Question

Why does most of the world travel on the right side today? Theories differ, but there’s no doubt Napoleon was a major influence. The French have used the right since at least the late 18^th century. Some say that before the French Revolution, noblemen drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasants to the right. Regardless of the origin, Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered, including Russia, Switzerland and Germany. Hitler, in turn, ordered right-hand traffic in Czechoslovakia and Austria in the 1930s. Nations that escaped right-hand control, like Great Britain, followed their left-hand tradition.

The U.S. has not always been a nation of right-hand drivers; earlier in its history, carriage and horse traffic travelled on the left, as it did in England. But by the late 1700s, people driving large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses began promoting a shift（改变）to the right. A driver would sit on the rear（后面的）left horse in order to wave his whip（鞭子）with his right hand; to see opposite traffic clearly, they travelled on the right.

One of the final moves to firmly standardize traffic directions in the U.S. occurred in the 20^th century, when Henry Ford decided to mass-produce his cars with controls on the left (one reason, stated in 1908: the convenience for passengers exiting directly onto the edge, especially… if there is a lady to be considered). Once these rules were set, many countries eventually adjusted to the right-hand standard, including Canada in the 1920s, Sweden in 1967 and Burma in 1970. The U.K. and former colonies such as Australia and India are among the Western world’s few remaining holdouts(坚持不变者). Several Asian nations, including Japan, use the left as well--- though many places use both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive cars.

1.Why did people in Switzerland travel on the right?

A.They had used the right-hand traffic since the 18^th century.

B.Rich people enjoyed driving their carriages on the right.

C.Napoleon introduced the right-hand traffic to this country.

D.Hitler ordered them to go against their left-hand tradition.

2.Of all the countries below, the one that travels on the right is_________.

A.Austria

B.England

C.Japan

D.Australia

3.Henry Ford produced cars with controls on the left __________.

A.in order to change traffic directions in the U.S.

B.so that passengers could get off conveniently

C.because rules at that time weren’t perfect

D.though many countries were strongly against that

4.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A.Before the French Revolution, all the French people used the right.

B.People in Britain and the U.S. travel on the same side nowadays.

C.The Burmese began to travel on the right in 1970.

D.All the Asian nations use the left at present.

5.What would be the best title for this passage?

A.Who made the great contribution to the shift of traffic directions?

B.How cars have become a popular means of transportation?

C.How Henry Ford produced his cars with controls on the left?

D.Why don’t people all drive on the same side of road?

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.C

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：为什么世界上绝大多数国家的交通方向都是右行？文章陈述了拿破仑在改变交通方向中主要贡献，同时陈述了世界各国过去到现在的交通方向。

1.从第一段第四行Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered, including Russia, Switzerland and Germany可得知正确答案为C。

2.从最后一段倒数第二句The U.K. and former colonies such as Australia and India are among the Western world’s few remaining holdouts及倒数第一句 Several Asian nations, including Japan, use the left as well可知England，Japan及Australia都是车辆右行，只有Austria是车辆左行，故选A。

3.从最后一段第二行括号里面的内容one reason, stated in 1908: the convenience for passengers exiting directly onto the edge, especially… if there is a lady to be considered可知正确答案为B。

4.从第一段第三行 before the French Revolution, noblemen drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasants to the right可知A项错误。第二段首句得知美国车辆右行，最后一段提到英国车辆左行，故B项从最后一段Several Asian nations, including Japan, use the left as well可知D表达错误。从最后一段 倒数第三行... adjusted to the right-hand standard, ...Burma in 1970可知C项正确。

5.从文章第一段开头句总起句Why does most of the world travel on the right side today? Theories differ, but there’s no doubt Napoleon was a major influence可知正确答案为B。

考点：文化类短文阅读。