[研究生入学考试题库]考研英语(二)模拟题47.docxVIP

[研究生入学考试题库]考研英语(二)模拟题47 Section Ⅰ Use of EnglishDirections: Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET.  After riding a tram in Strasbourg, Matt Yglesias has decided that proof-of-payment fare- collection systems are better than pay-per-ride systems for public transport. But theres a more 1 proposal that could work even better: making public transport free.  Proof-of-payment systems would 2 be an improvement on the inefficient systems that currently 3 American city bus and subway lines. A few years ago a group of engineers at New Yorks Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) 4 the amount of time wasted as passengers waited to 5 and pay fares on a single run of the Bxl2 Limited bus route in the Bronx. The answer was 16 minutes and 16 seconds, or over a quarter of the entire run. A proof-of-payment system would save much of that.  6 that study, MTA has moved to proof-of-payment systems on several lines, 7 the Bx l2 Limited. Waiting times have fallen and average speeds have improved. But making the buses free could work even 8 .  Its not as crazy as it 9 . Fares bring in a lot of money, but they cost money to 10 - 6% of the MTAs budget. Fare boxes and turnstiles (入闸机) have to be 11 ; buses 12 while waiting for passengers to pay up, wasting fuel; and everyone loses time. Proof-of-payment systems dont solve the problem of fare-collection costs as they require inspectors and other staff to 13 enforcement, paperwork and payment processing. Making buses and subways free, 14 the other hand, would increase passenger numbers, opening up space on the streets for essential traffic and saving time by reducing road 15 .  In New York, the idea of free buses and subways 16 back to at least 1965, when Ted Kheel, a lawyer, first floated the idea—and pushed for a doubling of bri