【简答题】Please give a brief introduction of American geographical features.

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The Development of American Postal System

In the early days of the United States， postal charges were paid by the recipient and chargesvaried with the distance carried. In 1825， the United States Congress permitted local postmastersto 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 letters. 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 pi"epay. 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， people still had to go to the post office to get their mail. The confusion and congestion of individual citizens looking for their letters was itself enough to discourage use of the mail. It is no wonder that， during the years of these cumbersome arrangements， private letter-carrying and express businesses developed. Although their activities were only semi-legal， they thrived and actually advertised 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 efficiently 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 million 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 is the main idea of the passage? 查看材料

A.The development of a government postal system.

B.The increasing use of private mail services.

C.The history of postal stamps.

D.The comparison of urban and rural postal services.

The homeless make up a growing percentage of America's population. 【B1】 homelessness has reached such proportions that local government can't possibly 【B2】.To help homeless people 【B3】 independence, the federal government must support job training programs, 【B4】 the minimum wage, and fund more low-cost housing. 【B5】 everyone agrees on the numbers of Americans who are homeless. Estimates 【B6】 anywhere from 600,000 to 3 million. 【B7】 the figure may vary, analysts do agree on another matter: that the number of the homeless is 【B8】 , one of the federal government's studies 【B9】 that the number of the homeless will reach nearly 19 million by the end of this decade.

Finding ways to 【B10】 this growing homeless population has become increasingly difficult. 【B11】 when homeless individuals manage to find a 【B12】 that will give them three meals a day and a place to sleep at night, a good number still spend the bulk of each day 【B13】 the street. Part of the problem is that many homeless adults are addicted to alcohol or drugs. And a significant number of the homeless have serious mental disorders. Many others, 【B14】 not addicted or men tally ill, simply lack the everyday 【B15】 skills needed to turn their lives 【B16】 . Boston Globe reporter Chris Reidy notes that the situation will improve only when there are 【B17】 programs that address the many needs of the homeless. 【B18】 Edward Blotkowsk, director of community service at Bentley College in Massachusetts, 【B19】 it. "There has to be 【B20】 of programs. What we need is a package deal".

【B1】

A．Indeed

B．Likewise

C．Therefore

D．Furthermore

The homeless make up a growing percentage of America’s population. __1__ homelessness has reached such proportions that local government can’t possibly __2__. To help homeless people __3__ independence, the federal government must support job training programs, __4__ the minimum wage, and fund more low-cost housing.

__5__ everyone agrees on the numbers of Americans who are homeless. Estimates __6__ anywhere from 600,000 to 3 million. __7__ the figure may vary, analysts do agree on another matter: that the number of the homeless is __8__. One of the federal government’s studies __9__ that the number of the homeless will reach nearly 19 million by the end of this decade.

Finding ways to __10__ this growing homeless population has become increasingly difficult. __11__ when homeless individuals manage to find a __12__ that will give them three meals a day and a place to sleep at night, a good number still spend the bulk of each day __13__ the street. Part of the problem is that many homeless adults are addicted to alcohol or drugs. And a significant number of the homeless have serious mental disorders. Many others, __14__ not addicted or mentally ill, simply lack the everyday __15__ skills need to turn their lives __16__. Boston Globe reporter Chris Reidy notes that the situation will improve only when there are __17__ programs that address the many needs of the homeless. __18__ Edward Blotkowsk, director of community service at Bentley College in Massachusetts, __19__ it, “There has to be __20__ of programs. What we need is a package deal.”

1.___________

[A] Indeed

[B] Likewise

[C] Therefore

[D] Furthermore

A．They contribute to the modernization of American farms.

B．They help to increase the state governments’ revenue.

C．They provide a stage for people to give performances.

D．They remind Americans of the importance of agriculture.

A．They contribute to the modernization of American farms.

B．They help to increase the state governments' revenue.

C．They provide a stage for people to give performances.

D．They remind Americans of the importance of agriculture.