专升本英语（阅读）模拟试卷120
阅读理解
A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement (新拓居地) 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 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.
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.
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.
1.The major problems with America’s railroad system in the mid 19th century lay in ______(A)
A. poor quality rails and unreliable stopping systems
B. lack of financial support for development
C. limited railroad lines
D. lack of a transcontinental railroad
解析：文章第一段提到早期的火车很不实用，而且铁路公司面临着棘手的技术问题，最严重的是修建能够承担一定重量的铁路轨道和开发安全有效的停靠系统。A项与文意所述相近，故选A。
2.The building of the first transcontinental system______.(A)
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
解析：根据文章最后一段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，可知A为正确选项。
3.The best title for this passage would be______.(B)
A. Settlements Spread Westward
B. The Coast-to-Coast Railroad; A Vital Link
C. American Railroad History
D. The Importance of Railroads in the American Economy
解析：文章第—段第一句虽然提到“settlement spread ever farther westward．”但这不是本文论述的中心，故A错；选D也不合适，因为作者在第三段第二句里谈的是在美国起重要作用的transcontinental railway，而不是泛指美国的铁路，虽然本文从一个侧面反映了美国铁路的历史，但C项范围太大，故C也错；第三段点明了文章的主旨，说明了这条横贯美国的铁路在开发西部、发展工农业生产和统一美国等方面起到了a vital link的作用，故选B。
4.The construction of the transcontinental railroad took______.(D)
A. 9
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