14.Traffic jam and cities,it seems,go hand in hand.Everyone complains about being stuck in traffic; but,like the weather,no one seems to do anything about it.In particular,traffic engineers,transportation planners,and public officials responsible for transportation systems in large cities are frequently criticized for failing to solve traffic jam.
But is traffic jam a sign of failure?Long queues at restaurants or theater box offices are seen as signs of success.Should transportation systems be viewed any differently?I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities,and view the"traffic problem"in a different light.
Cities exist because they promote social interactions and economic transactions.
Traffic jam occurs where there are lots of people but limited spaces.Culturally and economically successful cities have the worst traffic problems,while decaying cities don't have much traffic.New York and Los Angeles are America's most crowded cities.But if you want access to major brokerage houses (经纪行),you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities.And if your firm needs access to post-production film editors or satellite-guidance engineers,you will reach them more quickly through the crowded freeways of LA than through less crowded roads elsewhere.
Despite traffic jam,a larger number and wider variety of social interactions and economic transactions can be made perfect in large,crowded cities than elsewhere.Seen in this sight,traffic jam is an unfortunate consequence of prosperity,not a cause of economic decline and urban decay.
So while we can consider traffic jam as increasing costs on the areas of big cities,the costs of inaccessibility (交通不便) in uncrowded places are almost certainly greater.
There is no doubt that traffic jam brings the terrible economic and environmental damage in places like Bangkok,Jakarta,and Lagos.But mobility is far higher and traffic jam levels are far lower here in the US,even in our most crowded cities.That's why,for now,we don't see people and capital streaming out of San Francisco and Chicago,heading for cities like California,and Illinois.
56.We can conclude from the first paragraph thatB.
A.traffic jam and weather are the two factors preventing the development of the big city
B.traffic jam seems to be very difficult to deal with
C.if traffic engineers try their best,traffic jam can be solved
D.public officials are always criticized for misusing their power
57.According to the passage,what's the author's opinion towards traffic jam?C
A.Traffic jam is unavoidable in any cities.
B.Traffic jam is both a sign of failure and a sign of success.
C.Traffic jam is one of the consequences of successful cities.
D.Traffic jam is a cause of economic decline.
58.By saying"decaying"(in Para.4),the writer probably meansA.
A.declining B.developing C.rich and successful D.strong and healthy
59.According to this article,which statement about"New York"and"Los Angeles"is true?D
A.The traffic jam in the two cities has been worsened.
B.New York and Los Angeles are the least successful cities in the US.
C.It is easier to reach major brokerage houses in the two cities than in other cities.
D.Despite the traffic jam in LA,you'll find a satellite-guidance engineer more quickly there.
分析 交通阻塞与城市的发展密不可分,是城市成功发展不可遏止的副产品.
解答 56-59 BCAD
56.B 推理判断题.文章第一段主要讲了交通拥堵的现状,及人们对交通拥堵难以解决的抱怨.
57.C 推理判断题.甶第二段第四句"I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities,and view the‘traffic problem'in a different light."可知交通堵塞是成功的城市不可避免的副产品.
58.A 词义猜测题.由While"可是,然而"可知,前后应该为两种截然不同的城市.
59.D 细节理解题.由文章第三段第四、五句"New York and Los Angeles are America's most crowded cities.But if you want access to major brokerage houses(经纪行),you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities."可知尽管纽约和洛杉矶位列美国最拥挤的城市,但是人们从一个地方到另一个地方比在那些不太拥挤的城市速度更快.
点评 阅读理解题测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力,要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系,对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断;或根据作者所阐述的观点理论,对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释.考生首先要仔细阅读短文,完整了解信息,准确把握作者观点.