Question

About a quarter of the world drives on the left, and the countries that do are mostly old British colonies (殖民地) like Australia , and Ireland. But Thailand, Indonesia and Japan also do so.

This strange quirk (奇事) puzzles the rest of the world; however, there is a perfectly good reason . Up to the late 1700’s , everybody travelled on the left side of the road because it’s the most sensible option for feudal (封建的), violent societies with mostly right-handed people. Soldiers with their swords under their right arm naturally passed on each other’s right, and if you passed a stranger on the road, you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him.

Revolutionary France, however, overturned this practice as part of its sweeping social rethink. A change was carried out all over continental Europe by Napoleon. It changed under Napoleon because he was left-handed. His armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent. From then on, any part of colonized by the French travelled on the right.

After the American Revolutionary War (1775—1783), the US became independent and decided to make traffic drive on the right in order to cast off all remaining links with its British colonial past. As America became the center of the car industry, if you wanted a good reliable vehicle, you bought American right-hand-drive cars. From then on, many countries changed out of necessity.

Today, the EU would like Britain to fall into line with the rest of Europe, but this is no longer possible. It would cost billions of pounds to change everything round. The last European country to change driving on the right was Sweden in 1967. While everyone was getting used to the new system, they paid more attention and took more care, resulting in a reduction of the number of road accidents.

1.Why did people travel on the left before the late 18^th century ?

A. They were required to do so.

B. They were mostly left-handed.

C. It was easier to cross the street.

D. They could feel safer from attacks.

2.What was Napoleon’s attitude to walking on the left?

A. Support.B. Disapproval.C. Doubt.D. Sympathy.

3.For Americans, driving on the right was a way to show ________.

A. the connection with France was broken

B. the US was no longer ruled by the UK

C. the American Revolution War had ended

D. America was the center of the car industry

4.What is the main cause of the UK failing to adopt the new system?

A. Its high costs to change.

B. Its increasing traffic accidents.

C. Its influence on colonies.

D. Its fast-developing car industry.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲述了一些国家靠左侧行走的原因及部分国家后来改变这一传统的原因和过程。

1. 推理判断题。根据第二段Up to the late 1700’s , violent societies with mostly right-handed people. Soldiers with their swords under their right arm naturally passed on each other’s right, and if you passed a stranger on the road, you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him. 可知，当时人们靠左侧走是因为感觉更安全，故选D。

2. 推理判断题。根据第三段It changed under Napoleon because he was left-handed. His armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent.可知，拿破仑对靠左侧走是不赞成的，故选B。

3. 推理判断题。根据第四段the US became independent and decided to make traffic drive on the right in order to cast off all remaining links with its British colonial past.可知，美国改变英国传统是想摆脱与英国的联系，表示不再受英国统治，故选B。

4. 推理判断题。根据最后一段Today, the EU would like Britain to fall into line with the rest of Europe, but this is no longer possible. It would cost billions of pounds to change everything round.可知，英国没有采用右侧走是因为花费太高，故选A。

考点：考查社会生活类短文阅读。