There are two ways of driving in the world: if the driver’s seat is on the left and cars travel on the right side of the road, it is called “left-hand driving”, as it is in China, while the other way of driving is called “right-hand driving”, as it is in Britain. Nowadays, around 65% of the world’s population drives on the right of the road, while the rest is used to driving on the left.
Though no one knows the exact reasons, it seems likely that people in ancient times travelled on the left of the road. Roman coins show pictures of horsemen passing on each other’s right. And right-hand people generally got on a horse from the animal’s left. Obviously, it’s safer to do this at the left side of the road, and it makes sense (行得通) for the horse to be ridden on the left.
A change happened in the late1700s. When Napoleon (拿破仑) conquered (攻占) nations, he forced them to travel on the right side of the road, which spread left-hand driving throughout Europe. However, Britain still stuck with the right-hand driving rule and countries which were part of the British Empire were made to follow. This is why India, Australia and the former British colonies (前英国殖民地) in Africa continue to drive on the left. One exception (例外,除外) is Egypt, as that country was defeated by Napoleon before becoming part of the British Empire.
Some countries changed sides until modern times. Sweden only moved to driving on the right in 1967 and Iceland changed the following year. Ghana changed sides in 1974. On September 7, 2009, Samoa became the third country ever to change from left-to- -right-hand- driving for the reason that it made it easier to import (进口) cheap cars from right-hand- driving Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
So if you want to travel to another country or go on business, make sure you know whether it is left-or right-hand driving to avoid unnecessary troubles.
1.Which picture shows the correct driving in Britain?
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.When did Iceland moved to driving on the right?
A.1967. B.1974. C.In 1968 D.the late1700s.
3.In modern times, countries follow the same driving way except ________.
A.Australia B.Egypt C.Sweden D.China
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Sweden changed to drive on the right in 1974.
B.People drive on the left side of the road in Egypt.
C.People have known the exact reasons for driving on the left.
D.Napoleon helped with the spread of left-hand driving.
5.What is the writer’s purpose for writing this passage?
A.To explain the advantages of the two ways of driving.
B.To introduce the development of the two ways of driving.
C.To complain about the change of the two ways of driving.
D.To compare the differences of the two ways of driving.
One night about nine o’clock, Dr. Elyck, surgeon (外科医生), had phone call from Dr. Haydon at the hospital in Clense Falls. The surgeon was asked to go there at once to operate on a very sick boy who shot himself while playing with a gun.
The doctor was soon on his way to Clense Falls. It was 60 miles away. And it was snowing heavily in the city. The surgeon thought he could get there before 12 o’clock.
A few minutes later, the doctor was stopped by a man in an old black coat. Gun in hand, the man ordered the doctor to get out. Then the man drove the car down the road, leaving the doctor in the falling snow.
It was after two o’ clock in the morning when the doctor arrived at the hospital in Clense Falls.
Dr. Haydon told him that the boy had died an hour before.
The two doctors walked by the door of the hospital waiting room. There sat the man in the old black coat with his head in his hands.
“Mr. Cunningham,” said Dr. Haydon to the man, “This is Dr. Elyck. He is the surgeon who came all the way from Albany to save your boy.”
1.Who was the robber?
A.Elyck B.Haydon C.The boy’s father D.We don’t know
2.Dr. Haydon asked Dr. Elyck to come to Clense Falls because ________.
A.the boy wounded by a shot was Dr. Elyck patient B.the boy needed his help
C.Dr. Haydon was not a surgeon D.Dr. Elyck was his assistant
3.The surgeon was late because ________.
A.he was stopped by a kidnapper B.the weather was rather terrible
C.Clense Falls was far away from Albany D.His car was taken away
4.Choose the right order of the events given in the story.
a. Dr. Elyck was asked to come to the hospital in Clense Falls.
b. Dr. Elyck arrived at the hospital.
c. The boy shot himself.
d. The boy died.
e. The man in an old coat reached the hospital.
f. Dr. Elyck was robbed (抢劫) of his car.
A.c, e, f, a, b, d B.a, c, f, d, b, e C.c, a, f, e, d, b D.a, c, f, e, d, b
5.What’s the best title of the story?
A.A funny robbery B.a boy’s death C.An angry father D.A useless doctor
| Welcome to Town Library Town Library is open to everyone every day and the library card is free. You can keep five books, one CD and as many videos as you want at a time—three weeks for books. one week for CDs and videos. |
| ||||
↓ |
| ↓ |
| ↓ | ||
BOOKS ○ picture books for children ○ books in 36 languages ○ stories of all kinds You can enjoy newspapers and magazines in the reading room. You can’t take them out of the library. |
| VIDEO ○ all kinds of video films ○ TV plays ○ Music videos You can’t watch videos here. You can keep a video for a week for $1 |
| AUDIO ○ music (rock, pop, jazz…) ○ language tapes (42 main languages in the world) You can enjoy listening in the special rooms here. All the CDs can be borrowed-Free! | ||
1.If you want to get a library card, you ________.
A.have to pay one dollar for it B.need to borrow five books first
C.don’t have to pay for it D.need to make a card
2.How long can you keep the videos from the library?
A.One week B.Two weeks C.Three week D.As long as you want
3.The library has ________.
A.books in 42 languages B.no language tapes
C.no special rooms for listening D.all kinds of video films
4.How much should you pay if you keep two videos for a week?
A.Two dollars B.Three dollars C.One dollar D.Free
5.Where can we read the poster?
A.In our school library B.In Town Library C.In a supermarket D.In a town park
I live in Albuquerque, and I often see some homeless people in that area. I used to give much money to the homeless, ________ sorry for their bad luck. ________ as time passed, I became a homeless person. I became a single mom with no home, a huge debt (债务), and ________ any income (收入). As a result, I ________ giving money to the people on the side of the road.
Things started to change for me. I started to ________ myself out of debt. One day we saw homeless person with the sign, “Will work for food.” I passed by. My daughter said, “Mommy, you used to give money to those people in need.” I replied, “Honey, they just ________ that money for alcohol (酒) or other bad things.” She didn’t say anything, but when said that, it didn’t feel right.
Three days later, I was driving to pick up my daughter from school. A man was standing on the corner, and something deep ________ me said, “Just help the man.” So I rolled (摇下) down my window, and he ran over ________. He said, “God bless you, I only ________ 77 cents.” I reached into my ashtray (烟灰缸) and strangely enough, there sat three quarters and two pennies. I picked it up and gave it to him. He burst out with joy, tears in his ________. “Wow, you just made it ________ for me to see my mom for Christmas! Thanks a lot; the bus to my hometown is ________ in 20 minutes!”
It was a moment that I’ll ________ forget. I think that man won’t forget it ________, but I was the one who got the best ________ in life-giving. It also reminds me that nothing is coincidence (巧合), and everything has meanings.
1.A.thinking B.considering C.believing D.feeling
2.A.But B.And C.So D.Therefore
3.A.almost B.nearly C.easily D.hardly
4.A.continued B.stopped C.refused D.finished
5.A.push B.pick C.pull D.pour
6.A.lend B.offer C.provide D.use
7.A.outside B.inside C.behind D.above
8.A.patiently B.curiously C.quickly D.worriedly
9.A.borrow B.charge C.need D.ask
10.A.hands B.eyes C.mouth D.face
11.A.possible B.comfortable C.reasonable D.imaginable
12.A.taking B.operating C.leaving D.driving
13.A.never B.always C.usually D.sometime
14.A.also B.as well C.too D.either
15.A.character B.quality C.manners D.gift
The students are discussing ________.
A.how can they deal with the problem B.whether is stress a serious matter
C.which drink should they have D.who will teach us English next term
—Sorry, I’m late. The bus broke down, and there were no taxis.
—________. I just got here myself.
A.No problem B.That’s terrible C.You’re welcome D.That’s all right
