Cars did not become necessities for families in the United States until after World War II. Prior to that time, cars were seen mainly as toys for the rich. By the end of the war, however, people were tired of saving their money. They were ready to have some fun. Unlike Europe and Japan, whose industries had been wiped out by World War II, factories in the United States could quickly be changed from production of wartime items to mass production of such luxury items as cars.
As cars grew in popularity in the United States, there were also changes in lifestyle. Farmers who were once isolated from society by rural life now took weekend trips into the city. Also, workers in the cities no longer needed to live in inner-city housing in order to keep their jobs at nearby factories. Those who made enough money moved out of the cities and into the suburbs. Now
新视野视听说教程第二册quiz
that each family had its own car, going to work from the suburbs became a common practice.
Cars not only changed the way people lived, but also changed the way they thought. Traditionally, because young people spent most of their time outside school in and around the home, the strongest role models for teenagers were their parents. However, once they had access to their own cars, teens began spending more time out with friends. Therefore, they became less likely to follow the behavior of their parents and more likely to follow their friends'.
One thing producers paid little attention to, however, was safety. It wasn't until the mid-1960s that consumers began to demand that all car companies include at least a few common safety features in new cars. These new standards eventually led to safety features such as seat belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and automatic door locks.
21. Why cars didn't sell as well in Europe as in the United States?
A. Because people weren't interested in cars.
B. Because fewer factories were able to make cars.
C. Because people couldn't afford cars.
D. Because fewer people lived on farms.
22. According to the passage, what was the greatest benefit of cars to American life?
A. They provided people with more freedom to travel.
B. They encouraged people to drive cars to and from work.
C. They led to the development of drive-in movies and drive-through restaurants.
D. They allowed teenagers to spend more time with their friends.
23. The main point of Paragraph 4 is that cars ________.
A. caused families to grow closer
B. changed the thoughts of teenagers
C. changed the lives of adults
D. made everyday life easy and fun
24. What caused the change of the car safety features?
A. Many car accidents during 1960s.
B. The regulations by the government.
C. The standards by the car company.
D. Customers who would purchase cars.
25. What's the main theme of the passage?
A. The US has most of the cars in the world.
B. China will soon surpass the US in the car market.
C. Americans' lives have changed a lot with the car industry.
D. Europeans were living in poverty after World War II.
新视野视听说教程第二册quiz