[单项选择]The construction of the transcontinental railroad took ______.
A. 9 years
B. 4 years
C. 7 years
D. 3 years

[单项选择]Before the construction of the railroad, it was prohibitively expensive to transport any goods across the mountains.
A. determinedly
B. incredibly
C. forbiddingly
D. amazingly

[单项选择]The building of the first transcontinental system ______.
A. brought about a rapid growth of industry and farming in the west
B. attracted many visitors to the construction sites
C. attracted laborers from Europe
D. encouraged people to travel ail over the country

[单项选择]

Mr. Smith, a passenger on the transcontinental train, appeared before the judge. A police officer claimed he had attempted to (21) paying his fare. The defendant refused to consult a lawyer (22) suggested that the officer (23) aware (24) all the circumstances. He appealed (25) the judge, when interpreting the evidence, to (26) into account the absence of any (27) criminal record in his (28) His ticket, he said, was stolen shortly before the train crossed the international (29) . At that time and in that territory he was unwilling to (30) the incident to the local railway authorities or cancel the (31) of his journey, in (32) of the severe maltreatment to which he might be (33) He emphasized his readiness to (34) any (35) punishment the judge imposed.
In his summary the (36) indicated he was convinced that Smith’s (37) was partly justified. Technical
A. suggestion
B. cause
C. reason
D. excuse