阅读理解。
There was more evidence the effects of high oil prices on the transportation industry.
Automakers reported further drops in sales of tracks and SUVs (sport utility vehicles) in the United States
Big, fuel-hungry vehicles brought in big profits-until Americans faced big costs for fuel now they want smaller
and more fuel-efficient cars. The head of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, says the prices are changing consular
behavior. G.M sales in the United States dropped 30％from last year. The Ford Motor Company had a 19％
drop.
General Motors announced it will close four truck factories in North America and expand car production.
It may also see its Hummer division. Hummers are military-like vehicles. But Rick Wagoner said G-M will go
forward with plans to make the Chevy Volt, a car powered mainly by electricity. He said it will be available no
later than the end of 2010.
Still, new findings show that Americans are driving less. The Federal Highway Administration says the
number of kilometers traveled on public roads has dropped since late 2006.
Many people may be driving less because of high gasoline prices But transportation officials worry that less
demand for gasoline will mean shortages of money from fuel taxes that support reads. Use of public
transportation, though, is up. The American Public Transportation Association says it increased three percent
this year.
High fuel prices are also affecting air travel. The International Air Transport Association expects the
industry to lose at least two billion dollars this year, mainly because of prices for jet fuel. This week more air,
carriers in the United States announced plans to cut flights and jobs and remove older. Less fuel efficient planes
from service Continental Airlines said record-high fuel prices have produced the worst crisis (危机) for the
industry since 2001.
1. According to Rick Wagoner, _____.
A. G.M. has made the Chevy Volt already
B. G.M. sales in America had a 19％drop
C. oil prices affect people's buying behavior
D. people like bigger and more fuel-efficient cars
2. Which of the following will General Motors do?
A. To try to produce more cats.
B. To make a new kind of truck powered mainly by electricity.
C. To close truck factories in America.
D. To make more vehicles such as Hummers for the army.
3. The last paragraph mainly tells us _____.
A. high oil prices made some people lost their jobs
B. 1ess fuel-efficient planes will come out of service
C. airlines faces till worst crisis since 2001
D. the effect of oil prices on airlines
4. We can learn from the passage that _____.
A. American public transportation carries more passengers than before
B. the Ford Motor Company doesn't face the challenge of increasing oil prices
C. carmakers will get more money from American government
D. the prices of cars will be much cheaper than they are now
