出自:河南城建学院大学英语（二）
Americans love their cars. When gas was _1_, Americans drove everywhere, even to buy something at a store two or three blocks away. On Sunday’s many families got into the car and went for a drive for an hour or two. _2_, many Americans have been changing their ideas about _3_. Today _4_walk or ride a bicycle to the store, and people think twice before they go for a drive on Sunday.
Today Americans are worried about saving energy in their homes, too. Before OPEC raised oil price, the typical American home and office building was too warm in the winter and too cool warm in the summer. Since 1973, Americans have been more careful with _5_. Many families _6_the heat to 15℃ at night and 18℃ during the day. Perhaps because of this, companies that make long underwear have been doing very well since 1973.
People _7_ everywhere to find ways to save heating oil and electricity. Many people have been buying old-fashioned stoves so as to burn wood. Most people have been more careful to _8_ electric lights. For several years the government has been giving tax money back to people when they improve their homes to save energy. For example, when people spend money to put new and better windows on their houses, the government returns some of their tax money.
Americans don’t like to give up their big cars, warm homes, and air conditioning, but _9_ the high price of oil, they _10_.
1. A. dear B. cheap C. less D. very few
2. A. Because less of money B. Because of so many people
C. Because of the high price of gas D. because of so many cars in the streets
3. A. walking B. buying C. sleeping D. driving
4. A. more people B. few people C. all people D. no people
5. A. heating and air conditioning B. cars and bicycles
C. food and clothing D. children and money
6. A. put up B. set in C. turn down D. turn into
7. A. looked B. look C. are looking D. have been looking
8. A. put on B. put in C. turn off D. turn on
9. A. at B. with C. for D. in
10. A. have a lot of choices B. can do many things
C. don’t have any choice D. walk to work
Americans believe so much in moving ahead that they are _1_ researching, experimenting and exploring. They treat time as if it _2_ real — a precious resource. They budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, cut it, account for it and charge for it. A foreigner’s first impression _3_ the U.S. is that everyone is in a rush and often _4_ pressure. City people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going, restlessly seeking attention or elbowing others. Foreigners who miss smiles, brief conversations, or leisurely exchanges with strangers should not feel hurt by this. Americans value time so highly, they dislike anyone “wasting” it _5_ an appropriate amount. New arrivals to the States will miss the custom of social talk during a business call because Americans generally _6_ or enquire about their visitors professionally rather than socially. They start talking business very quickly; time is always ticking in their heads. They work hard at saving time _7_ labor-saving devices so they communicate rapidly by fax, phone or email rather than through _8_ contact. The impersonality of electronic communication has _9_ to do with the significance of the matter _10_ hand.
1. A. engaged to B. committed to C. devoted themselves to D. contribute to
2. A. were B. is C. was D. are
3. A. in B. on C. of D. to
4. A. under B. by C. in D. on
5. A. on B. to C. in D. beyond
6. A. assess B. assure C. assume D. access
7. A. in B. of C. to D. through
8. A. personnel B. personal C. personality D. impersonal
9. A. little B. no C. less D. least
10. A. of B. to C. at D. in