《2026年水木金卷高考模拟试卷精编英语》

阅读下面短文,按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
Almost every driver in the world will spend part of their life waiting at traffic lights. In a lifetime, one might wait at red lights for countless hours, but few drivers ever wonder who invented these crucial devices.
The first traffic light was installed in 1868 in London, outside the British Houses of Parliament. It was manually operated and designed by J. P. Knight, a railway engineer, to help manage the growing number of horse-drawn carriages. Unfortunately, this first model used gas lights, which eventually led to an explosion, injuring the officer operating it. After that incident, traffic lights were largely forgotten until cars began to crowd the streets of major cities.
The modern, electric traffic light was invented in 1923 by Garrett Morgan, an African American inventor. Morgan was an innovator who saw the need for safer roads. He noticed that vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians often collided because there was no organized system to manage street intersections. To solve this problem, Morgan developed a device with three positions: stop, go, and a third that allowed time for drivers to stop before the light turned red. This simple innovation reduced the number of accidents and made intersections safer for everyone.
When Morgan introduced his invention, the initial reception was mixed. Drivers were used to chaotic intersections and many didn't understand why they should obey a light instead of just going when they felt it was safe. However, Morgan was persistent. He demonstrated how his traffic signal could save lives, and soon, cities across the United States began to adopt his system.
Since then, the traffic light has become an essential part of road safety worldwide. Today's lights use advanced sensors and technology to help manage traffic flow more efficiently. They also include pedestrian signals and countdown timers to improve safety for those on foot.
The evolution of the traffic light shows how simple ideas can transform into vital tools for daily life. Garrett Morgan's invention has not only made roads safer but has also shaped how we navigate our cities today.
56. What caused the first traffic light to fail? (no more than 10 words)

57. According to the context, what does the underlined word "collided" mean? (1 word)

58. What was the main innovation in Morgan's traffic light? (no more than 15 words)

59. What features do today's traffic lights include to improve safety and efficiency? (no more than 20 words)

60. What is your opinion of Garrett Morgan? Please give your reason(s). (no more than 20 words)

答案： 56.An explosion of the gas light injured the operator.
57.Crashed./Hit.
58.Adding a third position to allow time for drivers to stop.
59.We use advanced sensors and technology, including pedestrian signals and countdown timers to improve safety and efficiency.
60.He was great and committed to improving public safety and saved countless lives.
Or: He was intelligent, finding practical solutions for complex problems like road safety.
Or: He was persistent and demonstrated how the traffic light could save lives and made it work.