【文章內(nèi)容簡(jiǎn)介】 七、閱讀理解（共 15 小題；共 30 分） A London Underground The world39。s first subway was built in London in 1863. At the time, the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work, they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease(減輕 ) the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems, the idea of the London Underground, the first subway system, was born. The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays, but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers ( miles) long. About 30,000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to fortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed), and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However, the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot(煤灰 ), as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems, riding in the Underground did catch on. It carried 9 million riders in its first year. 91. What led the British government to build the London Underground? A. Traffic jams and pollution. B. Population and pollution. C. Overcrowding and traffic jams. D. The poverty and subway problems. 92. How did the London Underground solve the smoke problem? A. It made the tunnels larger. B. It put fans in the tunnels. C. It cleaned the chemical gases in the tunnels. D. It reduced the number of passengers riding in the train. 93. The underlined phrase “catch on” most probably means “ ”. A. be troublesome B. bee popular and fashionable C. keep up with D. seize 94. Which of the following is TRUE? A. To relocate the workers39。 homes outside London, the government built the subway. B. There were so many problems and delays that in 18th century the first subway opened. C. The subway greatly eased the pressure of traffic. D. There were not enough seats for the passengers the first day the subway opened. B St. Paul39。s Cathedral Ludgate Hill, EC4 Underground: St. Paul39。s。 Bus: 6, 8, 11, 15, 22, 25 Open: Daily 8:0019:00 (17:00 from Oct. to Mar.) Entrance free Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul39。s Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is an inescapable attraction for all travellers to this great city and the most recognisable gothic cathedral in England. Its choir(唱詩班 ) is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981. Buckingham Palace South end of the Mall (SW1) Underground: St. James39。s Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park。 Bus: 2, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 29, 30, 38, 52, 73, 74, 137 Buckingham Palace is Queen Elisabeth II39。s official residence(住所 ), and has been the official residence of Britain39。s monarch(君主 ) since 1837. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace have been opening to the public for the Annual Summer Opening, in August and September, since 1993. The Queen is not at Buckingham Palace when it is open to the public。 she goes to one of her country residences. The State Rooms are extremely grand. You can see many of the treasures of the Royal Collection: paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto。 and beautiful examples of English and French furniture. The Tower of London Tower Hill, EC3 Underground: Tower Hill。 Bus: 42, 78 Open: . 9:0018:00。 Sun. 8:0019:00 Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory(瞭望臺(tái) ). It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels. Only by going inside can you experience nearly a thousand years of history and hear the myths and legends that make it “a day out to die for”. Westminster Abbey Broad Sanctuary, SW1 Underground: Westminster, St James39。s Park。 Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503 Open: Daily 8:0018:00 (., Tuesday till 20:00) Entrance free Located next to the Houses of Parliament in the heart of London, Westminster Abbey is a gothic church and place of worship. The building of the present Abbey was started by King Henry III in 1245. The oldest parts of the building date back to 1050. Westminster Abbey has hosted many royal weddings including the wedding of The Queen and Prince Philip in 1947 and the wedding of Prince William and Kate in 2021. It is a traditional place of coronation(加冕禮 ) and burial for English monarchs—38 monarchs have been crowned at the Abbey. There are many tombs there, including those of Queen Elizabeth I, “Bloody” Queen Mary, naturalist Charles Darwin