Comprehension (II)

The motor Car

The motor car was not the invention of one person, nor was it something that
developed quickly. In fact, the modern motor car is still developing. Early cars were steam-
driven. The first vehicle to run on a road using steam power was created by a Frenchman
named Cugnot in 1769. This heavy, clumsy vehicle had a top speed of four miles per hour.
Unfortunately, it ran into a wall and overturned, spilling hot embers and boiling water onto
the street. Cugnot was arrested and imprisoned.
Various Englishmen also tried. Trevithick, in 1802, built a model that would travel at
nine miles per hour, but the state of the roads prevented his steam-car from travelling very
far.
When English roads improved and steam-cars were safe and reliable, horse and rail
transport companies became very jealous. They persuaded Parliament to pass the “Red Flag
Act”. This law limited steam-driven cars to a speed of four miles per hour. A man with a red
flag had to walk in front of each steam car to warn pedestrains. Because of this law, England
lost its opportunity to be the first country to replace horse transport with more modern
technology.
Then came the invention of a gas motor in 1885, the German engineers Daimler and
Benz developed the first car with an internal combustion engine. Early electric cars were
quiet pollution-free, but their batteries had to be recharged after 50 kilometres.
After a number of road races were held in France, car makers were swamped with
orders from people wanting to buy motor cars . This interest in motor cars spread to England
and the Red Flag Act was abolished. By 1902, England was producing cars as good as other
European ones.
In America, motor cars also became popular. Henry Ford found a cheaper way to
build these vehicles, so that more people could afford to buy them. In 1914, he developed the
assembly line. Workers stood on either side of a moving belt and added different parts to the
car as it passed by. It was very boring work, but more cars could be produced at much less
cost. Today, robots have replaced assembly-line workers.
The principle of the motor-car engine is still the same as that of the Daimler and Benz
invention, although there have been great advances in car production. Cars are so much a
part of our lives and many households now own more than one. How do you think they will
continue to change in the future?

A. Choose the best answer.

1. What was Cugnot’s punishment?
A. He was imprisoned.
B. He was burnt to death.
C. He was hanged.
D. He was whipped.
2. How many kilometres could early electric cars run?
A. At least 50 kilometres.
B. Up to 50 kilometres.
C. Not less than 9 miles per hour.
D. At most 9 miles per hour.
3. Who suggested the “Red Flag Act”?
A. The English Parliament.
B. Trevithick.
C. Horse and rail transport companies.
D. Daimler and Benz.
4. What is the importance that Henry Ford found a cheaper way to build cars?
A. Steam-cars became safer and more reliable.
B. More different cars were designed.
C The assembly line was developed meanwhile.
D. Cars became cheaper.

B. Write “T” for true o“r F” for false.

5. The modern motor car has been developed.
6. The fires car was invented by Cugnot in 1769.
7. In fact, England was the first country to replace horse transport with modern technology.
8. Early electric cars were quiet and environmentally friendly.
9. Daimler and Benz were the most important people on American motor industry.
10. Cars are so important to our lives that every household owns more than one.