2 . In February, before the outbreak of Covid-19, I sold my old-style car. I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal: I live in London within walking distance of three subway stations and countless bus stops. I own a bike; there are taxis and supermarket delivery services, and I joined a car-share program, all of which can save me a big sum of money to fund my future green transport.
Then the lockdown(封锁) happened and being car-free suddenly felt like a big deal. I couldn’t get a supermarket delivery. I couldn’t take my broken garden chairs to the recycling centre. And a few days into lockdown, somebody stole my bike!
When the lockdown stopped, it just got worse. I was eager to go to the countryside or beach, but taking public transport or taxi felt like too much of a risk. The car share program turned out to be unbelievably difficult to deal with—every area has its own rules about where you can and can’t park, and taking car-share vehicle(车辆) beyond the city is impossible. And renting car is clearly expensive and time-consuming.
So last month I did a U-turn. I felt guilty but also a sense of satisfaction: I had tried, but the pandemic(疫情) beat me. Most of all, I got freedom, sitting behind the wheel(方向盘) and getting to wherever I want. Don’t get me wrong. I still expect to travel without creating greenhouse gases and pollution. But life in a pandemic has drawn attention to some of the disadvantages of public transport, such as time and money wasted on the road to offices and the risk of Covid-19. It has also stressed our need to review our relationship with the environment. Problems with public transport have meant that the ownership and use of a car has become quite a useful thing.
1. Why did the author sell his car in the first paragraph?
| A．His car was too old to drive. |
| B．He tried to lead a greener life. |
| C．He felt a car was no longer useful. |
| D．He wanted to get a big sum of money. |
2. What did the author probably mean by “I did a U-turn” in paragraph 4?
| A．I bought a new car. |
| B．I made a tough decision. |
| C．I broke the lockdown rules. |
| D．I chose another path to life. |
3. What’s the author’s attitude toward driving a car in the last paragraph?
| A．doubtful | B．concerned |
| C．positive | D．uncertain |
4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?
| A．A greener choice in life |
| B．Back behind the wheel |
| C．How to survive the lockdown |
| D．The disadvantages of public transport |
