London Underground
The world’s first subway was built in London in 1863. At the time，the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work， they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease(减轻) the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems，the idea of the London Underground，the first subway system，was born.
The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays，but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. About 30，000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to fortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed)， and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However， the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot(煤灰)， as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems，riding in the Underground did catch on. It carried 9 million riders in its first year.
【小题1】How did the London Underground solve the smoke problem？A．It made the tunnels larger.B．It put fans in the tunnels.C．It cleaned the chemical gases in the tunnels. D．It reduced the number of passengers riding in the train.【小题2】What led the British government to build the London Underground？A．Traffic jams and pollution.B．Population and pollution.C．Overcrowding and traffic jams.D．The poverty and subway problems.【小题3】Which of the following is TRUE？A．To relocate the workers’ homes outside London，the government built the subway.B．There were so many problems and delays that in 18th century the first subway opened.C．The subway greatly eased the pressure of traffic.D．There were not enough seats for the passengers the first day the subway opened.【小题4】The underlined phrase “catch on” most probably means “ ”.A．be troublesomeB．bee popular and fashionableC．keep up withD．seizeB
网友回答
(答案→)B
解析：本文告诉我们伦敦地铁建立的原因以及在建设过程中遇到的问题。
【小题1】B 考查细节题。根据Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe.可知答案为B。
【小题2】 C考查细节题。根据the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through.可知，C为正确答案。
【小题3】C 考查推断题。根据第二题可知，建立地铁就是为了减轻交通压力，故地铁减轻了交通压力。故C正确。
【小题4】B 考查猜词题。根据后一句第一年承载了9百万人可知，变得流行了起来，故答案为B。