四级考试阅读备考笔记（53）

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:

　　A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement spread ever farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with troublesome mechanical problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best means of land transportation. By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and western lines.

　　注：1.首句提出问题，后跟着解决方案。

　　四级文章套路：有现象必有解释，有结论必有解释，有问题必有解决方案

　　2.most serious 对应36题中的 major problem，最高级出现是考点

　　The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first transcontinental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pacific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish laborers. The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.

　　注：1.authorize 授权

　　2.1862、4 years、1869三个数字出现，是考点

　　3.what is now 现在的

　　The railroad was very important in encouraging westward movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant markets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States.

　　37. The building of the first transcontinental system _________.

　　A) brought about a rapid growth of industry and farming in the west

　　B) attracted many visitors to the construction sites

　　C) attracted laborers from Europe

　　D) encouraged people to travel all over the country

　　注：A 选项看末段，B 选项铁路建成大家来庆祝，C 选项错误推理，文章中的意思为雇佣爱尔兰工人

　　39. The construction of the transcontinental railroad took _________.

　　A) 9 years B) 7 years

　　C) 4 years D) 3 years

　　注：1869-=3