More than ten million motorists were “cheated and misled” into buying diesel cars, the president of the AA (Automobile Association) has said. Drivers were encouraged for more than a decade to buy the cars for their fuel efficiency and environmental benefits, but they may now be hit by new taxation.

Britain is being sued by the European Commission for going against air pollution limits and diesel drivers face financial punishments.

London Mayor Boris Johnson this week announced plans to charge an extra £10 for diesel cars to drive in the capital – a measure that could be copied by up to 18 other cities.

But motoring groups have warned that charges would hit drivers who were already struggling to manage with high prices of the oil station. They could also lower the resale value of diesel vehicles. AA president Edmund King told the Daily Mail: “Many drivers will feel deeply cheated and misled because they have been encouraged over many years to take up diesel. Now instead they are being told it’s time to turn to petrol.

“Back in the 1990s, there was a strong fear of the dangers of carbon dioxide. But nobody took the trouble to look at the bigger picture. Britain’s drivers thought they were doing the right thing and were told as much by politicians and ministers. But now all of a sudden those same drivers are being told that it has serious effect on health. Motorists are being made to feel guilty for something that they were actually encouraged to do.”

The shift towards diesel came in 2001 when then Chancellor Gordon Brown adjusted vehicle excise duty to charge more for cars that give off a high level of carbon dioxide.

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1.Why were British drivers encouraged to buy diesel cars ten years ago?

A With diesel their cars could run faster than with petrol.

B Using diesel didn’t cause air pollution.

C Drivers would face punishment without using diesel.

D An extra 10 pounds would be charged on petrol cars.

解析：选A。 A。细节理解题。根据文章第一段for their fuel efficiency可知，购买柴油汽车的好处是较高的燃油功率，也就是单位油量不变的情况下，汽车的速度更快。

2. What is the impact of the extra charge?

A The measure will be taken up by 18 other cities.

B The sales of diesel cars will be lowered.

C Many of the diesel drivers will feel disappointed.

D It will worsen the situation of the diesel drivers.

解析：选D。D。推理判断题。根据文章第四段…would hit drivers who were already struggling to manage with high prices of the oil station判断，对燃烧柴油增加税收对于本来就难以应付高油价的司机来说无疑是雪上加霜。故D项正确。

3.Why did the drivers feel misled according to AA president Edmund King?

A The drivers have to give up what they have been doing for ten years.

B The government doesn’t know which fuel is better.

C They were led to have the fear of the dangers of carbon dioxide.

D They were puzzled whether the politicians or ministers were right or not.

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。根据文章第四段…over many years to take up diesel. Now… it’s time to turn to petrol可知，多年前司机们被鼓励使用柴油汽车，而现在又不得不改换成使用汽油，这种改变让他们感到被误导了。

4.What made the drivers feel guilty?

A They have prefer petrol to diesel.

B What they did with enthusiasm turned out harmful.

C They were encouraged to do a harmful thing.

D They have been driving cars that are harmful to health.

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。根据文章第五段…has serious effect on health…guilty for something that they were actually encouraged to do可知，他们曾经热情支持的政府倡议现在竟然对他们的身体有害，这种矛盾的做法让他们感到很是内疚。

5.What is mainly talked about in the passage?

A Millions of drivers were encouraged to use diesel a decade ago.

B Diesel drivers will be punished for air pollution.

C New measure makes London drivers feel cheated into driving diesel cars.

D Drivers are required to use petrol instead of diesel.

解析：选C。C。主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要内容是：英国政府采取燃油新政，对于使用柴油汽车者征收10磅空气污染税，这一做法让曾经追捧柴油汽车的人们有一种受骗的感觉。