14.Traffic jam and cities,it seems,go hand in hand.Everyone complains about being stuck in traffic; but,like the weather,no one seems to do anything about it.In particular,traffic engineers,transportation planners,and public officials responsible for transportation systems in large cities are frequently criticized for failing to solve traffic jam.
But is traffic jam a sign of failure?Long queues at restaurants or theater box offices are seen as signs of success.Should transportation systems be viewed any differently?I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities,and view the"traffic problem"in a different light.
Cities exist because they promote social interactions and economic transactions.
Traffic jam occurs where there are lots of people but limited spaces.Culturally and economically successful cities have the worst traffic problems,while decaying cities don't have much traffic.New York and Los Angeles are America's most crowded cities.But if you want access to major brokerage houses (經(jīng)紀(jì)行),you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities.And if your firm needs access to post-production film editors or satellite-guidance engineers,you will reach them more quickly through the crowded freeways of LA than through less crowded roads elsewhere.
Despite traffic jam,a larger number and wider variety of social interactions and economic transactions can be made perfect in large,crowded cities than elsewhere.Seen in this sight,traffic jam is an unfortunate consequence of prosperity,not a cause of economic decline and urban decay.
So while we can consider traffic jam as increasing costs on the areas of big cities,the costs of inaccessibility (交通不便) in uncrowded places are almost certainly greater.
There is no doubt that traffic jam brings the terrible economic and environmental damage in places like Bangkok,Jakarta,and Lagos.But mobility is far higher and traffic jam levels are far lower here in the US,even in our most crowded cities.That's why,for now,we don't see people and capital streaming out of San Francisco and Chicago,heading for cities like California,and Illinois.
56.We can conclude from the first paragraph thatB.
A.traffic jam and weather are the two factors preventing the development of the big city
B.traffic jam seems to be very difficult to deal with
C.if traffic engineers try their best,traffic jam can be solved
D.public officials are always criticized for misusing their power
57.According to the passage,what's the author's opinion towards traffic jam?C
A.Traffic jam is unavoidable in any cities.
B.Traffic jam is both a sign of failure and a sign of success.
C.Traffic jam is one of the consequences of successful cities.
D.Traffic jam is a cause of economic decline.
58.By saying"decaying"(in Para.4),the writer probably meansA.
A.declining B.developing C.rich and successful D.strong and healthy
59.According to this article,which statement about"New York"and"Los Angeles"is true?D
A.The traffic jam in the two cities has been worsened.
B.New York and Los Angeles are the least successful cities in the US.
C.It is easier to reach major brokerage houses in the two cities than in other cities.
D.Despite the traffic jam in LA,you'll find a satellite-guidance engineer more quickly there.
分析 交通阻塞與城市的發(fā)展密不可分,是城市成功發(fā)展不可遏止的副產(chǎn)品.
解答 56-59 BCAD
56.B 推理判斷題.文章第一段主要講了交通擁堵的現(xiàn)狀,及人們對(duì)交通擁堵難以解決的抱怨.
57.C 推理判斷題.甶第二段第四句"I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities,and view the‘traffic problem'in a different light."可知交通堵塞是成功的城市不可避免的副產(chǎn)品.
58.A 詞義猜測(cè)題.由While"可是,然而"可知,前后應(yīng)該為兩種截然不同的城市.
59.D 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.由文章第三段第四、五句"New York and Los Angeles are America's most crowded cities.But if you want access to major brokerage houses(經(jīng)紀(jì)行),you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities."可知盡管紐約和洛杉磯位列美國(guó)最擁擠的城市,但是人們從一個(gè)地方到另一個(gè)地方比在那些不太擁擠的城市速度更快.
點(diǎn)評(píng) 閱讀理解題測(cè)試考生在閱讀基礎(chǔ)上的邏輯推理能力,要求考生根據(jù)文章所述事件的邏輯關(guān)系,對(duì)未說(shuō)明的趨勢(shì)或結(jié)局作出合理的推斷;或根據(jù)作者所闡述的觀點(diǎn)理論,對(duì)文章未涉及的現(xiàn)象、事例給以解釋.考生首先要仔細(xì)閱讀短文,完整了解信息,準(zhǔn)確把握作者觀點(diǎn).