2. 外语
  3. A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement (新拓居地) spread ever farther

A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement (新拓居地) spread ever farther

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问题     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 a 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.
What most likely made people think about a transcontinental railroad?
选项 A、The possibility of government support for such a task.
B、The need to explore Utah.
C、The need to connect the east coast with the west.
D、The need to develop the railroad industry in the west.
答案C
解析 本题是一道推理类问题。问最可能是什么使得人们想到要修建横贯美国大陆的铁路。本文第一段的第一句话告诉我们，随着新的居住地向西部延伸拓展，提供从东部到西部的长途运输是个急需解决的问题。根据这一点，我们可以推断出本题的正确答案应是C“是将东部与西部连接在一起的需要使得人们想到要修建横贯美国的铁路的”。
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