Question

Why does most of the world travel on the right side today? Theories differ, but there’s no doubt Napoleon was a major influence. The French have used the right since at least the late 18^th century. Some say that before the French Revolution, noblemen drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasants to the right. Regardless of the origin, Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered, including Russia, Switzerland and Germany. Hitler, in turn, ordered right-hand traffic in Czechoslovakia and Austria in the 1930s. Nations that escaped right-hand control, like Great Britain, followed their left-hand tradition.

The U.S. has not always been a nation of right-hand drivers; earlier in its history, carriage and horse traffic travelled on the left, as it did in England. But by the late 1700s, people driving large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses began promoting a shift（改变）to the right. A driver would sit on the rear（后面的）left horse in order to wave his whip（鞭子）with his right hand; to see opposite traffic clearly, they travelled on the right.

One of the final moves to firmly standardize traffic directions in the U.S. occurred in the 20^th century, when Henry Ford decided to mass-produce his cars with controls on the left (one reason, stated in 1908: the convenience for passengers exiting directly onto the edge, especially… if there is a lady to be considered). Once these rules were set, many countries eventually adjusted to the right-hand standard, including Canada in the 1920s, Sweden in 1967 and Burma in 1970. The U.K. and former colonies such as Australia and India are among the Western world’s few remaining holdouts (坚持不变者). Several Asian nations, including Japan, use the left as well--- though many places use both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive cars.

1.Why did people in Switzerland travel on the right?

A. They had used the right-hand traffic since the 18^th century.

B. Napoleon introduced the right-hand traffic to this country.

C. Rich people enjoyed driving their carriages on the right.

D. Hitler ordered them to go against their left-hand tradition.

2.Of all the countries below, the one that travels on the right is_________.

A. Japan

B. England

C. Austria

D. Australia

3.Henry Ford produced cars with controls on the left __________.

A. so that passengers could get off conveniently

B. in order to change traffic directions in the U.S.

C. because rules at that time weren’t perfect

D. though many countries were strongly against that

4.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Before the French Revolution, all the French people used the right.

B. The Burmese began to travel on the right in 1970.

C. People in Britain and the U.S. travel on the same side nowadays.

D. All the Asian nations use the left at present.

5.What would be the best title for this passage?

A. Who made the great contribution to the shift of traffic directions?

B. How cars have become a popular means of transportation?

C. How Henry Ford produced his cars with controls on the left?

D. Why don’t people all drive on the same side of road?

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.B

5.D

【解析】文章主要解释了为什么世界上很多国家的开车行驶的方式不一样。

1.B细节理解题。根据第一段Regardless of the origin, Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered, including Russia, Switzerland and Germany. 不管起源是什么，拿破仑把靠右行驶的交通方式带到了他征服的国家，包括俄罗斯，瑞士和德国。可知在Switzerland人们靠右行驶是因为Napoleon把靠右行驶带到了这个国家，故选B。

2.C细节理解题。根据第一段Hitler, in turn, ordered right-hand traffic in Czechoslovakia and Austria in the 1930s.希特勒则在20世纪30年代下令在捷克斯洛伐克和奥地利靠右行驶。可知奥地利是靠右行驶的，故选C。

3.A推理判断题。根据第三段when Henry Ford decided to mass-produce his cars with controls on the left (one reason, stated in 1908: the convenience for passengers exiting directly onto the edge, 福特决定大规模生产的汽车控制在左边(原因之一,在1908年开始:方便乘客直接退出到边缘。可知Henry Ford生产的汽车有左边的控制是为了方便乘客下车。故选A。

4.B推理判断题。根据第三段Once these rules were set, many countries eventually adjusted to the right-hand standard, including Canada in the 1920s, Sweden in 1967 and Burma in 1970. 一旦制定了这些规则，许多国家最终会调整到靠右行驶，包括上世纪20年代的加拿大、1967年的瑞典和1970年的缅甸。可知Burma在1970年开始靠右边行驶。故选B。

5.D主旨题。文章主要解释了为什么世界上很多国家的开车行驶的方式不一样。故选D。