The Automobile In American life
The private automobile has long played an important role in the United States. In fact, it has become a necessary and important part of the American way of life. In 1971, eighty-three percent of American families ____1___at least one car, and twenty-eight percent had more than on. By giving workers rapid, convenient transportation, the automobile has _____2_____them from having to live near their place of work. This has fostered (促进) the _____3____ of the suburbs, but it has also led to traffic _____4____ in the city.
Family life has been affected in ____5____ ways. The car helps to keep families together when it is used for picnics, outing, camping trips, and other shared experiences. However, when teenage children have the use of the car (or own one), they can ____6____ escape from family supervision. If they are immature, they sometimes become involved in situation, which lead to serious trouble. For some, young or old, having the use of an automobile leads to ____7______ traffic accidents, caused by carelessness or by deliberate（故意的）breaking of the driving laws. In 1971, over 5000 people were killed in auto accidents in the United States, and many more were _____8______.
For many Americans the automobile is a necessity as well as a _____9____.but for some, it is also a mark of social status, an important middle-class symbol; and for young people, a ___10_____ of becoming an adult. Altogether, cars mean very much to Americans.
A. freed B. easily C. killed
D. convenience E. sign F. various
G. death H. problems I. owned
J. growth K. injured L dangerous
10、____.
【正确答案】：E
【题目解析】：冠词a修饰名词，答案从sign和death中选择，根据前面半句的mark（标志），symbol（象征），答案是E （sign标记）
