【推荐2】Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.

Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.

“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.       

“How do you mean?” I asked.

“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”

Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords (口号), and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving.”

On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”

He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.

1. What can we know about Sydney’s harbor?

A．It is a culturally respected area.	B．It used to be a striking architecture.
C．It’s crucial to Sydney’s development.	D．It was a famous tourist attraction in 1960.

2. What’s Andrew Reynolds’s attitude to catamarans replacing old ferries?

A．Anxious.

B．Negative.

C．Doubtful.

D．Supportive.

3. What does the underlined word “resolving” in paragraph 6 mean?

A．Controlling.

B．Discovering.

C．Solving.

D．Distinguishing.

4. What can we infer from Anthony’s statement?

A．A city being young and old is more attractive.

B．A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic.

C．Modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance.

D．Italians bring Australians more cultures than Chinese.

【推荐3】In Denmark, bicycling is one of the primary forms of transportation. In sunshine, rain and snow, you will see cyclists on their way to work, to the grocery store, or to social events. The bike is a Dane’s best friend. Danish cycling culture is as old as the bicycle itself. Bikes were first introduced to the country in the 1880s, and during the 1920s and 1930s, the bicycle became a widespread symbol of equality and freedom. People of all social classes began biking side by side —in the cities on their way to work and in the countryside on their days off.

The increased prosperity of the late 1950s saw some. Danes replacing bikes with motorcycles and automobiles. Just like their colleagues around the world, Danish urban planners believed the future belonged to cars, trucks, and ever-wider highways. In the early 1970s, however, the Mideast oil crisis terminated that development. “Car Free Sundays” were introduced in Copenhagen, and protests demanding Copenhagen to become car-tree took place. Over time, concerns about air pollution, climate change, and the need for people to get enough exercise have helped bicycles make a big comeback. Denmark’s heavy taxes on petrol and automobiles are a factor, too.

Today, cycling is an inseparable part of Danish culture. Newcomers who do not know how to cycle are encouraged to learn as soon as they arrive. Danish children usually learn to bike before they begin school at the age of six — and often much earlier. In school, children learn about traffic rules, road safety, and the importance of wearing a helmet as well as good cycling habits. Another alternative for families with children is the cargo bike-a sort of oversized tricycle with a large wooden box on the front. It’s estimated that a quarter of all Copenhagen families with two or more children own one of these cargo bikes for transporting kids, groceries, and other necessities. Danish cargo bikes have also won design awards and become a Danish export success.

Commuting by bike is the fastest, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to get around the cities of Denmark. And the numbers speak for themselves: Residents who cycle in Copenhagen request 1.1 million fewer sick days. Cyclists reduce CO₂ emissions by 20,000 tonnes a year on average.

1. What can we learn about bicycles in Denmark from paragraph 1?

A．Bicycling was the only form of transportation.

B．Danish cycling culture dates back to the 18th century.

C．Bicycles had symbolic significance in the early 20th century.

D．Bicycles revolutionized transportation

2. What does the underlined word “terminated” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Facilitated.	B．Permitted.
C．Ended.	D．Postponed.

3. Why does the author mention the data in the last paragraph?

A．To demonstrate the commitment to cycling.	B．To compare cycling with driving.
C．To highlight the popularity of cycling.	D．To show the benefits of cycling.

4. What’s the best title of this passage?

A．Denmark: A Nation of Cyclists

B．Denmark: A Model of Sustainable Living

C．The Evolution of Transportation in Denmark

D．The Impact of Cargo Bikes on Danish Mobility