One of the most common images of an advanced, Western-style culture is that of a busy, traffic-filled city. Since their first（36）_________on American roadways, automobiles have become a（37）__________of progress, a source of thousands of jobs, and an almost inalienable right for citizens’ personal freedom of movement. In recent（38）_________, our “l(fā)ove affair” with the car is being（39）___________ directly to the developing world, and it is increasingly（40）________ that this transfer is leading to disaster.
America’s almost complete dependence on automobiles has been a terrible mistake. As late as the 1950s, a large （41）_____________of the American public used mass transit. A （42）__________ of public policy decisions and corporate scheming saw to it that countless （43）___________and efficient urban streetcar and intra-city rail systems were dismantled （拆除）。 （44）____________. Our lives have been planned along a road grid-homes far from work, shopping far from everything, with ugly stretches of concrete and blacktop in between.

Developing countries are copying Western-style transportation systems down to the last detail. （45）________. Pollution control measures are either not strict or nonexistent, leading to choking clouds of smog. Gasoline still contains lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans.（46）_____________.

In addition to pollution and traffic jams, auto safety is a critical issue in developing nations.

聽(tīng)力答案

36. appearance

37. symbol

38. decades

39. exported

40. apparent

41. percentage

42. combination

43. convenient

44. Our air quality now suffers from the effects of pollutants emitted directly from our cars

45. The problems caused by motorized vehicles in the West are often magnified in developing nations

46. Movement in some cities comes to a virtual standstill as motorized traffic competes with bicycles

聽(tīng)力原文

One of the most common images of advanced Western-style culture is that of a busy traffic-filled city. Since their first (36) appearance on American roadways, automobiles have become a (37) symbol of progress, a source of thousands of jobs and almost an inalienable right for citizens’ personal freedom of movement. In recent (38) decades, our love affair with the car is being (39) exported directly to the developing world and it is increasingly (40)apparent that this transfer is leading to disaster.

America’s almost complete dependence on automobiles has been a terrible mistake. As late as the 1950s, a large (41) percentage of the American public used mass transit. A (42) combination of public policy decisions and corporate scheming saw to it that countless (43) convenient and efficient urban streetcar and intra-city rail systems were dismantled. (44) Our air quality now suffers from the effects of the pollutants emitted directly from our cars. Our lives have been planned along a road grid--homes far from work, shopping far from everything, with ugly stretches of concrete and blacktop in between.

Developing countries are copying Western-style transportation systems down to the last detail. (45) The problems caused by motorized vehicles in the West are often magnified in developing nations. Pollution-control measures are either not strict or non-existent, leading to choking clouds of smog. Gasoline still contains lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans. (46) Movement in some cities comes to a virtual standstill, as motorized traffic competes with bicycles and pedestrians.

In addition to pollution and traffic jams, auto safety is a critical issue in developing countries.