Question

The world’s first subway was built in London in 1863. At the time，the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work, they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease(减轻) the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems，the idea of the London Underground，the first subway system，was born.

The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays，but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. About 30，000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to comfortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed)，and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However, the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot(煤灰), as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems，riding in the Underground did catch on. It carried 9 million riders in its first year.

1.What led the British government to build the London Underground？

A. Traffic jams and pollution.

B. Population and pollution.

C. Overcrowding and traffic jams.

D. The poverty and subway problems.

2.How did the London Underground solve the smoke problem？

A. It made the tunnels larger.

B. It put fans in the tunnels.

C. It cleaned the chemical gases in the tunnels.

D. It reduced the number of passengers riding in the train.

3.The underlined phrase “catch on” most probably means “______”.

A. be troublesome

B. become popular and fashionable

C. keep up with

D. seize

4. Which of the following is TRUE？

A. To relocate the workers’ homes outside London，the government built the subway.

B. There were so many problems and delays that in 18th century the first subway opened.

C. The subway greatly eased the pressure of traffic.

D. There were not enough seats for the passengers the first day the subway opened.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：为了减轻伦敦的交通压力和减轻穷人们的负担，世界上的第一条地铁在1863年在伦敦开通。这一重大的发明给人类文明进步做出了巨大贡献。

1.1】C细节题：第一段中提到了the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London和The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people，表示正是因为交通问题很严重，城市非常拥挤，是导致伦敦政府修建地铁的直接原因。答案选C。

2. had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe为了去除烟雾，人们在隧道中安装了风扇。答案选B。

3. with its problems尽管问题很多，而下文又提到了It carried 9 million riders in its first year.说明了catch on应该是表示这种交通工具还是很受大众欢迎的。答案选B。

4. people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work, they would relocate their homes outside of the city人们希望能够有一种方便又实惠的交通工具来上下班，而地铁的发明正好让它实现了。

考点：考查说明文阅读。