London Underground
The world's first subway was built in London in 1863. At the time, the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work, they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease(减轻) the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems, the idea of the London Underground, the first subway system, was born.
The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays, but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. About 30,000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to comfortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed), and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However, the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot(煤灰), as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems, riding in the Underground did catch on. It carried 9 million riders in its first year.
1.What led the British government to build the London Underground?
A. Traffic jams and pollution.
B. Population and pollution.
C. Overcrowding and traffic jams.
D. The poverty and subway problems.
2.How did the London Underground solve the smoke problem?
A. It made the tunnels larger.
B. It put fans in the tunnels.
C. It cleaned the chemical gases in the tunnels.
D. It reduced the number of passengers riding in the train.
3.The underlined phrase “catch on” most probably means “ ”.
A. be troublesome
B. become popular and fashionable
C. keep up with
D. seize
4.Which of the following is TRUE?
A. To relocate the workers' homes outside London, the government built the subway.
B. There were so many problems and delays that in 18th century the first subway opened.
C. The subway greatly eased the pressure of traffic.
D. There were not enough seats for the passengers the first day the subway opened.
People from Great Britain brought the English language to North America in the 16th and 17th centuries. And in the __________ 300 years, there were so many __________ in both places that now people can easily __________ an English person from an American in the __________ he or she talks.
Many old words __________ in England but were kept in America. For example, 300 years ago people in Great Britain got their water from something they __________ either a “faucet”, “spigot”, or a “tap”. All these words are __________ heard in different parts of America, but only “tap” is still __________ in England. Americans often make __________ new words or change old ones. “Corn” is one kind of plant in America and __________ in England.
Also, over the last three centuries the English language has __________ thousands of new words for things that weren't __________ before. And often, American and English people used two __________ names for them. A tin can is called “tin” for short in English, but a “can” in America. The word “radio” is __________ all over the world, including America. But many English people call it a “wireless”. And almost anything __________ something to do with cars, railroads, has different __________ in British and American English.
But now American and British English may be __________ closer together. One thing is that __________ people can hear a large amount of American speech daily in __________, on television, or from travelers. Because of this, Americans __________ to be influencing the British more and more. So some day, English may even be the same on both sides of the Atlantic.
1.A. past B. recent C. oldest D. latest
2.A. citizens B. inventions C. changes D. advances
3.A. pick B. tell C. take D. judge
4.A. voice B. place C. language D. way
5.A. disappeared B. stayed C. returned D. formed
6.A. said B. talked C. spoke D. called
7.A. then B. hardly C. clearly D. still
8.A. necessary B. native C. common D. lively
9.A. of B. into C. up D. out
10.A. another B. the other C. none D. something
11.A. discovered B. added C. improved D. learned
12.A. accepted B. known C. introduced D. understood
13.A. new B. short C. different D. surprising
14.A. produced B. made C. developed D. used
15.A. having B. bringing C. getting D. making
16.A. types B. names C. degrees D. parts
17.A. putting B. staying C. living D. growing
18.A. British B. American C. educated D. ordinary
19.A. families B. buses C. movies D. newspapers
20.A. need B. expect C. seem D. happen
The international community should make every effort together to the barriers of fear and unfriendliness which divide the two countries.
A. break out B. break down
C. break through D. break into
Nobody wanted to matters for him though everyone knew that he was blameless.
A. solve B. clarify
C. handle D. set about
The opening province which thirteen counties and three coastal cities will quicken its paces of economic development.
A. consists of B. makes up of
C. is included D. is contained
This kind of material can be used to plastics.
A. take place B. take up
C. take on D. take the place of
