The Erie Canal was the first important national waterway built in the US. It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River. It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west, and materials could pour into the east. The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation’s largest city.

The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York. It cost $ 7 143 789, but it soon gained its price many times over. Between 1825, when the canal was opened, and 1882, when toll charges(过运河费) were stopped, the state collected $121 461 891.

For a hundred years before the Erie was built, people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Witt Clinton. Those who were against the canal laughingly called it “Clinton’s Ditch(沟)”. Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it. He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal, but they were unsuccessful.

Clinton became governor of New York in 1817, and shortly afterwards, on July 4, 1817, broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. The first part of the canal was completed in 1820. As the canal grew, towns along its course developed fast. The length of the canal is 363 miles.

We can see that the Erie Canal ________.

A. joined the Great Lakes together

B. crossed New York from north to south

C. played an important part in developing New York City

D. was the first waterway built in the US

It can be inferred that ________ into the Atlantic Ocean.

A. the Great Lakes flow　　　　　　　　B. the Hudson River flows

C. Lake Erie flows　　　　　　　　　　D. the Erie Canal flows

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The Erie Canal brought profits of over $114, 000, 000.

B. It’s 363 miles from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

C. The West was more advanced than the East when the canal was built.

D. Many other states helped New York built the canal.

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Clinton broke ground for the canal at both ends.

B. Clinton started building the canal before he became governor.

C. All parts of the canal were completed at the same time.

D. Construction of the canal took eight years.

In the 18th century, New York was smaller than Philadelphia and Boston. Today it is the largest city in America. How can the change in its size and importance be explained?

    To answer this question we must consider certain facts about geography, history, and economics. Together these three will explain the huge growth of America’s most famous city.

    The map of the Northeast shows that the four areas with the largest populations in this region are around seaports. At these points materials from across the sea enter the United States, and the products of the land are sent there for export across the sea.

     We know that places where transportation lines meet are good places for making raw materials into finished goods. That is why seaports often have cities nearby. But cities like New York needed more than their geographical location in order to become great industrial centers. Their development did not happen simply by chance.www.zxxk.com

     About 1815, when many Americans from the east had already moved toward the west, transportation routes from the seaports to the central regions of the country began to be a serious problem. The slow wagons of that time, usually drawn by horses, were too expensive for moving heavy freight (货物) very far. In New York State a canal seemed the best answer to the transportation problem. From the eastern end of Lake Erie all the way across the state to the Hudson River there is a long strip of low land. Here the Erie Canal was built, and after several years of work it was completed in 1825.

     The canal produced an immediate effect. Freight costs were cut to about one tenth of what they had been. New York City, which had been smaller than Philadelphia and Boston, quickly became the leading city of the coast. In the years that followed, transportation routes on the Great Lakes were joined to routes on the Mississippi River. Then New York City became the end point of a great inland shipping system that started from the Atlantic Ocean far up the western branches of the Mississippi.

1.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Development of Transportation in New York

B. Export and Import of New York

C. How New York Became America's Largest City

D. How New York Exchanged with Europe

2.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The Erie Canal connected Lake Erie with the Hudson River.

B. Economists are of the opinion that places where farming is done are good for making raw materials into finished goods.

C. Wagons drawn by horses and oxen soon proved to be better and cheaper than canal transportation.

D. The seaports usually have less population but more business.

3.Freight costs were reduced to 10% of what they had been because of ________.

A. cheap and fast wagons                          B. the new sea routes

C. the construction of the Erie Canal       D. the development of industry

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项多余选项。

  51. It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River. 52 . The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west, and materials could pour into the east. The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation's largest city.

The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York. 53  Between 1825,when the canal was opened ,and 1882,when toll charges(过运河费) were stopped ,the state collected $121,461,891.

For a hundred years before the Erie was built, people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Clinton. Those who were against the canal laughingly called it"Clinton' Ditch(沟).  54 . He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal, but they were unsuccessful.

Clinton became governor of New York in 1817,and shortly afterwards, on July 4,1817,broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. The first part of the canal was completed in 1820. 55  . The length of the canal is 363 miles.

E. Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it.

F. To dig the canal benefited Americans.

G. It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.

__51__It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River.__52__The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west，and materials could pour into the east.The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation’s largest city.

The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York.__53__Between 1825，when the canal was opened，and 1882，when toll charges (过运河费) were stopped，the state collected $121,461,891.

For a hundred years before the Erie was built，people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Witt Clinton.Those who were against the canal laughingly called it “Clinton’s Ditch(沟)”．__54__ He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal，but they were unsuccessful.

Clinton became governor of New York in 1817，and shortly afterwards，on July 4,1817，broke ground for the canal in Rome，N.Y.The first part of the canal was completed in 1820.__55__The length of the canal is 363 miles.

E．Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it.

F．To dig the canal benefited Americans.

G．It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.

第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分50分）
第一节 阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
A
The Erie Canal was the first important national waterway built in the US. It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River. It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west, and materials could pour into the east. The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation's largest city.
The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York. It cost $ 7,143,789, but it soon gained its price many times over. Between 1825, when the canal was opened, and 1882, when toll charges(过运河费)were stopped, the state collected $ 121,461,891.
For a hundred years before the Erie was built, people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Witt Clinton. Those who were against the canal laughingly called it "Clinton's Ditch(沟)". Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it. He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal, but they were unsuccessful.
Clinton became governor of New York in 1817, and shortly afterwards, on July 4,1817, broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. The first part of the canal was completed in 1820. As the canal grew, towns along its course developed fast. The length of the canal is 363 miles.
41．We can see that the Erie Canal______
A．joined the Great Lakes together
B．crossed New York Lakes together
C．played an important part in developing New York City
D．was the first waterway built in the US
42．It can be inferred that______into the Atlantic Ocean.
A．the Great Lakes flow                                              B．the Hudson River flows
C．Lake Erie flows                                                 D．the Erie Canal flows
43．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．The Erie Canal brought profits of over $ 114,000,000.
B．It's 363 miles from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
C．The West was more advanced than the East when the canal was built.
D．Many other states helped New York build the canal.
44．We can learn from the passage that______.
A．Clinton broke ground for the canal at both ends
B．Clinton started building the canal before he became governor
C．all parts of the canal were completed at the same time
D．construction of the canal took eight years