Question

It remains a curiosity and a bit of a historical mystery why we don't all drive on the same side of the road. The fact is that most people are right-handed; that's why, for much of history, drivers have stuck to the left. Ancient Romans using two-wheeled carriages are believed to have held the reins(缰绳) with their right hands and a whip with their left; to avoid whipping the near drivers, they favored the left-hand side the road. It's also easier for right-handers to get on a horse from the left, so riders were attracted to that side to avoid the near traffic as they climbed on and off. Finally, knights(骑士) and the other drivers favored the left so they could do battle, if necessary, with their good hand.

So 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 the late 18th century.  Some say that before the French Revolution, people in upper class drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasantry to the right. During the violence, fearful rich people sought to mix with the peasantry by traveling on the right as well. 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-handed conquest, like Great Britain, kept their left-handed tradition.

1.Who had a major effect on “keep-right” traffic law?

A. Ancient Romans                      B. Hitler

C. Napoleon                            D. Austrians

2. What does the second paragraph mainly tell us?

A. Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered.

B. Hitler ordered right-hand traffic in Austria.

C. Great Britain escaped right-handed conquest.

D. The reasons that most of the world drives on the right side.

3.What does the word peasantry in the last paragraph mean?

A. People in upper class.

B. Right-handers.

C. Drivers.

D. Poor people.

4. Apart from Great Britain, which country mentioned in the text keeps left-hand

traffic?

A. France                           B. Ancient Rome

C. Russia                           D. Germany

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析: 本文是一篇记叙文。本篇文章主要告诉我们为什么在世界上人们不都是靠路的同一侧行驶。绝大数人习惯用右手。古罗马人右手拿缰绳左手拿鞭，也是为了不伤害旁边的人；他们感觉从左边上马也方便。于是他们靠左行驶；有的国家靠左行驶，拿破仑对靠右行驶的交通法律有着重要的影响。希特勒也要求靠右行驶的交通法律。

1.C 细节理解题。根据第二段第一行So why does most of the world travel on the right side today? Theories differ, but there's no doubt Napoleon was a major influence.描述可知Napoleon对靠右行驶的交通法律有着重要的影响。故选C。

2.D 段落大意题。第二段第一句So why does most of the world travel on the right side today?就说为什么现在世界上大部分人靠右行驶，愿意一：拿破仑对靠右行驶的交通法律有着重要的影响；原因二：希特勒也要求靠右行驶的交通法律。所以本段主要告诉我们D. The reasons that most of the world drives on the right side. 世界上大部分人靠右行驶的原因。选项A、B、C只是说了本段一个细节，不能概括本段大意。故选D。

3.词义猜测题。根据第二段第三行people in upper class drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasantry to the right.描述可知people in upper class与peasantry是身份相反的两个阶层的人，people in upper class指上层阶级的人，与之相反的就是穷人。故选D。

4.B 细节理解题。根据第一段第二行Ancient Romans using two-wheeled carriages are believed to have held the reins(缰绳) with their right hands and a whip with their left; to avoid whipping the near drivers, they favored the left-hand side the road.描述可知Ancient Romans也是靠左行驶的国家。故选B。

考点：考查文化类短文阅读。