单选题 {{B}}第二篇{{/B}}

The First Navigational Lights

In the New World the first navigational lights were probably lanterns hung at harbor entrances. The first lighthouse was put up by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1716 on little Brewster Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. Paid for and maintained by "light dues" levied on ships, the original beacon was blown up in 1776. By then there were only a dozen of so true lighthouses in the colonies. Little over a century later, there were 700 lighthouses.
The first eight lighthouses erected on the west coast in the 1850's featured the same basic new England design: a Cape Cod dwelling with the tower rising from the center or standing close by. In New England and elsewhere, though, lighthouses reflected a variety of architectural styles. Since most stations in the Northeast were built on rocky eminences, enormous towers were not the rule. Some were made of stone and brick, others of wood or metal. Some stood on pilings or stilts; Some were fastened to rock with iron rods. Farther south, from Maryland through the Florida Keys, the coast was low and sandy, it was often necessary to build tall towers there, massive structures like the majestic Cape Hatteras, North Carolina lighthouse, which was lit in 1870. At 190 feet, is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country.
Notwithstanding differences in appearance and construction, most American lighthouses shared several features: a light, living quarters and sometimes a bell (later, a foghorn). They also had something else in common, a keeper and usually, the keeper's family. The keeper's essential task was trimming the lantern wick in order to maintain a steady, bright flame. The earliest keepers came from every walk of life ; they were seamen, farmers, mechanics, rough mill hands and appointments were often handed out by local customs commissioners as political plums. After the administration of lighthouses was taken over in 1852 by the United States Lighthouse Board, an agency of the Treasury Department, the keeper gradually became highly professional.

单选题 What is the best title for this passage?

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生对文章主旨的把握。考的是文章的标题。本文从最早美国灯塔的雏形，谈到美国早期灯塔的建筑，以及美国早期灯塔在外形和建筑上的共同点，最后还谈到了灯塔管理人员的工作和生活。文章所提到的要点都是围绕着美国早期的灯塔。选项A，B文中均有涉及，但并非重点。D项只提到了美国第一座灯塔。所以，正确答案是C。

单选题 Why does the author mention the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

单选题 It may be inferred from the passage that lighthouses in the Northeast did not need high towers because______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生的推论能力。考的是位于东北地区的灯塔建得不是很高的原因。本题的线索在第二段第三句话：Since most stations in the Northeast were built on rocky eminences, enormous towers were not the rule. 文中说，由于大多数位于东北地区的灯塔建在岩石高地上，所以，一般灯塔都不需要建得很高很大。所以，正确答案是D。

单选题 According to the passage, where can the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States be found?

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生对细节的把握。考的具体细节是最高的砖砌灯塔位于什么地方。依据原文第二段第七句话：It was often necessary to build tall towers there massive structures like the majestic Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, lighthouse，which was lit in 1870. At 190 feet, it is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country. 我们可以得知，1870年建于北卡罗来纳州Hatteras角的灯塔是美国最高的砖砌灯塔，高度为190英尺。所以，正确答案是C。

单选题 We can know from the passage that the coast of North Carolina is______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生的推论能力。考的是北卡罗来纳州的海岸情况。根据原文第二段第七、八句话：Farther south，from Maryland through the Florida Keys，the coast was low and sandy, it was often necessary to build tall towers there-massive structures like the majestic Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, lighthouse, which was lit in 1870, At 190 feet, it is the tallest brick light-house in the country. 可知，马里兰(Maryland)和佛罗里达海岸(the Florida Keys)需建同北卡罗来纳州(Cape Hatteras)一样高大的灯塔。由此可以推知北卡罗来纳州(Cape Hatteras)的海岸情况与马里兰((Maryland)和佛罗里达海岸(the Florida Keys)相似，而马里兰(Maryland)和佛罗里达(the Florida Keys)的海岸是low and sandy。所以，北卡罗来纳州也应是low and sandy。选项A：rocky eminences指的是美国东北海岸，选项B、D根本没有提及。所以，正确答案是C。