There is no question that fewer teenagers are on the roads in the US.
In 1978, 50% of 16-year-olds had got their first driving licence. In 2008, according to the US Transportation Department, it was just 30%. The number of those aged 19 and under with driving licences has also been declining since 1978, when 11, 989, 000 had licence. In 2010, it was 9, 932, 441, or 4.1% of American drivers.
In the UK, 683, 273 teenagers have driving licences- just 1.85% of total licence holders, according to Department of Transport figures from September 2010.
But the decline in the US may have more to do with tougher tests and the introduction of the new rule in many states, which force drivers aged under 16 to be with licensed drivers of 21 years and older when driving.
In recent years, the annual number of journeys being made by American drivers of all ages has declined clearly for the first time ever. Car use began falling in 2007, when average petrol prices almost doubled to $4.12 a gallon, and the economy became worse.
But there are signs that it is getting back to normal and American remains a country on wheels. It has a higher number of cars per head of population than any other country in the world.
“Cars will always be a popular means of transportation in America. You have to take into consideration some places don’t have access to public transportation. Cars are the only way some people can get around,” says Kristin Nevels. This makes driving necessary in some rural states, where about twice as many teenagers are on the road than in big cities.
【小题1】The underlined word “declining” in the second paragraph most probably means “ ”.A．rising B．dropping C．improving D．holding【小题2】In recent years cars are used less than before mainly because of .A．traffic jams B．harder tests C．expensive petrol D．worst economy【小题3】We can learn from the last paragraph that Kristin Nevels . A．doubts the popularity of the car use in the future. B．thinks American people can not live without cars.C．holds confident attitude to the cars’ future in America.D．believes America should build up its public transportation.【小题4】What can be inferred from the text? A．The UK has more teenager drivers than the US. B．A 15-year-old boy cannot drive alone in the US. C．The US has very developed bus transportation system. D．Big cities have more teenager drivers than rural areas in the US.B
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(答案→)B
解析：文章主要讲述了美国汽车行业的一些情况。美国拥有驾照的人数在下降，油价上涨，经济萧条导致汽车的使用量也在减少。有人认为，美国不会丧失它在汽车工业中的地位。
【小题1】根据“since 1978, when 11, 989, 000 had licence. In 2010, it was 9, 932, 441”可知，十九岁及以下拥有驾照的人数在下降，故选B。
【小题2】根据第五段“Car use began falling in 2007, when average petrol prices almost doubled to $4.12 a gallon, and the economy became worse.”可知，油价上涨是汽车使用量减少的主要原因，故选C。
【小题3】根据“Cars will always be a popular means of transportation in America. ...Cars are the only way some people can get around”可知，Kristin Nevels对美国的汽车行业很有信心，故选C。
【小题4】根据“the introduction of the new rule in many states, which force drivers aged under 16 to be with licensed drivers of 21 years and older when driving.”可知，16岁以下拥有驾照的人必须和拥有21年以上驾龄的人一起开车出行，16岁以下的人不能单独开车外出，故选B。