2019年英语六级阅读理解试题库及答案（15）

　　The United States Interstate Highway System is an infrastructure feat of unprecedented proportions. Not only does it join all fifty states in the union together allowing for rapid transport of goods and people, but it also has legitimate claim to the title of the largest public worker program in history. The project was motivated by both military and economic goals. Interest in the project existed since the early 1940s, but was delayed by the outbreak of World War II, followed by the postwar recovery. Although approved by Congress in 1944, the building did not actually begin until 1956.

　　The postwar prosperity in America accentuated the need for such a massive infrastructure project. After America’s success in World War II and recovery of its economy from the Great Depression, the population’s disposable income soared, allowing most families to purchase automobiles, previously thought of as luxury items. With the sudden boom of cars, a more efficient road on which to travel was desperately needed, and the interstate highway system provided that, allowing travelers to safely and reliably visit other states or destinations closer to home.

　　The same surge in car ownership that created the need for the interstate highway system also provided the means by which to pay for the project. A new tax on gasoline provided 90 percent of the funding for the project, and state taxes covered the remaining 10 percent. With the new highway system in place, not only could travelers visit previously unfeasible destinations on their holidays and vacations, but businesses could transport their products to markets in other states, increasing competition across the country, to the benefit of consumers and product quality alike.

　　The military had a keen eye on the system as well. Troop transport was now possible to all corners of America in a rapid and efficient manner, and the long stretches of straight highways instantly provided runways for military aircraft in times of emergency. The country, linked together by a network, of roads that greatly reduced travel time, could now more efficiently be defended.

　　In the last forty years alone, 17 trillion miles have been traveled on the US Interstate Highway System. Those miles can be equated to three trips around the world for every American, a trip to the moon for 75 million people, or three light years in space. No matter what figure is used, the numbers are stunning. The interstate highway has gotten and continues to get people where they need to go in America, and at a fraction of the time it would otherwise take.

　　1. The outbreak of World War II

　　[A] wasted precious time by delaying the Interstate Highway project.

　　[B] had a positive impact by contributing to the means by which the Interstate Highway System was built.

　　[C] delayed the start of the project but resulted in more money by which to fund it.

　　[D] spurred the military to throw their support in favor of the Interstate Highway project.

　　2. The US Interstate Highway System was built mainly

　　[A] to respond to urgent needs that had arisen.

　　[B] in order to better defend a country in a time of war.

　　[C] with economic and businesses in mind.

　　[D] from state taxpayer dollars.

　　3. What can we infer from the Paragraph 3?

　　[A] The tax on gasoline was the most efficient way by which to fund the building of the interstate highway system.

　　[B] The interstate highway system was an immense financial burden that required huge amounts of resources to complete.

　　[C] Without the postwar surge in car ownership, funding for the interstate highway system would have been insufficient.

　　[D] Those who stood to benefit most from the interstate highway system provided the majority of the funding for its construction.

　　4. By “Those miles…in space”(Line 2-3, Para.5), the author intends to

　　[A] stress the effects of the interstate highway system that continue to this day.

　　[B] highlight the incredible distances that have been traveled on the interstate highway system.

　　[C] state the distances traveled on the interstate highway system in more comparable terms.

　　[D] make a final statement attesting to the greatness of the interstate highway system.

　　5. The author views the United States Interstate Highway System with

　　[A] whole-hearted approval.

　　[B] a judgment of the good outweighing the bad.

　　[C] positive feelings on its economic impact.

　　[D] critical support.

　　语境词汇

　　1.infrastructure n.基础结构，基础设施

　　2.feat n.业绩，功绩

　　3.unprecedented a.无前例的;空前的

　　4.legitimate a.合理的;法定的

　　5.accentuate v.强调，使更突出

　　6.disposable a.可支配的;一次性的

　　7.surge n.急剧上升，猛增;(感情等的)洋溢

　　8.unfeasible a.不能实行的，难实施的

　　9.stunning a.令人震惊的;出色的

　　难句突破

　　1.[With the sudden boom of cars], (a more efficient) road (on which to travel) was [desperately] needed, and the interstate highway system provided that, [allowing travelers to safely and reliably visit other states or destinations closer to home].

　　【分析】本句是由and引导的并列句。前一分句中on which to travel是定语从句的省略形式;后一分句中that指代上一句中的a more efficient road;allowing travelers...closer to home是现在分词短语作伴随状语。

　　【译文】随着汽车数量的激增，急需更高效的行驶路况，州际高速公路体系便提供了这种路况，使旅行者在前往其他州或离家较近的地方行驶得安全可靠。

　　2.The same surge (in car ownership) (that created the need for the interstate highway system) also provided the means (by which to pay for the project).

　　【分析】复合句。句子的主干部分是：the same surge...provided the means...;that引导的定语从句修饰the same surge;by which…是定语从句的省略形式。

　　【译文】汽车拥有量的猛增要求州际高速公路体系的建立，这也为工程的建设提供了资金来源。

　　本文主要介绍了美国洲际公路体系的建设及其意义。前两段作者介绍了建设洲际高速公路体系的背景，包括修建的原因;第三、四段介绍了建设资金来源，以及该体系所带来的积极影响，包括生活、经济和军事方面;最后一段通过几种不同的度量方式的比较形象地介绍了洲际高速公路体系过去四十年的实际使用情况，并进一步指出洲际高速公路体系的积极作用。

　　答案解析

　　1.【题眼】首段设题

　　【解析】选[C]。推理判断题。从第一段最后三句可知，该工程是受经济和军事目的的推动。早在二十世纪四十年代这项工程就受到关注，但直到1956年才开始建设。从第二、三段可知，战后的经济繁荣使得大多数家庭都拥有了汽车。这为该工程的建设提供了契机，因为汽车的使用给工程的建设提供了主要的资金来源。也就是说，如果二战之前或之中开始建设该工程，可能就不会有汽车消费提供的大量建设资金。因此，虽然二战的爆发耽误了该工程的建设，但这种耽误同时给以后的建设提供了大量的建设资金，[C]表述正确。原文并未说二战浪费了工程建设的宝贵时间，实际上，由于二战前汽车还未全面普及，对该工程要求还不是很迫切，[A]不正确;[B]表达不确切，文章第三段第一句只提到资金这个途径(means)，而不是其他的途径;从上述分析可知，二战前军事因素就成为建设该工程的一个推动力，[D]和原文不符。

　　2.【题眼】复杂句设题

　　【解析】选[A]。推理判断题。第二段提到，战后经济的繁荣使人们可支配的收入猛增，汽车走进了大多数家庭。这就对道路的建设提出了要求，因此[A]“应对日益增长的迫切需求”是建设该工程的推动力。从第一段最后三句可知，该工程(指州际高速公路体系)是受经济和军事目的的推动，直到1956年建设才开始(此时二战已结束)，所以[B]不对;[C]“为经济和商业的目的”不全面;从第三段可知，工程的建设资金绝大多数(90%)来自汽油税(tax on gasoline)的收入，只有10%来自各州的税收入(即由state taxpayer支付的费用)，[D]和原文不符。

　　3.【题眼】段尾句设题

　　【解析】选[D]。推理判断题。第三段前两句指出，汽车消费的迅速增长给工程建设提供了资金来源，因为新设立的汽油税收入提供90%的建设资金，另外10%来自各州的税收。从第三句可知，州际高速公路体系的主要受益者就是使用汽车的人，因此由他们通过汽油税的形式支付主要的建设资金也合情合理，据此可知[D]符合本段表达的含义。本段只提到汽油税是最主要的资金来源方式，并未说是最有效的方式，[A]没有根据;[B]在本段没有涉及;[C]的推理也没有充分的根据。

　　4.【题眼】尾段设题

　　【解析】选[B]。事实细节题。题干出处句后No matter…一句表明作者用这些不同的度量方式的目的是突出强调州际高速公路使用里程的数目之大，而不仅仅是用比较的方式简单地加以说明州际高速公路使用的里程数，所以只有[B]正确。

　　5.【解析】选[A]。观点态度题。从本文的具体内容可以看出，对于州际高速公路体系，作者无论是在其建设原因、建设意义方面，还是对其实际使用情况都是持赞成的态度，所以[A]“完全支持”正确。全文没有涉及任何州际高速公路体系的弊端或不利影响，根本谈不上缺点或批判，即[B]、[D];作者对其在生活、经济和军事三方面的作用都持积极的态度，而不仅限于经济方面，[C]“对其对于经济的影响持积极的态度”片面。

　　全文翻译

　　美国州际高速公路体系是基础设施建设方面取得的一项史无前例的功绩。它不仅将五十个州连成一个整体，使货物和人员的运输快捷便利，而且完全有资格被称为有史以来最大的市政工程方案。项目的初衷是军事和经济方面的目的。[1]早在20世纪40年代初期，人们就对这样一个项目产生了兴趣，但是由于第二次世界大战的爆发和战后的经济复苏，它被延误下来。尽管1944年就得到了美国国会的批准，但直到1956年才真正开始建设。

　　战后美国经济的繁荣使得对于建立一个大规模的基础设施的需求更为突出。在美国二战胜利以及经济从大萧条中复苏之后，人们可支配的收入猛增，这使得大多数家庭都能购买过去被认为是奢侈品的汽车。[2]随着汽车数量的激增，急需更高效的行驶路况，州际高速公路体系便提供了这种路况，使旅行者在前往其他州或离家较近的地方行驶得安全可靠。

　　汽车拥有量的猛增要求州际高速公路体系的建立，这也为工程的建设提供了资金来源。对汽油征收新税为此项目提供了九成的资金，剩下的10%由各州税收解决。[3]由于新的公路系统的建成，旅行者可在节日或假期前往从前不通车的地方参观游览，而且商家也可以将产品运到其他州的市场销售，增强其产品在全国的竞争力，这样有益于消费者和产品的质量。

　　军方对这个公路体系也独具慧眼。目前，军队运输速度快、效率高，可到美国各个角落，而且笔直公路的长距离延伸，在非常时刻马上可作为军用飞机的跑道。一个由能够极大地缩短旅行时间的公路网络系统联系起来的国家，现在可以更有效地进行防御。

　　仅在过去的40年里，人们在美国州际高速公路体系的道路上行驶了17万亿英里。[4]这个数目相当于每个美国人进行了3次环球旅行、7500万人前往月球，也相当于空间概念上的3光年。无论用什么计算方法，这个数字都会令人瞠目结舌。州际高速公路已经而且会继续把人送到想去的美国的任何地方，而且所花的时间还要节省很多。