[originaltext] (25)Route 66 was once very famous in America. It has been ca

(25)Route 66 was once very famous in America. It has been called "The Main Street of America." The idea for Route 66 started in Oklahoma. Citizens there wanted to link their state with states to the east and west. By the 1920s, federal officials wanted to connect state roads to provide a shorter, faster way across the country. So a plan was developed to connect existing state roads into one long national highway. United States Highway 66 was established on November 11, 1926.(23)It was one of the first federal highways. It crossed eight states. It was 3 800 km long. It passed through the center of many cities and towns. It crossed deserts, mountains, valleys and rivers. In the 1930s, people suffered through the Great Depression.(24)In Oklahoma, many poor families lost their farms because of dust storms. So they traveled west to California on Route 66 in search of a better life. In the 1950s, holiday travel brought more and more families out West to explore. Route 66 represented the spirit of movement and excitement. Later, people were getting fewer and fewer kicks on Route 66. By 1962, parts of the road were closed because they were in poor condition. The federal government was building bigger highways. Cars and trucks could travel at higher speeds. People started driving on these new interstate highways instead of the old Route 66. Finally, in 1985, Route 66 was officially removed from the national highway system.(25)People have formed groups to save parts of the old 66 and many of the interesting places to eat, stay and see along the way.
23. What do we learn about Route 66?
24. Why did Route 66 represent the spirit of movement and excitement?
25. What can be inferred about Route 66 from the passage?