Cars are the most important part of life in the United States. Without a car most people feel that they are poor. And even if a person is poor he doesn’t feel really poor when he has a car.
Henry Ford was the man who first started making cars in large numbers. He probably doesn’t know how much the car was going to affect American culture. The car made the United States a nation on wheels. And it helped to make the United States what it is today.
There are many reasons that the car became so popular in the United States. First of all, the country was a large one and Americans like to move around in it. The car provides the most comfortable and cheapest form of transportation. With a car people can go to any place without spending a lot of money.
The second reason that cars are popular is the fact that the United States never really developed an efficient and inexpensive form of public transportation. Long distance trains have never been as common in the United States as they are in the other parts of the world. Nowadays there is good system of air service provided by planes. But it is too expensive to be used frequently.
The third reason is the most important one. The American spirit of independence is what really made cars popular. Americans don’t like to wait for a bus, or a train or even a plane. They don’t like to have to follow an exact schedule. A car gives them the freedom to plan their own time. And this is the freedom that Americans want most to have.
The gas shortage has caused a big problem for Americans. But the answer will not be a bigger system of public transportation. The real solution will have to be a new kind of car, one that does not use so much gas.
【小题1】What do you think is the main idea of this article? (no more than 10 words)【小题2】Why is the air service not well received by Americans? (no more than 10 words)
【小题3】What is the most important reason for American people’s preference for cars? (no more than 10 words)
【小题4】Can you explain the underlined word “shortage” in English? (no more than 5 words)
【小题5】What is the real solution of gas shortage according to the author? (no more than 15 words)
The following is a timetable in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
| Airline | Flight Number | Destination | Departure | Gate |
| Air Canada | 137 | Beijing | 10:12 | 24 |
| Japan Airlines | 320 | Tokyo | 10:30 | 18 |
| British Airways | 405 | Paris | 11:00 | 20 |
| Pan American | 226 | London | 11:20 | 12 |
| Pan American | 12 | Beijing | 11:43 | 15 |
| Air Canada | 178 | Tokyo | 12:32 | 21 |
| CAAC | 289 | Hong Kong | 12:32 | 14 |
| CAAC | 314 | Moscow | 12:45 | 18 |
| British Airways | 230 | New York | 12:55 | 23 |
【小题1】If a man wants to take Flight 226 to London, which gate should he go to?
| A．23 | B．15 |
| C．12 | D．24 |
| A．Beijing | B．Tokyo |
| C．Moscow | D．New York |
| A．CAAC | B．Pan American |
| C．Japan Airlines | D．British Airways |
| A．Gate18 | B．Gate 20 |
| C．Gate 21 | D．Gate 15 |
The MetroCard New York, a thin plastic rechargeable card, is a good option if you are planning to take a tour of New York and are looking for a simple and inexpensive way to get around!
Which to choose?
Depending on your preferences, you can choose among the following types of cards:
The pay-per-use card: Pay-per-ride MetroCard
A metro journey costs $ 3 (single fare), but with a Pay-per-ride MetroCard you will only pay $2. 75. Your card will be charged for each journey you make.
Note that a card can be used by up to 4 people-i. e. if you only have one card in your group of 4 people, you can access the subway or bus by swiping(刷卡) it 4 times. However, if there are 5 of you, you will need a second card: the Pay-per-ride MetroCard can only be swiped 4 times in a row.
The unlimited use payment card: Unlimited Ride MetroCard
The 7-day-unlimited MetroCard is valid(有效的) for 7 straight days. It costs $33. If you use public transport often during your stay, it will quickly become profitable! That’s why it’s the most commonly used card for tourists.
The 30-day-unlimited MetroCard is valid for 30 days. It costs $127. You have unlimited swipes on the subway and buses for 30 days, and you can’t pause it once started.
The One-year MetroCard is valid for a whole year, so it is of no interest to tourists.
How to use?
You have to swipe your MetroCard through the reader and then wait for the display to say “GO”. Unfortunately, this isn’t as easy as it sounds at times. As with many other Metro passes, it can be kind of tricky at first, but if you can’t get it working, you are not alone. Just watch other people and do what they do.
【小题1】How many Pay-per-ride MetroCardsre needed at least for a group of 6 people?| A．1. | B．2. | C．4. | D．6. |
| A．One-year MetroCard. |
| B．Pay-per-ride MetroCard. |
| C．7-day-unlimited MetroCard. |
| D．30-day-unlimited MetroCard. |
| A．Check the reader. |
| B．Copy successful passengers. |
| C．Wait for help. |
| D．Choose other Metro passes. |
Now technology makes carpooling easier and more fun. NuRide, a company provided an online carpooling service last year, offers daily travelers in the Washington area not just a web-based list of would-be carpoolers but also a way to arrange a trip online. Here’s how it works: rider seekers enter the positions where their trip will begin and end, the time they want to leave and if they’re willing to drive or just ride in someone else’s car. The website’s search engine then looks for matches and makes lists of the names of traveling companions, along with the car model and the exact time and place to meet for each trip. People who want to share the ride can show their interest in joining in online and then meet their car mates when it’s time to go.
NuRide users aren’t riding with total strangers. They are required to provide the name of their employer and a work e-mail address, both of which need to be checked before being listed on the website.
To attract users, NuRide offers a frequent rider prize: anyone who shares a ride gets a $1 credit. So far, 2,300 people have signed up. NuRide CEO Rick Steele said that more than 50,000 rides have been arranged on the website, resulting in 1.4 million fewer miles driven and 650 fewer tons of automobile emissions (机动车排放).
【小题1】What has the study found about people’s opinion on carpooling?
| A．Most people think it is inconvenient. |
| B．Only 18% can find their road mates. |
| C．Some people consider it dangerous. |
| D．Half of the people accept the idea. |
| A．Decide a car model for you to drive. |
| B．Help you arrange a shared car trip. |
| C．Find your car matestrue names. |
| D．Give you a list of car owners. |
| A．give information about his interest |
| B．meet his car mates before the trip |
| C．offer the name of his employer |
| D．provide his home address |
| A．improving air quality |
| B．reducing driving speed |
| C．promoting safety of driving |
| D．increasing job opportunities |
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