共用题干The Development of American Postal SystemIn the early days of the United States,postal charges were paid by the recipient and charges varied with the distance carried.In 1825,the United States Congress permitted local postmasters to give letters to mail carriers for home delivery,but these carriers received no government salary and their entire compensation depended on what they were paid by the recipients of individual let-ters.In 1847,the United States Post Office Department adopted the idea of a postage stamp, which of course simplified the payment for postal service but caused grumbling by those who did not like to prepay.Besides,the stamp covered only delivery to the post office and did not include carrying it to a private address.In Philadelphia,for example,with a population of 150,000,peo- ple still had to go to the post office to get their mail.The confusion and congestion of individual citizens looking for their letters was itseff enough to discourage use of the mail.It is no wonder that,during the years of these cumbersome arrangements,private letter-carrying and express bus-mnesses developed.Although their activities were only semi-legal,they thrived and actually adver-tised that between Boston and Philadelphia they were half-day speedier than the government mail. The government postal service lost volume to private competition and was not able to handle effi-ciently even the business it had.Finally,in 1863,Congress provided that the mail carriers who delivered the mail from the post offices to private addresses should receive a government salary, and that there should be no extra charge for that delivery. But this delivery service was at first confined to cities,and free home delivery became a sing of urbanization.In 1890,of the 75 mul-lion people in the United States,fewer than 20 million had mail delivered free to their doors.The rest,nearly three quarters of the population,still received no mail unless they went to their post office. What does the word“cumbersome”mean?A: Convenient.B: Efficient.C: Awkward.D: Stupid.
共用题干
The Development of American Postal System
In the early days of the United States,postal charges were paid by the recipient and charges varied with the distance carried.In 1825,the United States Congress permitted local postmasters to give letters to mail carriers for home delivery,but these carriers received no government salary and their entire compensation depended on what they were paid by the recipients of individual let-ters.In 1847,the United States Post Office Department adopted the idea of a postage stamp, which of course simplified the payment for postal service but caused grumbling by those who did not like to prepay.Besides,the stamp covered only delivery to the post office and did not include carrying it to a private address.In Philadelphia,for example,with a population of 150,000,peo- ple still had to go to the post office to get their mail.The confusion and congestion of individual citizens looking for their letters was itseff enough to discourage use of the mail.It is no wonder that,during the years of these cumbersome arrangements,private letter-carrying and express bus-mnesses developed.Although their activities were only semi-legal,they thrived and actually adver-tised that between Boston and Philadelphia they were half-day speedier than the government mail. The government postal service lost volume to private competition and was not able to handle effi-ciently even the business it had.Finally,in 1863,Congress provided that the mail carriers who delivered the mail from the post offices to private addresses should receive a government salary, and that there should be no extra charge for that delivery. But this delivery service was at first confined to cities,and free home delivery became a sing of urbanization.In 1890,of the 75 mul-lion people in the United States,fewer than 20 million had mail delivered free to their doors.The rest,nearly three quarters of the population,still received no mail unless they went to their post office.
The Development of American Postal System
In the early days of the United States,postal charges were paid by the recipient and charges varied with the distance carried.In 1825,the United States Congress permitted local postmasters to give letters to mail carriers for home delivery,but these carriers received no government salary and their entire compensation depended on what they were paid by the recipients of individual let-ters.In 1847,the United States Post Office Department adopted the idea of a postage stamp, which of course simplified the payment for postal service but caused grumbling by those who did not like to prepay.Besides,the stamp covered only delivery to the post office and did not include carrying it to a private address.In Philadelphia,for example,with a population of 150,000,peo- ple still had to go to the post office to get their mail.The confusion and congestion of individual citizens looking for their letters was itseff enough to discourage use of the mail.It is no wonder that,during the years of these cumbersome arrangements,private letter-carrying and express bus-mnesses developed.Although their activities were only semi-legal,they thrived and actually adver-tised that between Boston and Philadelphia they were half-day speedier than the government mail. The government postal service lost volume to private competition and was not able to handle effi-ciently even the business it had.Finally,in 1863,Congress provided that the mail carriers who delivered the mail from the post offices to private addresses should receive a government salary, and that there should be no extra charge for that delivery. But this delivery service was at first confined to cities,and free home delivery became a sing of urbanization.In 1890,of the 75 mul-lion people in the United States,fewer than 20 million had mail delivered free to their doors.The rest,nearly three quarters of the population,still received no mail unless they went to their post office.
What does the word“cumbersome”mean?
A: Convenient.
B: Efficient.
C: Awkward.
D: Stupid.
A: Convenient.
B: Efficient.
C: Awkward.
D: Stupid.
参考解析
解析：题目是：以下哪项是文章的主要内容？选项A是政府邮政系统的发展，选项B是私人邮政服务的增长，选项C是邮票的历史，选项D是城市和乡村邮政服务对比。通观全文可知答案选A。
题目是：以下哪一点是邮票的不足之处？原文是“在1847年，美国邮政部门开始采用邮票，这样会简化邮资问题，但也遭到那些不愿预付邮费的人的抱怨”。因此答案选A。
题目是：“cumbersome”一词在文中的意思是什么。根据上下文，原文是“难怪在多年不方便的邮政服务中，私人邮件和快递迅速发展”。cumbersom。在此意思是“笨重的、麻烦的”，C项中的awkward意思是“笨拙的、不灵活的”。因此答案选C。
题目是：以下哪一项是私人邮政优于政府邮政服务的方面？原文是“从波士顿到费城它们寄送的邮件速度要比政府的时间快半天”。因此答案选B。
题目是：以下哪项对19世纪末美国免费送信上门的服务描述不正确？原文涉及的内容是“最后在1863年，国会规定谁把邮件从当地邮局递送给市民将得到政府的工资，同时不能有额外收费。但是这种邮政服务最初仅局限于城市，免费送货上门成为城市化标志之一”。因此答案选A。
题目是：以下哪一点是邮票的不足之处？原文是“在1847年，美国邮政部门开始采用邮票，这样会简化邮资问题，但也遭到那些不愿预付邮费的人的抱怨”。因此答案选A。
题目是：“cumbersome”一词在文中的意思是什么。根据上下文，原文是“难怪在多年不方便的邮政服务中，私人邮件和快递迅速发展”。cumbersom。在此意思是“笨重的、麻烦的”，C项中的awkward意思是“笨拙的、不灵活的”。因此答案选C。
题目是：以下哪一项是私人邮政优于政府邮政服务的方面？原文是“从波士顿到费城它们寄送的邮件速度要比政府的时间快半天”。因此答案选B。
题目是：以下哪项对19世纪末美国免费送信上门的服务描述不正确？原文涉及的内容是“最后在1863年，国会规定谁把邮件从当地邮局递送给市民将得到政府的工资，同时不能有额外收费。但是这种邮政服务最初仅局限于城市，免费送货上门成为城市化标志之一”。因此答案选A。