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  3. The United States Interstate Highway System is an infrastructure feat of unprecedented proportions. Not only does it join all fi

The United States Interstate Highway System is an infrastructure feat of unprecedented proportions. Not only does it join all fi

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问题     The United States Interstate Highway System is an infrastructure feat of unprecedented proportions. Not only does it join all fifty states in the union together allowing for rapid transport of goods and people, but it also has legitimate claim to the title of the largest public works program in history. The project was motivated by both military and economic goals. Interest in the project existed since the early 1940’s, but was delayed by the outbreak of World War II, followed by the postwar recovery. Although approved by Congress in 1944, the building did not actually begin until 1956.
    The postwar prosperity in America accentuated the need for such a massive infrastructure project. After America’s success in World War II and recovery of its economy from the Great Depression, the population’s disposable income soared, allowing most families to purchase automobiles, previously thought of as luxury items. With the sudden boom of cars, a more efficient road on which to travel was desperately needed, and the interstate highway system provided that, allowing travelers to safely and reliably visit other states or destinations closer to home.
    The same surge in car ownership that created the need for the interstate highway system also provided the means by which to pay for the project. A new tax on gasoline provided 90 percent of the funding for the project, and state taxes covered the remaining 10 percent. With the new highway system in place, not only could travelers visit previously unfeasible destinations on their holidays and vacations, but businesses could transport their products to markets in other states, increasing competition across the country, to the benefit of consumers and product quality alike.
    The military had a keen eye on the system as well. Troop transport was now possible to all corners of America in a rapid and efficient manner, and the long stretches of straight highways instantly provided runways for military aircraft in times of emergency. The country, linked together by a network of roads that greatly reduced travel time, could now more efficiently be defended.
    In the last forty years alone, 17 trillion miles have been traveled on the US Interstate Highway System. Those miles can be equated to three trips around the world for every American, a trip to the moon for 75 million people, or three light years in space. No matter what figure is used, the numbers are stunning. The interstate highway has gotten and continues to get people where they need to go in America, and at a fraction of the time it would otherwise take.
The US Interstate Highway System was built mainly______.
选项 A、to respond to urgent needs that had arisen
B、in order to better defend a country in a time of war
C、with military needs in mind
D、from state taxpayer dollars
答案A
解析 属事实细节题。相关信息在第二段第一句：战后美国经济的繁荣使得对于建立一个大型的基础设施项目的需求更为突出。由此可知，选项A正确。选项B在文中未提及；选项C不是主要原因，只在第四段中提及；选项D与第三段第二句内容不符：对汽油征收新税为此项目提供了九成的资金，剩下的10％由各州税收解决。
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