Arapidmeansoflong-distancetransportationbecameanecessityfortheUnitedStatesassettlement(新拓居地)spreadeverfartherwestward.Theearlytrainswereimpracticalcuriosities,andforalongtimetherailroadcompaniesmetwithtroublesomemechanicalproblems.Themostseriousonesweretheconstructionofrailsabletobeartheload,andthedevelopmentofasafe,effectivestoppingsystem.Oncetheseweresolved,therailroadwasestablishedasthebestmeansoflandtransportation.By1860therewerethousandsofmilesofrailroadscrossingtheeasternmountainrangesandreachingwestwardtotheMississippi.Therewerealsoregionalsouthernandwesternlines.
Thehighpointinrailroadbuildingcamewiththeconstructionofthefirsttranscontinental,system.In1862CongressauthorizedtwowesternrailroadcompaniestobuildlinesfromNebraskawestwardandfromCaliforniaeastwardtoameetingpoint,soastocompleteatranscontinentalcrossinglinkingtheAtlanticseaboardwiththePacific.TheGovernmenthelpedtherailroadsgenerouslywithmoneyandland.Acturalworkonthisprojectbeganfouryearslater.TheCentralPacificCompany,startingfromCalifornia,usedChineselabor,whiletheUnionPacificemployedcrewsofIrishlabourers.Thetwogroupsworkedatremarkablespeed,eachtryingtocoveragreaterdistancethantheother.In1869theymetataplacecalledPromontoryinwhatisnowthestateofUtah.Manyvisitorscamethereforthegreatoccasion.Therewerejoyouscelebrationsalloverthecountry,withparadesandtheringingofchurchbellstohonorthegreatachievement.
TherailroadwasveryimportantinencouragingWestwardMovement.Italsohelpedbuildupindustryandfarmingbymovingrawmaterialsandbydistributingproductsrapidlytodistantmarkets.InlinkingtownsandpeopletooneanotherithelpedunifytheUnitedStates.
A.lackoffinancialsupportfordevelopment
B.poorqualityrailsandunreliablestoppingsystems
C.limitedrailroadlines
D.lackofatranscontinentalrailroad
2.Thebuildingofthefirsttranscontinentalsystem________.
A.broughtaboutarapidgrowthofindustryandfarminginthewest.
B.attractedmanyvisitorstotheconstructionsites
C.attractedlabourersfromEurope
D.encouragedpeopletotravelalloverthecountry
3.Thebesttitleforthispassagewouldbe________.
A.SettlementsSpreadWestward
B.TheImportanceofRailroadsintheAmericanEconomy
C.AmericanRailroadHistory
D.TheCoast-to-CoastRailroad:AVitalLink
4.Theconstructionofthetranscontinentalrailroadtook________.
A.3years
B.7years
C.4years
D.9years
5.Whatmostlikelymadepeoplethinkaboutatranscontinentalrailroad
A.Thepossibilityofgovernmentsupportforsuchatask.
B.TheneedtoexploreUtah.
C.Theneedtodeveloptherailroadindustryinthewest.
D.Theneedtoconnecttheeastcoastwiththewest.
参考答案：1.B2.A3.D4.A5.D
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