3 . While pedaling hard on a bike, do you feel like you are saving the planet? Or do you just feel out of breath? In fact, cycling is now considered one of the ultimate weapons humanity can use in the fight against climate change.
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in March supporting bicycles as a tool for dealing with climate change. The resolution calls on member states to “integrate the bicycle into public transportation, in urban and rural settings in developing and developed countries”, with all 193 members of the UN unanimously (一致同意地) adopting the resolution.
This decision has received a positive response from numerous groups in support of cycling and environmental awareness internationally. “It is an important step toward the recognition of cycling as an important mode of transport,” said the European Cyclists’ Federation.
The resolution from the UN comes at a time when climate change has returned to the center of global attention. On Feb 28, the UN published a new report assessing recent climate change trends. The report warns that the global average temperature will rise by 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900), with more than 40 percent of the world’s population being “highly vulnerable” to these temperature changes.
In May 2020, bike sales in Spain increased 22-fold (22倍) compared with 2019. In London, large parts of the city are being closed off to cars so that people can walk and cycle safely. Cities like Berlin and Montreal have also added new, wider bike lanes.
More importantly, the resolution focuses on bike-sharing services, which could be seen as recognition of China’s bike-sharing success, noted CGTN.
China has some of the largest bike-sharing systems in the world. The country has more than 360 cities with dockless (无桩的) bike-sharing systems, with nearly 20 million bicycles for an average 47 million trips each day, according to China’s Ministry of Transport. This transportation option that produces zero emissions reduces the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by 4.8 million tons every year, according to a 2020 report from the World Resources Institute.
1. According to the first paragraph, when cycling you may feel________ .
| A．relaxed | B．proud | C．anxious | D．nervous |
2. Why has the resolution received a positive response?
| A．Because it is an only tool to cope with climb changes. |
| B．Because it can be used in urban and rural settings in all countries. |
| C．Because it has been agreed with by all 193 members of the UN. |
| D．Because most people support cycling and environmental awareness. |
3. The purpose that the author mentioned China in the last paragraph is_____.
| A．To show China has succeeded in bike-sharing services. |
| B．To indicate China has the most bikes in the world. |
| C．To call for the world to learn from China. |
| D．To suggest that China has developed quickly. |
4. How many tons CO
₂ can be stopped into the atmosphere every two years?
| A．20 million tons. | B．9.6 million tons. |
| C．4.8 million tons. | D．24.8 million tons. |
