2014年考研英语模拟阅读四
PassageThosewhowelcomedtherailwaysawitasmorethanarapidandcomfortablemeansofpassing.Theyactuallysawitasafactorinworldpeace.Theydidnotforeseethattherailwaywouldbejustonemoremeansfortherapidmovementofaggressivearmies.Noneofthemforesawthatthemorewearetogether-themorechancesthereareofwar.Anyboyorgirlwhoisoneofalargefamilyknowsthat.Wheneveranynewinventionisputforward,thoseforitandthoseagainstitcanalwaysfindmedicalmentoapproveorcondemn.Theanti-railwaygroupproduceddoctorswhosaidthattunnelswouldbemostdangeroustopublichealth:theywouldproducecolds,catarrhs(粘膜炎)andconsumptions.Thedeafeningnoiseandtheglareoftheenginefire,wouldhaveabadeffectonthenerves.Further,beingmovedthroughtheairatahighspeedwoulddograveinjurytodelicatelungs.Inthosewithhighblood-pressure,themovementofthetrainmightproduceapoplexy(中风).Thesuddenplungingofatrainintothedarknessofatunnel,andtheequallysuddenrushintofulldaylight,wouldcausegreatdamagetoeyesight.Butthepro-railwaygroupwasofcourseabletoproduceequallyfamousmedicalmentosayjusttheopposite.Theysaidthatthespeedandswingofthetrainwouldequalizethecirculation,promotedigestion,tranquilizethenerves,andensuregoodsleep.
Theactualrolling-stockwasanythingbutcomfortable.Ifitwasatestofendurancetositforfourhoursoutsideacoachinrain,orinsideindirtyair,therailwayofferedlittlemoreinthewayofcomfort.Certainlythefirst-classcarriageshadcushionedseats;butthesecond-classhadonlynarrowbareboards,whilethethird-classhadnothingatall;noseatsandnoroof;theywerejustopentrucks.Sothatthird-classpassengersgainednothingfromthefewmodeexceptspeed.Inthematterofcomfort,indeedtheylost;theydid,onthecoaches,haveaseat,butnowtheyhadtostandalltheway,whichgaveopportunitiestothecomic(滑稽的)press.Thiskindofthing:Amanwasseenyesterdaybuyingathird-classticketforthenewLondonandBirminghamRailway.Thestateofhismindisbeingenquiredinto.
Awriterintheearlydaysofrailwayswrotefeelinglyofbothsecond-andthird-classcarriages.Hemadethesuggestionthatthedirectorsoftherailwaysmusthavesentallovertheworldtofindthehardestpossiblewood.Oftheopenthird-classtruckshesaidthattheyhadthepeculiarpropertyofmeetingtherainfromwhateverquarteritcame.Hedescribedthemashorizontalshower-baths,fromwhosesearchingpowertherewasnoescape.
1.Allboysandgirlsinlargefamiliesknowthat.
A)aboyandagirlusuallyfightwhentheyaretogether
B)peopletendtobetogethermorethantheyusedtobe
C)alotofpeoplebeingtogethermakesfightslikely
D)Railwayleadstheworldtopeace
2.Accordingtothosewhowelcomedtherailway,therailwayitselfshouldincludeallthefollowingexcept.
A)therailwayenablespeopletravelfast
B)therailwaybringscomforttopeople
C)therailwaymakestheworldpeaceful
D)therailwayleadstheworldtowaraswell.
3.Accordingtotheanti-railwaygroup,allthefollowingsaretruebut.
A)tunnelsaredangeroustopublichealth
B)thenoiseandtheglareoftheenginefiremayaffectpeople'snerves
C)therapidspeedthroughtheairdoesdamagetopeople'slungs
D)tothosewithhighblood-pressure,therapidspeedofthetraincausesthemtodie
4.Wemaysafelyconcludethat.
A)theauthorbelongstotheanti-railwaygroup
B)theauthorbelongstothefor-railwaygroup
C)theauthorspeakshighlyoftherailway
D)theauthormaynevertaketrainbecauseofitspotentialdangers
5.Whatisthetoneofthispassage?
A)Practical
B)Satirical
C)Humorous
D)Exaggerated
Answer
1.C2.D3.D4.A5.C
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