From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age. We are free from many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modern medicine. It is almost certain that one day medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased greatly. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads. Man vs the motor-car. It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.

It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They say, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-old and completely selfish. All their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.

The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten.

It is high time a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievably lax (不严格) and even the strictest are not strict enough. A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person’s driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Speed limits should be required on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for car factories, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may not sound good enough. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths. After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars.

1. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. The laws of some countries about driving are too lax.

B. Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists.

C. Thousands of people the world over are killed each year.

D. Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents.

2. What does the author think of society toward motorists?

A. Society forgives their rude driving.

B. Society laughs at the motorists.

C. Victims of accidents are nothing.

D. Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns.

3. What does the author mean by saying “his car becomes the extension of his personality” in Para. 2?

A. Driving can represent his manners.

B. Driving can show his hidden qualities.

C. Driving can bring out his character.

D. Driving can show the other part of his personality.

4. Which of the followings is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?

A. Build more highways. B. Stricter driving tests.

C. Test drivers every three years. D. Raise age limit and lay down safety specifications.

5. The author’s attitude towards the present traffic situation is _____.

A. positive B. unsatisfied C. appealing D. unclear

文章解读：文章是关于交通事故频繁发生，呼吁国家要设立更加严厉的法律来预防事故的发生。

1.【答案】D。解析：考查主旨大意题。通读全文可知文章是关于交通事故频繁发生，呼吁国家要设立更加严厉的法律来预防事故的发生。故选D。

2.【答案】A。解析：考查细节题。根据文章第三段第一行The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior.可知A正确。

3.【答案】B。解析：考查推理题。根据文章第二段3，4行People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel.可知很多人开车的时候就显示出性格的另外一面，故B正确。

4.【答案】A。解析：考查根据文章最后一段可知BCD都已经提及了，A没有提到。

5.【答案】B。解析：考查态度观点题。通读全文可知作者对于现在的交通情况是不满意的，所以才呼吁采取更加严格的措施。

There have been many great inventions, things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today -the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel a long distance.

For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect (作用) as the wheel. Then in the early 1800’s the word started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn’t have to explore (探索) much anymore. They began to work hard to make life better. In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the electric light and the radio. These all became a big part of our life today. The first part of the 20th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter (直升飞机) in 1909. Sound movies in 1926. The computer in 1928. And jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wear.

By this time most people had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire to explore again. The world is known to man but the stars are not yet. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. Since then other countries, including China and Japan, have made their steps into space.

In 1969 man took his biggest step away from the earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning thought. New inventions will some day allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.

1. This passage talks mainly about _____.

A.why cars were very important.

B.when light was invented.

C.which country made the first step into space.

D.how inventions affect people’s life.

2.Nylon came out nearly at the same time as _____.

A.radio B.camera C.jet plane D.movies

3.Which of the statement is not true?

A.For hundreds of years after wheel there were many other inventions having as much effect as the wheel.

B.America, Russia, Japan and China began to explore the stars before 1969.

C.In the early 1800’s people began to work instead of exploring more unknown land to make life better.

D.New invention will change our life greatly in the future.

4.What does “a desire” mean in the passage?

A.a good way B.a new invention

C.a strong wish D.a wonderful idea

5.Man didn’t have a desire to explore a lot _____.

A.at the beginning of the 1800’s B.in the 1960’s

C.since the 1900’s D.from the 1800’s to the 1960’s

【答案解析】

试题分析：短文大意：有很多伟大的发明改变了我们的生活方式。第一个伟大的发明是现在仍然非常重要的车轮。这使得人们更容易携带沉重的东西，并旅行很长的距离。新的发明将有一天让我们做我们从未做过的事。

1.【答案】D。解析：考查细节理解题。根据文中There have been many great inventions, things that changed the way we live.”可知有很多伟大的发明改变了我们的生活方式。所以选D。

2.【答案】C。解析：考查细节理解题。根据文中jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came in 1935.可知尼龙和喷气式飞机几乎同时出现。所以选C。

3.【答案】A。解析：考查细节理解题。根据文中For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect(影响) as the wheel.可知几百年之后，很少有发明跟车轮一样产生尽可能多的作用，所以选A。

4.【答案】C。解析：考查词义猜测题。根据对The world is known to man but the stars are not yet. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. Since then other countries, including China and Japan, have made their steps into space.的理解可知划线词的意思是“强烈的愿望”，所以选C。

5.【答案】A。解析：考查细节理解题。根据文中Then in the early 1800’s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world.可知该选A。