Question

The invention of the electric telegraph gave birth to the communications industry.Although Samuel B．Morse succeeded in making the invention useful in 1837，it was not until 1843 that the first important telegraph line was constructed.By 1860 more than 50,000 miles of lines connected people east of the Rockies.The following year，San Francisco was added to the network.

The national telegraph network strengthened the ties between East and West and contributed to the rapid expansion of the railroads by providing an efficient means to monitor schedules and routes.Furthermore，the extension of the telegraph，combined with the invention of the steam－driven rotary printing press by Richard

M．Hoe in 1846，revolutionized the world of journalism.Where the business of news gathering had been dependent upon the mail and on hand－operated presses，the telegraph expanded the amount of information a newspaper could supply and allowed for more timely reporting.The creating of the Associated Press as a central wire service in 1846 marked the arrival of a new era (紀元) in journalism.

1.The main topic of the passage is ________.

A．the history of journalism

B．the origin of the national telegraph

C．how the telegraph network contributed to the expansion of railroads

D．the contributions and development of the telegraph network

2.This passage would most likely be found in a________.

A．U.S. history book                        B．book on trains

C．science textbook                        D．computer magazine

3.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．Samuel Morse did not make a significant contribution to the communications industry

B．Morse’s invention did not immediately achieve its full potential (潛力)

C．the extension of the telegraph was more important than its invention

D．journalists have the Associated Press to thank for the birth of the communications industry

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.A

3.B

【解析】

試題分析：本文主要講述了美國電報業的發展歷程以及它和railroads的發展之間的關系。

1.C 主旨大意題。本文在第一段主要講述了電報的發展歷程。在第二段1,2行The national telegraph network strengthened the ties between East and West and contributed to the rapid expansion of the railroads by providing an efficient means to monitor schedules and routes.說明電報業的發展也加強了美國東西方的railroads的發展。故C項正確。

2.A推理題。文章第一段中詳細描述了在各個時期美國的電報業的發展情況，在后幾段又提及了美國歷史上的鐵路的發展，故最有可能是從一部關于美國的歷史的書上摘錄下來的。故A正確。

3.B 推斷題。根據文章2,3行Although Samuel B．Morse succeeded in making the invention useful in 1837，it was not until 1843 that the first important telegraph line was constructed.說明在1837年Morse就讓這個發明有用了，知道1843年才有了第一根電話線。說明他的發明沒有立刻就起作用。故B項正確。

考點：考查歷史知識類短文閱讀

點評：本文主要講述了美國電報業的發展歷程以及它和railroads的發展之間的關系。以推理題的考查為主，要求考生在仔細研讀文本內容的情況下結合題目要求和選項內容作出合理的判斷。