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.
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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.
【答案解析】
本文介绍了Erie Canal的作用及修建过程。
1. C. 细节题。根据文章第1段最后一句The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation’s largest city 及全段内容，可推知此题答案为C。
2. B. 推断题。根据文章第1段第2句和第3句：运河from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River 横跨了New York 把the Great Lakes和the Atlantic Ocean联系起来了可推知此题答案为B。
3. A. 推断题。通过比较文章第2段第2句 It cost $ 7, 143, 789 和第2段最后一句中的…the state collected $121, 461, 891可推知此题答案为A。
4. D. 推断题。根据文章最后一段第1句中的…on July 4, 1817, broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. 和第2段第2句中的 Between 1825, when the canal was opened… 可推知此题答案为D。
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