Question

    As the coronavirus (冠状病毒) outbreak continues, many Americans are fearful of using public transportation. They are also looking for ways to get exercise without going to a gym. So, it may not be surprising that the pandemic (疫情) has led to a major increase in bicycle sales.

In the US, bicycles at big stores have sold out. And small bicycle stores cannot keep up with demand for “family-style” bicycles: the low-cost, easy-to-ride models. “The bicycle industry is seeing its biggest sales increase since the oil crisis of the 1970s,” said Jay Townley, an industry expert. He compared the sale of bicycles to the rush to buy products like toilet paper at the start of the pandemic.

The rise in bicycle sales is not happening just in the US. Italy has created bicycle paths for the growing number of people who want to avoid public transportation. In London, city officials plan to ban cars from some central roads. Bike shop owners in Manila say demand is even stronger than what they see at Christmas time.

Of course, you can only buy a bicycle if you can find one. In the US, the shortages now mean it may take many months to get a bicycle. High demand is not the only reason for the shortage. Many bicycle factories were shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19. The increase in bicycle demand began in March as countries began to close down. In April, the sale of bicycles increased 200 percent in the US.

Joe Minutolo is the co-owner of Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop in Maine. He said he hoped the increased sales meant a change in the way people think about transportation. “People are having a chance to rethink things,” he said, “Maybe we’ll all learn something out of this, and something really good will happen.”

1.What causes the increase in bicycle sales?

A.Shortage of public transportation.

B.Outbreak of the coronavirus.

C.People’s desire to defeat disease.

D.People’s fear of natural disasters.

2.What change has the pandemic caused in Italy?

A.More bikes are sold than at Christmas time.

B.“Family-style” bicycles are in great need.

C.Cars are banned from some central roads.

D.New bicycle paths have been built.

3.What can we know from Paragraph 4?

A.It’s impossible to buy a bike.

B.Bike factories were closed in April.

C.High demand for bikes began in March.

D.It takes many months to produce a bike.

4.What is Joe Minutolo’s attitude towards the increased sales of bicycles?

A.Doubtful. B.Positive. C.Uncertain. D.Critical.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇新闻报道。文章主要讲述了疫情下全球自行车市场繁荣从而导致了自行车的供应出现了短缺的情况。

1.

细节理解题。根据第一段的“So, it may not be surprising that the pandemic (疫情) has led to a major increase in bicycle sales.”可知，疫情大流行导致自行车销量大幅度增长并不奇怪。即冠状病毒爆发导致了自行车销量的增加。故选B。

2.

细节理解题。根据第三段的“ Italy has created bicycle paths for the growing number of people who want to avoid public transportation. ”可知，意大利为越来越多希望避免使用公共交通工具的人们建造了自行车道。即疫情大流行使意大利政府为民众新建了自行车道。故选D。

3.

细节理解题。根据第四段的“The increase in bicycle demand began in March as countries began to close down. ”可知，随着国家开始实施封闭措施，民众对于自行车需求的增长开始于三月份。即民众对自行车的大量需求始于三月份。故选C。

4.

推理判断题。根据最后一段的“He said he hoped the increased sales meant a change in the way people think about transportation. “People are having a chance to rethink things,” he said, “Maybe we’ll all learn something out of this, and something really good will happen.””可知，Joe Minutolo说，他希望自行车销量的增加意味着人们对出行方式的看法发生了变化。他说：“人们有机会重新思考一些事情，也许我们都会从中学到一些东西，并且某些真正好的事情将会发生。由此可知，Joe Minutolo对自行车销量增加持肯定的态度。故选B。