阅读理解 As any city increases in size, there is a corresponding surge in vehicular traffic, a problem that, if left unaddressed, can hinder the well-being of its residents. The problem is most acute in developing countries, where an increase in prosperity leads to greater purchasing power and freedom of movement. Hollywood movies and celebrity stars support the popularity of the car, which often lead Western countries to exploit their images for economic reasons. This further promotes the image of car ownership with class privilege and social freedom.
In the United States, there is probably no better symbol of car ownership and its cultural supremacy than Southern California and Hollywood. The image peddled by the movie industry of the traditional American family includes several cars, with great emphasis on newer models and expensive designs. Behind this image of escapism, however, lie clogged freeways, smog-covered boulevards and frustrated commuters. The once famous light rail system that covered most of Los Angeles county has been replaced with mammoth freeways but at the expense of the health of neighboring residential communities.
Developing nations have learned lessons from the problems associated with cars by developing a mixture of public transportation networks, including subway systems, bus routes and light rail service. But even as governments struggle to meet the needs of a rapidly urbanizing society, social forces often overwhelm city budgets by the cost and complexity of providing for clean and effective substitutes to the ease and independence of car ownership.
As a result, many countries fall prey to common and perhaps avoidable problems of pollution and traffic congestion, even though these results have negative health and economic consequences. Once set in motion, though, the effects of car ownership are hard to curb. Increased use of roads often leads to pressure for more freeways and expanded vehicular infrastructure. Since space is often at a premium in large cities, development exacerbates the cost of major subway systems while car users become reluctant to change to public transportation systems.
In Singapore, the government has imposed draconian restrictions on car ownership by heavily taxing vehicle imports to the island, imposing a hefty license fee and a variety of administrative costs. Travel to the center of the city is also heavily restricted and public transportation is cheap and easily accessible. Compared to Los Angeles, where car ownership is a prerequisite for finding a job, the contrast is quite stark. Nevertheless, in both locations the demand for car increases unabated.
How will cities, new and old, deal with the pressure for car ownership? In the end, it seems likely that new technology that reduces car pollution and a mixture of public transportation and private car use will result in sustainable transportation solutions. However, governments and citizens must be willing to sacrifice some personal convenience for long-term goals in efficiency and well-being.

单选题 11.What purpose does the author's description of car ownership serve in the first paragraph?

单选题 12.Car ownership in Singapore does NOT differ from that of Los Angeles in that______.

单选题 13.Which of the following is NOT a reason why car usage is hard to curb?

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】属事实细节题。题目问：下面哪个选项中的内容不是汽车使用难控制的原因?题目中的关键词car usage，hard to curb出现在第四段第二句(usage是原文ownership的同义词)，下文列举了几个原因：路面车流量加大，迫使人们修建更多的高速公路，扩大交通基础设施建设。大城市的空间非常紧缺，城市的发展加大了主线地铁的耗资，而有车族却不愿意改乘公共交通工具。由此可见，这里包含了选项A、B、C的内容，只有选项D没有提到。因此，选项D是本题答案。

单选题 14.In the 2nd paragraph, what type of change in argument does the author use "Behind this image of escapism" to mark?

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】属信息归纳题。由Behind this image of escapism所在的上下文(第二段第三句)可知：在这种逃避现实主义形象背后掩盖的是拥堵的高速公路、烟雾笼罩的大街和筋疲力尽的上班族。本句中的信号词however表明与上文(影视业宣传的传统美国家庭的形象包括有几辆轿车，特别渲染轿车的新式样和昂贵的设计)截然不同的观点。由此可推知，本句是“把现实和固定不变的汽车形象进行鲜明的对比”(即选项A正确)，而不是“用以支持某一论点的论据”(选项B)，也不是“就某一主题得出的结论”(选项C)或“用来描述使用汽车很重要的句子”(选项D)。