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三、[2026江苏南通期末改编]任务型阅读
A Timely Business
April 15, 1860—A special day! The Pony Express, a fast mail delivery service, successfully completed its first journey from Saint Joseph in Missouri to Sacramento in California. This exciting journey began on April 3.
The Pony Express hired skilled horse riders to carry letters and small packages. They promised delivery from one end of the run to the other in 10 days or less!
Finally, there was a way to communicate with friends and family who lived far away. You would not have to depend on slow boats or stagecoaches. About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations made up the Pony Express. Its riders were mainly of small build, and many were teenagers. A day’s work was made up of about a 75-mile trip, with stops at several stations. The stations were about 10 to 15 miles apart. Riders earned about $100 to $150 a month. The Pony Express worked day and night to make sure important letters and packages arrived on time.
October 26, 1861—Sad news for the Pony Express. After only about 19 months, the service closed its doors because of the opening of the telegraph (电报), a device that has changed long-distance communication. The Pony Express lost a lot of money and had to stop.
Before closing, the Pony Express set a record that delivering a package took just 7 days and 17 hours from Saint Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California.
阅读短文，完成下列各题。
1. When did the Pony Express finish its first journey?
2. What made up the Pony Express?
3. [跨学科·数学] How many stations would a rider of the Pony Express pass by in a day at least?
4. Why did the Pony Express close its doors?
5. [新考法·开放题] How do you usually communicate with your far-away friends? Why?(请自拟一句话作答)
A Timely Business
April 15, 1860—A special day! The Pony Express, a fast mail delivery service, successfully completed its first journey from Saint Joseph in Missouri to Sacramento in California. This exciting journey began on April 3.
The Pony Express hired skilled horse riders to carry letters and small packages. They promised delivery from one end of the run to the other in 10 days or less!
Finally, there was a way to communicate with friends and family who lived far away. You would not have to depend on slow boats or stagecoaches. About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations made up the Pony Express. Its riders were mainly of small build, and many were teenagers. A day’s work was made up of about a 75-mile trip, with stops at several stations. The stations were about 10 to 15 miles apart. Riders earned about $100 to $150 a month. The Pony Express worked day and night to make sure important letters and packages arrived on time.
October 26, 1861—Sad news for the Pony Express. After only about 19 months, the service closed its doors because of the opening of the telegraph (电报), a device that has changed long-distance communication. The Pony Express lost a lot of money and had to stop.
Before closing, the Pony Express set a record that delivering a package took just 7 days and 17 hours from Saint Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California.
阅读短文，完成下列各题。
1. When did the Pony Express finish its first journey?
On April 15, 1860.
2. What made up the Pony Express?
About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations.
3. [跨学科·数学] How many stations would a rider of the Pony Express pass by in a day at least?
Five/5 (stations).
4. Why did the Pony Express close its doors?
Because of the opening of the telegraph.
5. [新考法·开放题] How do you usually communicate with your far-away friends? Why?(请自拟一句话作答)
By email/ phone/ letter. Because it is easy and fast.（言之有理即可）
答案
【主旨大意】本文主要介绍了Pony Express（驿马快信）的历史、运作方式以及它关闭的原因。
1. On April 15, 1860.
2. About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations.
3. Five/5 (stations). 【点拨】根据“A day’s work was made up of about a 75-mile trip, with stops at several stations. The stations were about 10 to 15 miles apart.” 可以计算，骑手一天骑行大约75英里，驿站之间相距大约10到15英里，因此骑手一天至少会经过5个驿站（75 ÷ 15=5）。
4. Because of the opening of the telegraph.
5. By email/ phone/ letter. Because it is easy and fast.（言之有理即可）
1. On April 15, 1860.
2. About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations.
3. Five/5 (stations). 【点拨】根据“A day’s work was made up of about a 75-mile trip, with stops at several stations. The stations were about 10 to 15 miles apart.” 可以计算，骑手一天骑行大约75英里，驿站之间相距大约10到15英里，因此骑手一天至少会经过5个驿站（75 ÷ 15=5）。
4. Because of the opening of the telegraph.
5. By email/ phone/ letter. Because it is easy and fast.（言之有理即可）
解析
【分析】本题为任务型阅读，需根据短文内容定位关键信息作答，其中第3题涉及跨学科数学计算，需结合文中数据推导。具体思路：1. 定位第一段关于首次旅程完成时间的信息；2. 定位第三段关于驿马快信构成的内容；3. 根据文中一天骑行距离和驿站间距，用最大间距计算最少经过的驿站数；4. 定位第四段关于驿马快信关闭原因的表述；5. 开放题结合自身实际合理作答即可。
【解析】1. 由第一段第一句“April 15, 1860—A special day! The Pony Express, a fast mail delivery service, successfully completed its first journey...”可知，首次旅程完成时间是1860年4月15日；2. 由第三段“About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations made up the Pony Express.”直接提取构成内容；3. 文中提到骑手一天骑行约75英里，驿站间距为10到15英里，求最少经过的驿站数时，取最大间距15英里计算，75÷15=5；4. 由第四段“...because of the opening of the telegraph...”可知关闭原因；5. 开放题需结合自身沟通方式，说明理由，言之有理即可。
【答案】1. On April 15, 1860.
2. About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations.
3. Five/5
4. Because of the opening of the telegraph.
5. By phone, because it is easy and fast.（答案不唯一，言之有理即可）
【知识点】任务型阅读、信息提取、跨学科计算
【点评】本题为任务型阅读题，涵盖信息定位、跨学科运算和开放表达，既考查学生的阅读理解能力，又体现了跨学科的考查要求，整体难度适中。
【难度系数】0.6
【解析】1. 由第一段第一句“April 15, 1860—A special day! The Pony Express, a fast mail delivery service, successfully completed its first journey...”可知，首次旅程完成时间是1860年4月15日；2. 由第三段“About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations made up the Pony Express.”直接提取构成内容；3. 文中提到骑手一天骑行约75英里，驿站间距为10到15英里，求最少经过的驿站数时，取最大间距15英里计算，75÷15=5；4. 由第四段“...because of the opening of the telegraph...”可知关闭原因；5. 开放题需结合自身沟通方式，说明理由，言之有理即可。
【答案】1. On April 15, 1860.
2. About 180 riders, 400 fast horses, and 190 Pony Express stations.
3. Five/5
4. Because of the opening of the telegraph.
5. By phone, because it is easy and fast.（答案不唯一，言之有理即可）
【知识点】任务型阅读、信息提取、跨学科计算
【点评】本题为任务型阅读题，涵盖信息定位、跨学科运算和开放表达，既考查学生的阅读理解能力，又体现了跨学科的考查要求，整体难度适中。
【难度系数】0.6
