Question

【题目】Until last spring, Nia Parker and the other kids in her neighborhood went to school on Bus 59.But as fuel prices rose, the school district needed to find a way to cut its transportation costs.So the school’s busing company redrew its route map, canceling Nia’s bus.Now Nia and her neighbors travel the half mile to school via a “walking school bus”—a group of kids, supervised (监护) by an adult or two, who make the walk together.

Many parents are delighted to see their kids walking to school, partly because many did so themselves.According to a 1979 survey, nearly half of school kids walked or biked to school, compared with only 16 percent in 2011.Modern parents have been unwilling to let kids walk to school for fear of traffic, crime or simple bullying, but with organized adult supervision, those concerns have reduced.

Schools and busing companies are finding other ways to save.In rural areas where busing is a must, some schools have even chosen four-day school weeks.Busing companies instruct drivers to cancel extra stops from routes and to turn off the engine while idling(挂空挡).They are also using computer software to determine the most fuel-efficient routes, which aren’t always the shortest ones.

There could be disadvantages, however, to the busing cutbacks（削减）.If every formerly bused student begins walking to school, it’s an environmental win—but if too many of their parents decide to drive them instead, the carbon footprint can grow.Replacing buses with many more parent-driven cars can also increase safety risks.A 2011 report concluded students are 13 times safer on a school bus than in a passenger car, since buses have fewer accidents and with stand them better due to their size.And some students complain about the long morning hikes, particularly when the route contains a really big hill.

【1】 In regards to walking to school, modern parents seem much concerned with the _____.

A.safety of their kids

B.kids’ physical strength

C.time spent on the way

D.changes in the route

【2】To save money, some schools choose to _____.

A.shorten the school week

B.take the shortest routes

C.stop using school buses

D.use fuel-efficient buses

【3】Busing cutbacks may lead to _____.

A.fewer complaints about long morning hikes

B.more students taking public transportation

C.an increase in carbon dioxide emissions

D.a decrease in the safety of school buses

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】A

【3】C

【解析】

试题分析：本文介绍了一些学校为了减少校车成本，减少了校车运营次数或者时间，有部分学生就开始步行上学。同时讨论了这样做的另外一种可能性。

【1】A 细节题。根据文章第二段最后一句Modern parents have been unwilling to let kids walk to school for fear of traffic, crime or simple bullying, but with organized adult supervision, those concerns have reduced.可知现代父母亲担心孩子单独上学的安全问题。故A正确。

【2】A 细节题。根据第三段1,2句Schools and busing companies are finding other ways to save.In rural areas where busing is a must, some schools have even chosen four-day school weeks.可知有些学校为了节约成本，减少了school week，从5天变成4天。故A正确。

【3】C 推理题。根据最后一段第二句but if too many of their parents decide to drive them instead, the carbon footprint can grow.可知如果父母亲没有让孩子步行上学，而是开车送孩子上学，那样反而会增加会环境的破坏。故C正确。