17．Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs，its people are by now almost entirely an urban society．Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry（林业），and most of the rest live in or around towns，small and large．Here the traditional picture is changing：every small town may still be very like other small towns，and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country，but most Americans do not live in small towns any more．Half the population now lives in some thirty metropolitan areas（large cities with their suburbs ） of more than a million people each-a large proportion than in Germany or English，let alone France．The statistics（统计） of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day．As the rush to live out of town continues，rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses，so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb．But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment．
61．If now America has 250million people．how many of them are engaged in agriculture and forestry？C
A．About 25million．
B．More than 25million．
C．Less than 25million．
D．Less than 225million．
62．Which of the following four countries has the smallest proportion of people living in metropolitan areas？C
A．United States
B．Germany
C．France
D．England
63．What's the meaning of the word"metropolitan"in the middle of the passage？A
A．Of a large city with its suburbs．
B．Of small and large towns．
C．Of urban areas．
D．Of rural areas．
64．According to the passage，what can we learn about small towns in the United States？B
A．Most small towns become gradually crowded．
B．Small towns are still similar to each other．
C．As the traditional picture is changing，towns are different．
D．Small towns are turning into large cities．
65．Why is it hard to say when a piece of country becomes a suburb？C
A．Because they are the same．
B．Because the rush takes place too quickly．
C．Because the process is gradual．
D．Because more and more Americans live in metropolitan areas．
分析 文章介绍了美国的城市化问题．
解答 61．C计算题．根据第二行Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture不到十分之一的人从事农业；以及题干中的250 million，可知C正确．
62．C 细节题．根据第七、八行a larger proportion than in Germany or England，let alone France可知美国的城市数量多与德国，英国，更不要说法国，说明法国的城市数量最少．故C正确．
63．A 细节题．根据第七行thirty metropolitan areas（1arge cities with their suburbs）大约三十几个大都市地区（包括附近郊区的大型城市），可知A正确．
64．B 细节题．根据文章第四行every small town may still be very like other small towns小的城镇之间仍然十分相似，可知B正确．
65．C细节题．根据文章倒数三、四行As the rush to live out of town continues，rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses，当远离城镇居住的热潮持续的情况下，城镇周围的乡村地区逐渐盖满了房屋，可知C正确．
点评 本文是一个科教类阅读理解，题目涉及多道细节理解题，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据．
