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（改變）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(堅持不變者). 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

【答案】

 

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.C

5.D

【解析】

試題分析：為什么世界上絕大多數(shù)國家的交通方向都是右行？文章陳述了拿破侖在改變交通方向中主要貢獻，同時陳述了世界各國過去到現(xiàn)在的交通方向。

1.從第一段第四行Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered, including Russia, Switzerland and Germany可得知正確答案為C。

2.從最后一段倒數(shù)第二句The U.K. and former colonies such as Australia and India are among the Western world’s few remaining holdouts及倒數(shù)第一句 Several Asian nations, including Japan, use the left as well可知England，Japan及Australia都是車輛右行，只有Austria是車輛左行，故選A。

3.從最后一段第二行括號里面的內(nèi)容one reason, stated in 1908: the convenience for passengers exiting directly onto the edge, especially… if there is a lady to be considered可知正確答案為B。

4.從第一段第三行 before the French Revolution, noblemen drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasants to the right可知A項錯誤。第二段首句得知美國車輛右行，最后一段提到英國車輛左行，故B項從最后一段Several Asian nations, including Japan, use the left as well可知D表達錯誤。從最后一段 倒數(shù)第三行... adjusted to the right-hand standard, ...Burma in 1970可知C項正確。

5.從文章第一段開頭句總起句Why does most of the world travel on the right side today? Theories differ, but there’s no doubt Napoleon was a major influence可知正確答案為B。

考點：文化類短文閱讀。