TF阅读真题第788篇Canals and Railroads in the Early Nineteenth Century

Canals and Railroads in the Early Nineteenth Century

As the American economy developed in the early nineteenth century-particularly during the Jacksonian Era (named for Andrew Jackson, president in the 1830s)- transportation improvements played a crucial role, with the construction of better roads, the creation of the first railroad lines, and the digging of canals. Of all these developments, the Erie Canal had the greatest immediate impact because it provided the first all-water route directly connecting the Great Lakes and the rapidly growing Midwest to the major eastern seaport at New York City. The canal proved so successful that it set off a wave of canal building across the country: cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia and states from Virginia to Illinois eagerly sought to imitate New York and tap into the profitable trade that was flowing between its cities of Buffalo and Troy and down the Hudson River to New York City.

The Erie Canal not only carried manufactured goods westward and transported western produce eastward; it also became the passageway for thousands of native-born white Americans and European immigrants into the upper reaches of New York and Pennsylvania and, beyond that, into the burgeoning midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Along its course, boomtowns like Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester (cities in the state of New York) sprang up to supply the great migration and take advantage of the growing trade that flowed back and forth along its heavily traveled canal towpaths. As New York’s success invited emulation, members of Congress and the Jackson administration were sent many requests for federa funding to help build roads, canals, and railroads in other parts of the country. Most of these requests were turned down with the reminder that New York had constructed its canal system with its own state funds.  

The canal craze slowed appreciably by the late 1830s. Canals were costly to build ($20,000-$30,000 per mile and upward) and maintain. Both winter weather and recurrent flood damage interrupted the flow of traffic. Financial returns were inadequate. Most significant of all, steam-powered railroads appeared just a few years after the canals. When boom times ended with the Panic of 1837, followed by six years of economic depression, Pennsylvania and Indiana stood virtually bankrupt, while states like Ohio found themselves in financial difficulty because of their overextended investments in canal building. The canal boom halted around 1840， by which time the United States had built 3,326 miles of canals at a cost of roughly $125 million, or $37,580 per mile. Railroad construction, by contrast, had already reached 3,328 miles at an average cost of $17,000 per mile. Although most lines existed in the Northeast, railroads could be found in all parts of the country by the 1840s, and no end was in sight. By then, no one questioned that the “iron horse” represented the wave of the future.

In addition to costing less to build, rail lines could serve areas that could not be reached by boats or barges in either the drought of summer or the freezing of winter. And although canals and steamboats could ship goods more cheaply, railroads provided much faster service. Whereas horse- and mule-drawn freight wagons and canal boats averaged around two miles an hour, freight trains and steamboats averaged around twelve. More important, because railroads, unlike steamboats and canals, could be built more directly from one geographic point to another, they saved even more time than their traveling speeds suggest. During the 1850s, for example, a trip from Cincinnati to New York City by (horse-drawn) freight wagon could take forty to fifty days or more, depending on weather conditions. The same goods shipped downriver by steamboat to New Orleans and then by packet ship to New York required twenty-eight days, while those shipped on the Ohio canal system across Lake Erie to the Erie Canal and down the Hudson took eighteen. Railroads, by contrast, required only six to eight days, thus cutting the time by more than half that of their closest waterborne competitors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

As the American economy developed in the early nineteenth century-particularly during the Jacksonian Era (named for Andrew Jackson, president in the 1830s)- transportation improvements played a crucial role, with the construction of better roads, the creation of the first railroad lines, and the digging of canals. Of all these developments, the Erie Canal had the greatest immediate impact because it provided the first all-water route directly connecting the Great Lakes and the rapidly growing Midwest to the major eastern seaport at New York City. The canal proved so successful that it set off a wave of canal building across the country: cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia and states from Virginia to Illinois eagerly sought to imitate New York and tap into the profitable trade that was flowing between its cities of Buffalo and Troy and down the Hudson River to New York City.

The word “imitate” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Acopy

Bjoin

Cget help from

Dcompete with

2

As the American economy developed in the early nineteenth century-particularly during the Jacksonian Era (named for Andrew Jackson, president in the 1830s)- transportation improvements played a crucial role, with the construction of better roads, the creation of the first railroad lines, and the digging of canals. Of all these developments, the Erie Canal had the greatest immediate impact because it provided the first all-water route directly connecting the Great Lakes and the rapidly growing Midwest to the major eastern seaport at New York City. The canal proved so successful that it set off a wave of canal building across the country: cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia and states from Virginia to Illinois eagerly sought to imitate New York and tap into the profitable trade that was flowing between its cities of Buffalo and Troy and down the Hudson River to New York City.

 

According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true of the Erie Canal?

AIt was the first major transportation improvement during the Jacksonian Era.

BIt allowed trade to be conducted between New York City and the Midwest by water.

CIt had a smaller impact on the economy than the construction of better roads did.

DIt was soon linked with older canals that already existed across the country.

 

3

The Erie Canal not only carried manufactured goods westward and transported western produce eastward; it also became the passageway for thousands of native-born white Americans and European immigrants into the upper reaches of New York and Pennsylvania and, beyond that, into the burgeoning midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Along its course, boomtowns like Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester (cities in the state of New York) sprang up to supply the great migration and take advantage of the growing trade that flowed back and forth along its heavily traveled canal towpaths. As New York’s success invited emulation, members of Congress and the Jackson administration were sent many requests for federa funding to help build roads, canals, and railroads in other parts of the country. Most of these requests were turned down with the reminder that New York had constructed its canal system with its own state funds.  

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

AThe Erie Canal was not used for transporting goods as much as it was used for transporting European immigrants into the upper reaches of New York and Pennsylvania

BIn addition to transporting goods east and west. the Erie Canal was an important passageway for transporting immigrants and other Americans into New York and the midwestern states

CNative-born white Americans and European immigrants began to use the Erie Canal for transporting manufactured goods into the midwestern states and western produce into New York

DThousands of native-born white Americans and European immigrants began moving into the upper reaches of New York and beyond as they realized the Erie Canal’s importance in carrying goods

 

4

The Erie Canal not only carried manufactured goods westward and transported western produce eastward; it also became the passageway for thousands of native-born white Americans and European immigrants into the upper reaches of New York and Pennsylvania and, beyond that, into the burgeoning midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Along its course, boomtowns like Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester (cities in the state of New York) sprang up to supply the great migration and take advantage of the growing trade that flowed back and forth along its heavily traveled canal towpaths. As New York’s success invited emulation, members of Congress and the Jackson administration were sent many requests for federa funding to help build roads, canals, and railroads in other parts of the country. Most of these requests were turned down with the reminder that New York had constructed its canal system with its own state funds.  

According to paragraph 2, which of the following did NOT contribute to the rapid growth of Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester?

AConstruction funding from the state of New York

BMoney provided by Congress and the Jackson administration

CIncreasing commerce along the Erie Canal

DLarge numbers of migrants traveling to regions in the West

5

The canal craze slowed appreciably by the late 1830s. Canals were costly to build ($20,000-$30,000 per mile and upward) and maintain. Both winter weather and recurrent flood damage interrupted the flow of traffic. Financial returns were inadequate. Most significant of all, steam-powered railroads appeared just a few years after the canals. When boom times ended with the Panic of 1837, followed by six years of economic depression, Pennsylvania and Indiana stood virtually bankrupt, while states like Ohio found themselves in financial difficulty because of their overextended investments in canal building. The canal boom halted around 1840， by which time the United States had built 3,326 miles of canals at a cost of roughly $125 million, or $37,580 per mile. Railroad construction, by contrast, had already reached 3,328 miles at an average cost of $17,000 per mile. Although most lines existed in the Northeast, railroads could be found in all parts of the country by the 1840s, and no end was in sight. By then, no one questioned that the “iron horse” represented the wave of the future.

The word “inadequate” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Alost

Buncertain

Cgetting lower

Dnot enough

 

6

The canal craze slowed appreciably by the late 1830s. Canals were costly to build ($20,000-$30,000 per mile and upward) and maintain. Both winter weather and recurrent flood damage interrupted the flow of traffic. Financial returns were inadequate. Most significant of all, steam-powered railroads appeared just a few years after the canals. When boom times ended with the Panic of 1837, followed by six years of economic depression, Pennsylvania and Indiana stood virtually bankrupt, while states like Ohio found themselves in financial difficulty because of their overextended investments in canal building. The canal boom halted around 1840， by which time the United States had built 3,326 miles of canals at a cost of roughly $125 million, or $37,580 per mile. Railroad construction, by contrast, had already reached 3,328 miles at an average cost of $17,000 per mile. Although most lines existed in the Northeast, railroads could be found in all parts of the country by the 1840s, and no end was in sight. By then, no one questioned that the “iron horse” represented the wave of the future.

In paragraph 3, why does the author provide the information that the average cost of railroad construction was $17,000 per mile?

ATo emphasize that railroads were cheaper to build than canals

BTo suggest that railroad construction was one reason behind the financial difficulties of some states

CTo indicate that the government had spent more money or railroad construction than expected

DTo demonstrate why more railroad lines were built in the Northeast compared with other parts of the country

 

7

The canal craze slowed appreciably by the late 1830s. Canals were costly to build ($20,000-$30,000 per mile and upward) and maintain. Both winter weather and recurrent flood damage interrupted the flow of traffic. Financial returns were inadequate. Most significant of all, steam-powered railroads appeared just a few years after the canals. When boom times ended with the Panic of 1837, followed by six years of economic depression, Pennsylvania and Indiana stood virtually bankrupt, while states like Ohio found themselves in financial difficulty because of their overextended investments in canal building. The canal boom halted around 1840， by which time the United States had built 3,326 miles of canals at a cost of roughly $125 million, or $37,580 per mile. Railroad construction, by contrast, had already reached 3,328 miles at an average cost of $17,000 per mile. Although most lines existed in the Northeast, railroads could be found in all parts of the country by the 1840s, and no end was in sight. By then, no one questioned that the “iron horse” represented the wave of the future.

What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about steam-powered railroads?

AThey were introduced shortly after the canal boom ended.

BThey allowed states like Pennsylvania. Indiana. and Ohio to avoid economic depression

CThey were an attractive transportation alternative to canals

DThey spread to the Northeast after originating in another part of the country.

 

8

In addition to costing less to build, rail lines could serve areas that could not be reached by boats or barges in either the drought of summer or the freezing of winter. And although canals and steamboats could ship goods more cheaply, railroads provided much faster service. Whereas horse- and mule-drawn freight wagons and canal boats averaged around two miles an hour, freight trains and steamboats averaged around twelve. More important, because railroads, unlike steamboats and canals, could be built more directly from one geographic point to another, they saved even more time than their traveling speeds suggest. During the 1850s, for example, a trip from Cincinnati to New York City by (horse-drawn) freight wagon could take forty to fifty days or more, depending on weather conditions. The same goods shipped downriver by steamboat to New Orleans and then by packet ship to New York required twenty-eight days, while those shipped on the Ohio canal system across Lake Erie to the Erie Canal and down the Hudson took eighteen. Railroads, by contrast, required only six to eight days, thus cutting the time by more than half that of their closest waterborne competitors.

According to paragraph 4, what advantage did canal transport have over railroad and steamboat transport?

AFaster travel speeds during certain times of the year

BMore direct connections between major geographic points

CBetter access to some areas in extreme weather

DA cheaper cost of shipping

 

9

[■] As the American economy developed in the early nineteenth century-particularly during the Jacksonian Era (named for Andrew Jackson, president in the 1830s)- transportation improvements played a crucial role, with the construction of better roads, the creation of the first railroad lines, and the digging of canals. [■] Of all these developments, the Erie Canal had the greatest immediate impact because it provided the first all-water route directly connecting the Great Lakes and the rapidly growing Midwest to the major eastern seaport at New York City. [■] The canal proved so successful that it set off a wave of canal building across the country: cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia and states from Virginia to Illinois eagerly sought to imitate New York and tap into the profitable trade that was flowing between its cities of Buffalo and Troy and down the Hudson River to New York City.[■] 

Look at the four squaresthat indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage

 

After the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the city of New York witnessed significant economic growth.

Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square  sentence to the passage.

 

10

The United States economy in the early nineteenth century was largely influenced by the development of transportation systems.

ADuring the Jacksonian era, states and cities were highly encouraged to follow the example of New York and apply for funding to build more canals.

BThe economic success of the Erie Canal resulted in a canal craze that caused many cities throughout America, like Baltimore and Philadelphia, to build more canals.

CCompared to canals and many other means of transportation railroads were a more efficient means of transportation since trains traveled relatively quickly.

DThe building of the Erie Canal negatively affected some American cities by taking businesses away from those cities and redirecting them to New York.

EIncreased interest in building canals throughout America slowed down during the late 1830s as a result of the financial challenges associated with constructing canals.

FBecause of increased economic pressures and the proven success o the canal system, it took a long time for many American cities to adopt railroads as their main means of transportation.

 

答案：