研究生英语课程unit8.docVIP

Unit 8 Text A III. Key to the exercises 1. Reading comprehension 1 People’s frequent use of automobiles lead to the use of non-renewable fuels, a dramatic increase in the rate of accidental death, social isolation and the disconnection of community, rise in obesity, the generation of air and noise pollution, the facilitation of urban sprawl and urban decay. 2 First, increased road-building exerts negative effects on the habitat for wildlife, primarily through habitat fragmentation and surface runoff alteration. Second, new roads built through sensitive habitats can cause the loss or degradation of ecosystems, and the materials required for roads come from large-scale rock quarrying and gravel extraction, which sometimes occurs in sensitive ecological areas. What’s more, road construction also alters the water table, increases surface runoff, and increases the risk of flooding. All these threaten the existence of wildlife. 3 Automobiles are a major source of air pollution and noise pollution. They contribute greatly to the global climate warming by emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. What’s more, the increased road-building exerts negative effects on wildlife habitat. 4 Automobiles brought about changes to urban society. First, streetcars, cable cars, and other forms of light rail in the urban areas are replaced by coaches or buses. Second, it’s more dangerous for pedestrians to walk. Third, people have less contact with their neighbors and become more disconnected. 5 Until the advent of the automobile, factory workers lived either close to the factory or in high density communities farther away, connected to the factory by streetcar or rail. The automobile and the federal subsidies for roads and suburban development that supported car culture allowed people to live in low density communities far from the city center and integrated city neighborhoods. The outward growth of cities accelerated. The suburban society came. 2. Vocabulary Section A 1