题目内容
London has become a cycle friendly zone after the launch of a new bike hire scheme. It has been designed to encourage more people to cycle in and around central London.
So how does it work? First you have to sign up to the scheme to be sent a key. The key will unlock one of the bikes, which are kept at docking(停靠) stations in and around central London. You have to pay an access fee for the key and then you pay as you go, for the length of time you use the bike.
Transport for London, which runs the scheme, are hoping to have 6,000 bikes and 400 docking stations in place by the end of the year. The new hire system is hoping to ease congestion(拥塞) in London and is expected to generate up to 40,000 extra cycle trips a day into the city centre. London Mayor Boris Johnston launched the scheme and said London had been “filled with thousands of gleaming machines that will transform the look and feel of our streets and become as common place on our roads as black cabs and red buses”.
However, there have been a few problems since the scheme was launched last Friday. On the first day some people found they couldn’t dock their bike properly and their usage of the bike had not registered. Transport for London did admit they had been expecting a few “teething problems” and have said they wouldn’t charge for the first day as a “gesture of goodwill”. Some other people have criticized the lack of docking stations and locks for the bikes as well as the price it costs to hire the bicycles.
Despite the comments, the green-thinking London Mayor still seems very positive about things, saying, “My campaign for the capital to become the greatest big cycling city in the world has taken a gigantic(巨大的) pedal-powered push forwards.”
56. Which is the correct order of a bike hire?
a. pay a usage charge according to the time b. pay for the key
c. cycle in and around central London d. sign up as a member to get a key
A. b-d-c-a B. b-c-a-d C. d-c-b-a D. d-b-c-a
57. Which of the following is NOT the “teething problems” of the scheme?
A. People were unable to lock properly.
B. People could not dock the bikes properly.
C. People had no enthusiasm about the scheme.
D. It’s too expensive for some people to hire a bike.
58. From the passage we know ________.
A. the ‘cycling revolution’ failed once started
B. the scheme will be put off due to the problems
C. all the citizens in London are in favor of the scheme
D. the London Mayor has great confidence in the scheme
59. What's the main idea of the passage?
A. London encourages people to buy bikes.
B. London starts a new bike hire scheme.
C. London needs better measures to cut traffic.
D. London decides to protect the environment.
DCDB
Rome had the Forum. London has Speaker's Corner. Now always–on–the-go. New Yorkers have Liz and Bill.
Liz and Bill, two college graduates in their early 20s, have spent a whole year trying to have thousands of people talk to them in subway stations and on busy street corners. Just talk.
Using a 2-foot-tall sign that says, "Talk to Me." they attract conversationalists, who one evening included a mental patient, and men in business suits.
They don't collect money. They don't push religion. So what's the point?
"To see what happens, said Liz. " We simply enjoy life with open communication."
Shortly after the September 11,2001 attacks, they decided to walk from New York City to Washington, a 270-mile trip. They found they loved talking to people along the way and wanted to continue talking with strangers after their return.
"It started as a crazy idea, "Liz said." We were so curious about all the strangers walking by with their life stories. People will talk to us about anything: their jobs, their clothes, their childhood experiences, anything."
Denise wanted to talk about an exam she was about to take. She had stopped by for the second time in two days, to let the two listeners know how it went.
Marcia had lost her husband to a serious disease. "That was very heavy on my mind," Marcia said. "To be able to talk about it to total strangers was very good," she explained.
To celebrate a year of talking, the two held a get-together in a city park for all the people they had met over the past year. A few hundred people showed up, as well as some television cameramen and reporters.
They may plan more parties or try to attract more people to join their informal talks. Some publishers have expressed interest in a book, something they say they'll consider.
【小题1】What did Liz and Bill start doing after September 2001?
A.Chatting with people. | B.Setting up street signs |
C.Telling stories to strangers | D.Organizing a speaker's corner |
A.pointless | B.normal | C.crazy | D.successful |
A.They knew Liz and Bill very well. |
B.They happened to meet the writer of the text. |
C.They organized the get-together in the city park. |
D.They are examples of those who talked to Liz and Bill. |
A.Go in for publishing. | B.Do more television programs. |
C.Continue what they are doing. | D.Spend more time reading books. |
A.They have decided to wait a year or two |
B.They will think about it carefully |
C.They agreed immediately |
D.They find it hard to do that |