The motor car has been among the biggest influences on life in the 20th century, a powerful factor in the progress of civilization. It can, unfortunately, be a source of danger but for every life it takes it saves a dozen, speeding the desperately ill to hospital, carrying food to the famine stricken. It has disturbed many of the tranquil preserves of the leisured, but opened new playgrounds to millions. Because of it the ability to ride a horse is a rare skill, railways are no longer a decisive factor in shaping our communities, and many people have forgotten the value of using their own two feet. But it has given the world a new mobility.
Perhaps the basic appeal of motoring is its promise of independence. It offers freedom from the time-tables of public transportation, from the need to travel by the same route in the same vehicle to the same place as countless others. It is the opportunity to meander, to leave disappointing places for more hopeful ones; to flee from bad weather and to get the children to school on time. To exploit these advantages the motorist has to accept responsibilities. At the wheel a driver has a duty to be patient, skilful, and sober. All too easily he can shatter the health of other road users and, indeed, the happiness of all of us who have a right to enjoy privacy and the countrysides beauty and tranquility. And there is the financial responsibility. For many families a car represents the second largest financial investment of their lives; in pursuit of the freedom a car can bring, millions of people stake something approaching a years net income to buy a bright metal box that may depreciate at the rate of the rent they pay and cost as much to run as it does to heat and light a home.
A car is, nevertheless, a miracle if it is used to thefull. It is an unremarked wonder that this complex machine, containing about 5000 parts, some of which work to tolerances of l/1000th of an inch or less, comes into the hands of completely untrained owners, depends on them for care and upkeep, and yet goes on working efficiently year after year. In a laboratory or workshop such a valuable device could be controlled by a skilled operator, and it is a tribute to the motor industrys designers and engineers that so little mechanical trouble is experienced by the owners of Britains nine million cars.
21. Because of the existence of cars_______.
A. fewer railways are built B. fewer people can use their feet
C. more people go abroad D. fewer people can ride horses
22. The writer says that, at the wheel, the driver_______.
A. acts responsibly
B. has obligations to exploit his advantages
C. has obligations to help other road users
D. has obligations to be patient, skillful, and sober
23. Many families_______.
A. are financially responsible concerning cars
B. are financially irresponsible concerning cars
C. buy a car only after they have bought a house
D. spend more on a car than on almost anything else
24. Millions of people_______.
A. pay more for their cars than for their houses
B. spend money on their cars instead of on the rent
C. spend almost as much as what they can make in a year to buy a car
D. could pay their rent on what they would save without a car
25. A car is well worth the price you pay if you_______.
A. drive it as much as possible B. drive it as slowly as possible
C. drive it as fast as possible D. drive it as little as possible
21. D 22. D 23. B 24. C 25. A
上一篇: 四级冲刺练习阅读(198)
下一篇: 四级冲刺练习阅读(135)
国际英语资讯:Colombian peace process moves forward through challenging period: UN envoy
2018年6月英语四级作文范文:在宿舍里养宠物
国际英语资讯:DPRK confirms demolition of nuclear test site
国际英语资讯:Iranian FM to visit India for talks on ties
人均寿命增长,人口素质提升
国际英语资讯:S. Korea holds NSC meeting for efforts at DPRK-U.S. summit: Blue House
国内英语资讯:Chinas Spring Bud Project helps over 3.69 mln girls in 30 years
My Deskmate 我的同桌
如果美国继续“邪恶行径”朝鲜将重新考虑是否举行峰会
就业保持稳定,新职业不断涌现
联合国:伊朗遵守了伊核协议限制条款
Friendship 关于友谊
Responsibility 责任
国际英语资讯:UN chief calls for rooting out corruption
My Annoyance 我的烦恼
海滩上的英雄
国际英语资讯:Duque, Petro to contest presidency of Colombia in runoff
乌克兰坚决否认曾为波罗申科总统见川普而向其律师支付巨款
国内英语资讯:Vice premier calls for solid progress in Xiongan New Area development
美文赏析:真正有意义的生活
国际英语资讯:UK, Ireland leaders see possible pathway to Brexit deal after talks
An Unforgettable Thing 难忘的一件事情
国际英语资讯:Trump slams Fox News poll on U.S. voters attitudes toward impeachment inquiry
小测验 — 与手机有关的常用词汇
国内英语资讯:China to always welcome foreign firms including U.S. ones to invest in China
美国驻中国大使布兰斯塔德在华尔街日报发表文章
摘得金棕榈奖,真的很开心!
国际英语资讯:Lebanese president designates Saad Hariri as PM
国际英语资讯:Mozambican election commission concerned over security in northern province
老牌间谍哈斯佩尔宣誓就任中情局长