A
The Docklands Light Railway(DLR) took just three years to build at a cost of ￡77 million. It is London’s first Light Rail System, but its route follows that of a number of older lines, which carried the nineteenth century railways through the crowded districts of the East End.
The section of the line from the Tower Gateway Station to Poplar follows the line of one of London’s earliest railways, the London & Blackwell(1840), a cable-drawn railway(later converted to steam) which carried passengers to steam ships at Blackwell Pier, and provided transport for the messengers and clerks who went backwards and forwards between the docks and the city every day.
From Poplar to Island Gardens, a new line crosses high above the dock waters, and then joins the old track of the Millwall Extension Railway, built to service the Millwall Docks(1868) and to provide transport for workers in the local factories. This line was horse-drawn for part of its route, until the 1880s.
The Poplar to Stratford section of the DLR route was first developed by the North London Railway, built in the 1850s to link the West and East India Docks with the manufacturing districts of the Midlands and North of England. There were major railway works and sidings(岔线) at Bow until recently.
The trains are automatically controlled from a central computer, which deals with all signaling and other safety factors, as well as adjusting speeds to keep within the timetable; on board each vehicle, Train Captains, who are also fully qualified drivers, are equipped with two-way radios to maintain contact with central control. There are passenger lifts, and self-service ticket machines, at every station.
1. The history of the railway tells us that the DLR ______.
A. was begun in the nineteen century
B. follows some of the original line
C. will be finished in three years’ time
D. took three years longer than expected to complete
2. It appears that the Poplar to Stratford section of the DLR route was originally developed to ____.
A. make the transport of goods easier B. encourage trade abroad
C. promote the transport in England D. create employment at home
3. The trains on the DLR are controlled by ______.
A. drivers on the trains themselves B. two-way radios operated by the drivers
C. a computer on board the train D. a computer based elsewhere
【答案】1. B 2. A 3. D
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。短文介绍了英国码头区轻轨铁路，这是伦敦的第一个轻轨系统，但它的路线沿袭了许多较老的线路。同时介绍了相关路段的历史和作用以及列车的操作情况。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段It is London’s first Light Rail System, but its route follows that of a number of older lines可知，这是伦敦的第一个轻轨系统，但它的路线沿袭了许多较老的线路。根据第二段The section of the line from the Tower Gateway Station to Poplar follows the line of one of London’s earliest railways可知，从Tower Gateway Station到Poplar的这段线路沿袭了伦敦最早的铁路之一。所以DLR的历史告诉我们，它沿袭了一些原来的路线。故选B项。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数第二段The Poplar to Stratford section of the DLR route was first developed by the North London Railway, built in the 1850s to link the West and East India Docks with the manufacturing districts of the Midlands and North of England.可知，DLR路线的Poplar至Stratford 段首先由北伦敦铁路开发，该铁路建于19世纪50年代，将西印度和东印度码头与英格兰中部和北部的制造区连接起来。由此判断出，DLR路线的Poplar至Stratford段最初是为了方便货物运输而开发的。故选A项。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据最后一段The trains are automatically controlled from a central computer可知，火车由中央计算机自动控制。所以DLR上的列车由别处的一台计算机控制。故选D项。
