《2026年天利38套中考试题精选英语浙江专版》

(四)
The idea that red means stop and green means go has influenced our lives in more ways than just traffic signals. We have been taught from a young age that the color red means danger and green means it’s okay to move forward. But why were those colors chosen for traffic lights in the first place?
Believe it or not, yellow was once used to mean stop. Back in the 1900s, some stop signs were yellow because it was too hard to see a red sign in a poorly lit area. Finally, highly reflective materials (高反射材料) were developed and red stop signs were born. Since yellow can be seen well at all times of the day, school areas, some traffic signs and school buses continue to be printed yellow.
Nowadays, when traffic lights turn red, cars and people stop. But why red? The answer comes from science and how our eyes work. Light travels through air and sometimes scatters (spreads out). Colors with long wavelengths (波长) scatter less. Red has the longest wavelength we can see, so it scatters the least. This means red light travels farther, especially on rainy or foggy days.
Red helps drivers see the stop signal from far away. If drivers see red early, they have more time to slow down. At 60 km/h, seeing red 100 meters earlier gives 6 extra seconds to stop safely.
Red also has a special meaning in our minds. It makes us act quickly because we often connect red with danger. Our brains react faster to red than to other colors.
1. What does the underlined word “signals” mean?
A. A few steps that people should take.
B. Messages or information that are sent from one place.
C. A group of people who work together to achieve a goal.
D. Tools that help people or things move from one place to another.
2. Why were some stop signs yellow in the 1900s according to the text?
A. Yellow was cheaper to produce.
B. People liked yellow more.
C. Yellow could reflect light better.
D. Red was hard to see in dark places.
3. Why does red light work better in rain nowadays?
A. Because it scatters less in the air.
B. Because it can change weather.
C. Because it is easy for cars to see.
D. Because it is brighter than any other colour light.
4. What happens to the drivers if they see the traffic lights 100 meters earlier?
A. They feel tired and sleepy.
B. They realize they are in danger.
C. They drive slowly and stop suddenly.
D. They get 6 more seconds to stop at 60 km/h.

答案： 1—4 BDAD