14．In Europe，small cars have always been more popular than large cars． In the United States，large cars and midsize cars are more popular than smaller cars．As a result，European automakers used to make different kinds of small cars while American automakers used to build bigger，heavier cars．However，these days，automakers in both America and Europe produce cars of different sizes．This is because most automakers export their cars all over the world．
The price of gasoline （汽油）is one reason for differences in car choices．Since gasoline is more expensive in Europe，many Europeans want smaller，lighter cars that will travel a long way on a gallon（加仑）of gasoline．
Other reasons also enter into the big or little car decision．Many European cities have narrow，winding（弯曲的） streets．In these cities a small car is easier to control than a large one．
For a long time，few Americans bought small cars．Instead they chose large cars，because these roomy cars were more comfortable for large families and long trips．Some people also liked the powerful engines（发动机） that large cars had．Since gasoline was cheap，drivers did not mind that the large cars used a lot of gasoline．
But in the 1970s，there were gasoline shortages in the United States．The price of gasoline went up．Though large cars were still more popular than smaller cars，sales of small cars increased．Some people also bought small cars because these cars caused less air pollution than larger cars．
Today，Americans'car preferences are still changing．Though Americans are still buying many small cars，the fastest growing sales are for certain kinds of large cars．These types of cars are called minivans and sport utility vehicles（SUV）．They are very popular today．But of course，that could change tomorrow．
37．In the 1970s，C．
A．large cars were less popular than smaller cars．
B．European cars finally came to the United States．
C．the price of gasoline went up in the United States．
D．people in the United States stopped buying small cars．
38．Which of the following does the article lead you to believe？C
A．Sport utility vehicles small cars．
B．Minivans are becoming less popular．
C．European car companies sell many cars in America．
D．Cars with powerful engines caused less air pollution．
39．What does"roomy"in Paragraph 4mean？A
A．having much space
B．having little space
C．having a large room
D．having a small room
40．What can we infer（推断）from the article？D
A．Small cars are better than large cars．
B．The price of gasoline is always rising．
C．Large cars will always be popular in the United States．
D．People like to have different kinds of cars to choose from．
分析 文章大意：
文章讲述的是有关于购车的事情．相比而言，美国人喜欢较大的车，而欧洲人喜欢小型车，但是人们的购车喜好并不是一成不变的，其受各种因素的影响，比如石油的价格，耗油量，车内空间等．
解答 37．C，细节理解题，文中提到"in the 1970s，there were gasoline shortages in the United States．The price of gasoline went up"在1970s，美国石油紧缺，石油价格上涨，由此推测选择C．
38．C，推理判断题，文中提到"This is because most automakers export their cars all over the world．"无论是在美国还是欧洲，大多数的汽车都用于出口，当然欧洲的汽车也会出口美国，由此推测选择C．
39．A，词义猜测题，文中提到"these roomy cars were more comfortable for large families and long trips"对于一些有较多成员的家庭以及长途旅行的人来说，这些roomy汽车很舒适，由于是家庭成员较多，所以应该是这种车有较大的空间，所以应该选择A．
40．D，推理判断题，文中提到"Americans'car preferences are still changing"现在的美国人的购车喜好还是在持续的改变，因为是改变，所以应该是希望有更多的车型可以选择，由此确定选择D．
点评 对于阅读表达题，一定要记得首先通读全文，了解文章大意，然后再根据文章关键词，关键句，掌握细节问题，并进行推理判断，再去回答具体的问题．
