Question

    Like all big cities, Paris has a traffic problem: lots of cars, lots of traffic jams (阻塞) and lots of pollution from exhaust fumes (废气). So the city began a scheme (计划) to improve the situation.

Under the Velib scheme (‘Velib’ comes from vélo liberté, or ‘bicycle freedom’) people can take a bicycle, use it for as long as they want, and then leave it at the same or another bicycle station. The first half-hour on the bike is free, but if you don’t return it after 30 minutes, you have to pay. But it’s only €1 a day or €29 a year! The bicycles are heavy (25 kg), and they are all grey and have baskets. There are about 20,000 of them in the city, and around 1,450 bicycle stations. So there are a lot more Velib stations than the 298 subway stations!

Paris is not the first city to have a scheme like this. But not everybody thinks it’s a great idea. One Parisian said, ‘These bicycles are only for short journeys. If people want to travel across the city, they won’t use a bicycle — they’ll still use their cars.’

A city spokesman said, “The bicycle scheme won’t solve all our traffic problems, of course. But it might help reduce air pollution. Traffic, together with factory fumes, is a big problem. There aren’t any simple answers to traffic problems and pollution in cities. But unless we do something now, there will be more traffic jams and temperatures will continue to rise, so the problems in our environment will get worse. The bikes might help people to lead a healthier life, too.”

1.What can we learn about the Velib scheme?

A. Its bikes have no baskets.

B. Its bikes are light and colorful.

C. It aims to make traveling easier.

D. It owns more stations than the subway.

2.If you use a Velib for 1 hour, you should pay _____.

A. €1 B. €30

C. €29 D. no money

3.Why do some people disagree with the Velib scheme?

A. The cost is rather high.

B. It’s hard to find a Velib station.

C. It’s not suitable for a long journey.

D. The distance between two Velib stations is long.

4.What’s the city spokesman’s attitude towards the bicycle scheme?

A. Doubtful. B. Positive. C. Uncaring. D. Worried.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文属于说明文，主要介绍了一种新的自行车骑行方案，鼓励人们为了环境和自己的身体健康，多骑自行车。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第二段的So there are a lot more Velib stations than the 298 subway stations可知自行车车站要比汽车车站多得多。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第二段的But it's only∈1 a day or∈29 a year!可知骑自行车一个小时，需要付费∈1，根据前文半小时内是免费的，超过半小时需要付费。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据文章第四段的These bicycles are only for short journeys这些自行车仅仅适用于短期旅途，可推断自行车不适用长途旅行。故选C。

4.推理判断题。通读文章的最后一段，并根据该段最后一句话The bikes might help people to lead a healthier life，too自行车也可能帮助人们过一种更健康的生活，可知spokesman对自行车的骑行的态度是积极的。故选B。