新東方：英語四級考試閱讀30天學(xué)習(xí)筆記

　　注：1.首句提出問題，后跟著解決方案。

　　四級文章套路：有現(xiàn)象必有解釋，有結(jié)論必有解釋，有問題必有解決方案

　　2.most serious 對應(yīng)36題中的 major problem，最高級出現(xiàn)是考點

　　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.

　　注：1.authorize 授權(quán)

　　2.1862、4 years、1869三個數(shù)字出現(xiàn)，是考點

　　3.what is now 現(xiàn)在的

　　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.

　　37. The building of the first transcontinental system _________.

　　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

　　注：A 選項看末段，B 選項鐵路建成大家來慶祝，C 選項錯誤推理，文章中的意思為雇傭愛爾蘭工人

　　39. The construction of the transcontinental railroad took _________.

　　A) 9 years B) 7 years

　　C) 4 years D) 3 years

　　注：1869-(1862+4)=3

　　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.

　　40. What most likely made people think about a transcontinental railroad?

　　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.

　　注：1.問題是建設(shè)跨洲鐵路的目的

　　2.transcontinental 跨越大洲的 trans -- 跨越

　　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.