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 light, 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.
53. We can conclude from the first paragraph that____.
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
54. According to the passage, what’s the author’s opinion towards traffic jam?
A. In cities, traffic jam is unavoidable.
B. Traffic jam is both a sign of failure and a sign of success.
C. Traffic jam is the consequence of successful cities.
D. For a successful city, traffic jam is not unpreventable.
55. By saying “decaying” (in Para. 4), the writer probably means____.
A. declining B. developing
C. rich and successful D. strong and healthy
56. According to this article, which statement about “New York” and “Los Angeles” is true?
A. The traffic jam in the two cities has been worsened.
B. New York and Los Angeles are the least successful cities in the USA.
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.
科目:高中英語 來源:湖南省常德市2010屆高三階段性檢測(英語) 題型:完型填空
A lot of us lose life’s tough battles by starting a frontal(正面的) attack — when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who
36 a traffic jam on his way to work shortly 37 receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒) about being late for work. Although there was a good reason for Sam’s being late — serious illness at home — he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn’t 38 any longer. His supervisor(主管) was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal
39 .
Yes, the boss was. When Sam entered the office at 9:35, it was as 40 as a locker room(更衣室)— everyone was hard at work. Sam’s supervisor 41 him. Suddenly, Sam forced a grin (露齒笑) and 42 out his hand. “How do you do!” he said. “I’m Sam Maynard. I’m 43 a job, which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?”
The room burst into 44 . The supervisor clamped off(忍住) a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had 45 his job — with the only tool that could win, a laugh.
Humor is a most effective, yet 46 ignored, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying “no”, criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want 47 his losing face. For some jobs, it’s the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialogue may start a quarrel.
36. A. hit B. struck C. beat D. made
37. A. since B. when C. before D. after
38. A. benefit B. matter C. work D. affect
39. A. debate B. speech C. excuse D. argument
40. A. noisy B. quiet C. clean D. messy
41. A. shouted at B. put up with C. looked forward to D. came up to
42. A. stretched B. gave C. handed D. expanded
43. A. searching for B. preparing for C. applying for D. answering for
44. A. laughing B. laugh C. laughters D. laughter
45. A. lost B. saved C. got D. found
46. A. frequently B. occasionally C. never D. regularly
47. A. despite B. with C. without D. by
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科目:高中英語 來源:2010-2011年浙江杭州十四中高二下學(xué)期期中考試英語試卷 題型:閱讀理解
Joanne was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5:30 and at 6:30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting of the tennis club. At last, the traffic was moving. She swung quickly racing to her house. As she opened the door, she nearly tripped over (被絆倒)Sheba.
“Hey, Sheba,” she said, “I've got no time for you now, but I'll take you out as soon as I get back from tennis club.” Then she noticed Sheba seemed to be coughing or choking. Obviously, she could hardly breathe. Immediately, Joanne realized she would have to take her to the vet (獸醫(yī)).
When she got there, the vet was just about to close for the day. Seeing the state of Sheba, Dr. Sterne brought her quickly into his office.
“Listen, doctor, I'm really in a rush to get to a meeting, can I leave her with you, and go and get changed? I'll be back in ten minutes to pick her up, and then I'll take her on to the meeting with me. Is that OK?”
“Sure.” said the doctor.
Joanne made the quick trip back to her house in a couple of minutes. As she was once more entering the hallway, the phone by the door began to ring.
“This is Dr. Sterne,” said an anxious voice. “I want you to get out of that house immediately, ”said the doctor's voice. “I'm coming round right away, and the police will be there any time now. Wait outside!”
At that moment, a police car screeched (發(fā)出尖銳的聲音)to a stop outside the house. Two policemen got out and ran into the house. Joanne was by now completely confused and very frightened. Then the doctor arrived.
“Where’s Sheba? Is she OK?” shouted Joanne.
“She’s fine, Joanne. I took out the thing which was choking her, and she’s OK now. ”
Just then, the two policemen reappeared from the house, half-carrying a white—faced man, who could hardly walk. There was blood all over him.
“My God, ” said Joanne, “how did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?”
“I think he must be a burglar.” said the doctor. “I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba’s throat:it turned out to be three human fingers.”
【小題1】. What was Joanne supposed to do at 6:30?
A.To walk her dog. | B.To see her doctor. |
C.To attend a club meeting. | D.To play tennis with her friends. |
A.to dress up for the meeting | B.to phone the police station |
C.to catch the badly hurt burglar | D.to wait for her dog to be cured |
A.Sheba fought against the burglar |
B.the police found the burglar had broken in |
C.Joanne had planned to take her dog to the meeting |
D.the doctor performed a difficult operation on the dog |
A.clever | B.friendly | C.frightening | D.devoted |
A.a(chǎn) cleaner | B.a(chǎn) physician | C.a(chǎn) thief | D.a(chǎn) murderer |
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科目:高中英語 來源:2015屆四川省高一下學(xué)期期中考試英語試卷(解析版) 題型:單項填空
With the second ring road overpass _______ at present in Chengdu, the local citizens have to choose another way to avoid traffic jam.
A.being constructed B.to construct C.to be constructed D.to be constructed
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科目:高中英語 來源:2012-2013學(xué)年河南省高三4月模擬考試英語試卷(解析版) 題型:閱讀理解
BEIJING , March 9 --- The central government will require an additional three years of use for official vehicles for ministers and governors to reduce the costs of purchasing new cars, media have reported.
The new rule has been applied among all Party and government departments nationwide, the Beijing News reported on Tuesday. The new rule has not yet been made public, said Li, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee.
Under the old rules, the cars used by minister-level officials could be replaced as often as every five years, Li said. These officials will also keep the same cars when they assume new posts, he added.
The new rule also reiterated(重申) that officials ranking below minister-or-governor-levels should not be allocated cars. The cars possessed by their departments should be used on demand.
“It violates the rules for lower-ranking --- even county-level-officials to be allocated cars,” Li said.
Purchases of vehicles for official use have been heavily investigated, as they account for a large expenditure (花費) of public funds every year.
A survey on the Web news www.ifeng.com found 64 percent of respondents believed the new rule will be difficult to carry out because it is related to officials’ interests.
“Local government departments had halted(中斷) approvals for requests for such vehicles and had started to work on new quotas(指標(biāo)) under the new rules,” Li said. “The future reform of official vehicle use will introduce market mechanisms and monetization.”
Premier Wen Jiabao said in the annual government work report on Saturday that expenditures on such vehicles will not increase in 2011 compared with a year ago.
Beijing’s standing deputy mayor Ji Lin last week said the municipal (市政的) government will release the number of vehicles for official use in the capital as early as at the end of this month.
Earlier this month, the Minister of Finance had published a rule regulating the budgets for such vehicles.
1.What is the purpose of the new rule allocating vehicles among officials?
A.To promote a low-carbon lifestyle.
B.To cut down the present huge expenditures of purchasing cars.
C.To make good use of budgets for official cars.
D.To solve the problem of severe traffic jam.
2.How often could the cars used by minister-level officials be replaced according to the new rule?
A.Every 3 years. B.Every 5 years. C.Every 8 years. D.Every 10 years.
3.What about the officials ranking below minister-or-governor levels in terms of official vehicles?
A.They can still possess special cars.
B.They can use their own private cars.
C.They can use cars whenever officially necessary.
D.They can be allocated second-hand cars.
4.What is the public’s attitude toward the new rule’s fulfillment?
A.Uncertain. B.Optimistic. C.Indifferent. D.Passive
5.From the passage, we can infer that_________.
A.the government is determined to carry out the new rule
B.the new rule has not yet been made public
C.the new rule will benefit official’s interest
D.the new rule is applied to minister-level officials
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科目:高中英語 來源:2010-2011學(xué)年四川省高二上學(xué)期九月月考英語卷 題型:閱讀理解
Ask three people to look out the same window at a busy street comer and tell you what they see. Chances are you will receive three different answers. Each person sees the same scene, but each perceives(察覺) something different about it.
Perceiving goes on in our minds. Of the three people who look out the window, one may say that he sees a policeman giving a motorist a ticket. Another may say that he sees a rush-hour traffic jam at the intersection. The third may tell you that he sees a woman trying to cross the street with four children in tow. For perception(感知) is the minds’ interpretation of what the senses — in this case our eyes — tell us.
Many psychologists(心理學(xué)家)today are working to try to determine just how a person experiences or perceives the world around him. Using a scientific approach, these psychologists set up experiments in which they can control all of the factors. By measuring and charting the results of many experiments, they are trying to find out what makes different people perceive totally different things about the same scene.
1.Perceiving is an action that takes place ______.
A.in our eyes |
B.only when we think very hard about something |
C.only under the direction of a psychologist |
D.in every person’s mind |
2.People perceive different things about the same scene because ______.
A.they see different things |
B.they can not agree about things |
C.some have better eyesight |
D.none of these |
3. Psychologists study perception by ______.
A.setting up many experiments |
B.a(chǎn)sking each other what they see |
C.looking out of windows |
D.studying people’s eyes |
4.The best title for this article is ______.
A.How We See |
B.Learning About Our Minds Through Science |
C.What Psychologists Perceive |
D.How To Become An Experimental Psychologist |
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