush hours into rush periods．

B． It saves a lot of labor and at the same time prevents some deaths．

C． It is the first system of this kind in America．

D． It will soon be followed by New York City．

4．What might be the best title for this passage?

      A． Computerized Traffic Control System   B． Rush Periods Getting Longer

C． No Rush Hours Any More            D． Sensors on Expressways

“We don’t have rush hours any more”, said Mr. Charles Mac Lean, who runs the nation’s busiest road. “We have rush periods, and they keep getting longer and longer.”

Mac Lean was describing Chicago’s 235 miles of expressway. But the same might be said about almost any of the expressways that have become an important part of American city life—and about the heavy traffic that often blocks them. In Chicago, a computerized system has been developed that controls traffic on the city’s seven expressways. Now one man—a controller—can follow the movement of Chicago’s traffic by looking at a set of lights. The system uses electronic sensors that are built into each expressway, half a mile apart. Several times a second, the computer receives information from each sensor and translates it into green, yellow, or red lights on a map in the control room. A green light means the traffic is moving forty-five miles an hour, yellow means thirty to forty-five miles an hour and red means heavy  traffic—cars standing still or moving less than thirty miles an hour.

“See that red light near Austin Avenue?” the controller asked a visitor. “That’s a repair truck fixing the road, and the traffic has to go around it”.

At the Roosevelt Road entrance to the expressway, the light kept changing from green to red and back to green again. “A lot of trucks get on the expressway there,” the controller explained. “They can’t speed up as fast as cars.”

The sensors show immediately where an accident or a stopped car is blocking traffic, and a truck is sent by radio to clear the road. The system has lowered the number of accidents by 18 percent. There are now 1.4 deaths on Chicago’s expressways for each one hundred million miles traveled, while in other parts of the country there are 2.6.

Traffic experts say that the Chicago system is the “coming thing”. Systems like Chicago’s are already in use on some expressways in Los Angeles and Houston. “Chicago has taken the lead,” says New York City’s traffic director; and he adds, “We are far behind…”

60. How does the controller follow Chicago’s traffic?

      A. By controlling the traffic lights.

B. By operating a computer in the control room.

C. By sending a truck to clear the roads.

D. By looking at a set of lights on the map in the control room.

61. The underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refers to ____________.

      A. a truck which needs repairing      B. a red light

C. Austin Avenue                  D. a truck doing repairs on the road

62. Which of the statements is true about the computerized system in Chicago?

      A. It changes rush hours into rush periods.

B. It saves a lot of labor and at the same time prevents some deaths.

C. It is the first system of this kind in America.

D. It will soon be followed by New York City.

63. What might be the best title for this passage?

      A. Computerized Traffic Control System   B. Rush Periods Getting Longer

C. No Rush Hours Any More            D. Sensors on Expressways

       You either have it, or you don’t --- a sense of direction, that is. But why is it that some people could find their way across the Sahara without a map, while others can lose themselves in the next street?

       Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction, but it is not properly understood how it works. One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it. Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it, we lose it.

       “Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around,” says Jim Martland, Research Director of the project. “However, if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car, they never develop the skills.”

       Jim Marland also said that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction. He makes the following suggestions:

       · If you are using a map, turn it so it relates (相关) to the way you are facing.

       · If you leave your bike in a strange place, put it near something like a big stone or a tree. Note landmarks on the route (路线) as you go away from your bike. When you return, go back along the same route.

       · Simplify the way of finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town, streams, or walls in the countryside to guide you. Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as tower blocks or hills which can help to find out where you are.

1．Scientists believe that ________.

       A．some babies are born with a sense of direction

       B．people learn a sense of direction as they grow older

       C．people never lose their sense of direction

       D．everybody has a sense of direction from birth

2．What is true of seven-year-old children according to the passage?

       A．They never have a sense of direction without maps.

       B．They should never be allowed out alone if they don’t have a sense of direction.

       C．They have a sense of direction and can find their way around.

       D．They can develop a good sense of direction if they are driven around in a car.

3．If you leave your bike in a strange place, you should ______.

       A．tie it to a tree so as to prevent it from being stolen

       B．draw a map of the route to help remember where it is

       C．not take the same route when you come back to it

       D．remember something easily recognizable on the route

4．According to the passage, the best way to find your way around is to ______.

       A．ask policemen for directions

       B．use walls, streams, and streets to guide yourself

       C．remember your route by looking out for steps and stairs

       D．count the number of landmarks that you see

阅读理解

　　“We don' t have rush hours any more,”said Charles M. McLean, who runs the nation's busiest road.“We have rush periods, and they keep getting longer and longer.”McLean was describing Chicago's 235 miles of expressway, but the same might be said about almost any of the expressways that have become an important part of American city life--and about the heavy traffic that often blocks (阻塞) them.

　　In Chicago, a computerized system has been developed that controls traffic on the city's seven expressways. Now one man--a controller--can follow the movement of Chicago's traffic by looking at a set of lights.

　　The system uses electronic sensors (传感器) that are built into each expressway, half a mile apart several times a second, the computer receives information from each sensor and translates it into green, yellow, or red lights on a map in the control room. A green light means traffic is moving forty-five miles an hour, yellow means thirty to forty-five miles an hour, and red means heavy traffic--cars standing still or moving less than thirty miles an hour.

　　“See that red light near Austin Avenue?”The controller asked a visitor ,“That' s a repair truck fixing the road, and the traffic has to go around it.”

　　At the Roosevelt Road entrance to the expressway, the light kept changing from green to red and back to green again.“A lot of trucks get on the expressway there,”the controller explained.“They can' t speed up as fast as cars.”

　　The sensors show immediately where an accident or a stopped car is blocking traffic, and a truck is sent by radio to clear the road. The system has lowered the number of accidents by 18 percent. There are now 1.4 deaths on Chicago' s expressways for each one hundred million miles traveled, while in other parts of the country there are 2.6.

　　Traffic experts say that the Chicago system is the“coming thing”. Systems like Chicago's are already in use on some expressways in Los Angeles and Houston.“Chicago has taken the lead,”says New York city' s traffic director, and he adds,“We are far behind...”

(1)What would be the best title for this text?________

[　　]

A．Computerized Traffic Control System

B．Rush Periods Getting Longer

C．The Nation's Busiest Road

D．Sensors on Expressways

(2)How does the controller follow Chicago's traffic? ________

[　　]

A．By learning how to use a computer.

B．By waiting for the red light to turn to green.

C．By watching the sensors built into the expressways.

D．By looking at a set of lights on the map in the control room.

(3)What colour shows that the traffic moves the fastest? ________

[　　]

(4)The system in Chicago ________.

[　　]

A．is really effective

B．is actually of very little use

C．will be sent to Los Angeles

D．is looked upon by New York' s traffic director