1 . Suspension bridges, with their high towers and elegant spans (跨度), are achievements of engineering. This list covers the longest main spans of suspension bridges around the world, not longest total lengths, as those main central spans are where the real engineering magic happens.
Osman Gazi Bridge, TürkiyeThe Osman Gazi Bridge is a splendid suspension bridge. The bridge was finished on July 1, 2016, and at the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in Türkiye and the fourth longest in the world by the length of its main central span, which measures 1,550 meters. It reduced travel time between Istanbul and Izmir from six hours to around five.
Great Belt Bridge, DenmarkThe Great Belt Bridge connects the Danish islands Zealandand Funen. The suspension bridge has a total length of 6,790 meters and a main central span of 1,624meters, making it the world’s sixth longest main span — for now. It enabled a direct driving route from mainland Europe to Sweden through Denmark.
1915 Çanakkale Bridge, TürkiyeThe bridge’s construction, which began in March 2017 and concluded in March 2022, was ambitious from the get-go. Spanning the historic Dardanelles Strait in northwestern Türkiye, the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge is a symbol of national pride. Officially the world’s longest suspension bridge, it stretches a remarkable 2,023 meters in its main central span.
Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge, ChinaOpened to traffic in October 2019, the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, is the longest suspension bridge in China and the third longest suspension in the world. It spans 1,700 meters across the famous Yangtze River. The bridge notably has the world’s longest double-level bridge span, accommodating various forms of transportation on its two levels.
1. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?| A．To praise the engineers of suspension bridges. |
| B．To introduce some suspension bridges fit for tourism. |
| C．To present the challenge of building suspension bridges. |
| D．To show suspension bridges with the longest main spans. |
| A．Osman Gazi Bridge. | B．Great Belt Bridge. |
| C．1915 Çanakkale Bridge. | D．Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge. |
| A．Its name’s origin. | B．Its double-level design. |
| C．Its splendid views. | D．Its construction difficulties. |
The Beijing Daxing International Airport is located 46 kilometers directly south of Tian’anmen Square in Beijing. It looks
The airport covers an area of about 150 square kilometers,
The airport is also
With the help of face check-in, self-service check-in, mobile phone query luggage location… in Beijing Daxing International Airport, you can feel the new travel experience
3 . Since the 1920s, a little-known policy called parking minimums has shaped many Americans’ life. In major cities, this meant that any type of building needed to reserve a certain number of parking spaces to accommodate anyone who might visit.
But as the country attempts to cut carbon emissions (排放), we should rethink what transportation and public space look like, especially in cities. Earlier this month, the city of Austin, Texas, became the latest community to undo parking minimums.
“If we want half of all trips to be in something other than a car, then we can’t, as a city, in my opinion, demand that every home or business have at least one parking space for each resident or customer,” said Zohaib Qadri, the Austin city council member who introduced the measure. Reducing dependency on cars was a huge push for the initiative in Austin. Qadri hopes the measure also will lead to a more sustainable city.
The undoing of this law could pave the way for cities to build denser (密集的) housing, increase public transit options, and reduce their carbon emissions, according to Donald Shoup, an engineer and professor. “It isn’t just the housing crisis and climate change; it’s a traffic jam; it’s local air pollution; it’s the high price of everything—except parking,” said Shoup.
Climate change and air pollution are particularly costly outcomes, with both estimated to cost the US billions of dollars every year. Parking spots, meanwhile, can run in the tens of thousands of dollars to construct, with one estimate putting that figure at almost $30, 000 per spot.
But undoing parking minimums does not mean that all parking will disappear overnight. It means that any off-street parking built will not need to meet any minimum standard.
“Austin is the same city that it was two weeks ago,” said Shoup. “It’s going to take quite a while for that city to really get the benefits of their parking space reforms. And so it just removes a roadblock and a barrier to other reforms.”
1. Why was parking minimums policy deserted in Austin?| A．To make room for green belts. | B．To help tackle climate problems. |
| C．To respond to residents’ demand. | D．To ease the heavy traffic. |
| A．Parking space provides convenience. |
| B．Cars are used for half of people’s trips. |
| C．Each home needs more than one parking space. |
| D．Reducing parking space can reduce dependency on cars. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Concerned. | C．Doubtful. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．The Harm of Climate Change | B．The Origin of Parking Minimums |
| C．The Reason for Too Many Emissions | D．A Possible Way to Fight Climate Change |
4 . Where did the idea of “white bikes” come from? In the 1960s, a group of cycling fans came up with an idea. They believed that it would be better for everybody if cars weren’t allowed in the city centre and only bicycles were. They were hopeful that this would help to save energy, reduce pollution and provide free public transport. The group painted hundreds of bicycles white and placed them in many areas around Amsterdam for people to use. Anyone was allowed to take them and use them for short journeys. People would leave the bike in the place where they finished their journey, so that someone else could then take it and use it from there. Soon after, however, problems came up and the “white bikes” all disappeared — thieves stole them all in a matter of weeks!
Why did the group come up with the idea of “white bikes”?
| A．To ensure traffic safety. | B．To reduce transport costs. |
| C．To encourage physical activity. | D．To promote green transport. |
Electric vehicles are currently a part of the car market, which
Keeping electric motors charged is cheaper than
Going electric is not only an eco-friendly goal
6 . As environmental concerns continue to increase, many people are left wondering how they can balance the need to travel with the need to protect the planet. One particular dilemma that has received significant attention is air travel.
Air travel is known to be one of the most carbon-intensive forms of travel. According to a report by the European Environment Agency, aviation is responsible for around 3% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years. In addition, aircraft contribute to other types of air pollution, such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
For environmentalists who advocate for reducing our carbon footprint, this brings up a difficult question: should we avoid flying altogether?
On one hand, it’s easy to see why environmentalists would want to keep away from air travel. By doing so, they could dramatically reduce their carbon footprint and set an example for others. Additionally, some argue that air travel perpetuates (使永久) a culture of over-consumption, which is contradictory lo environmental values.
However, there are also arguments in favor of air travel: For one, air travel enables people to experience different cultures, build relationships, and expand their knowledge in ways that might not be possible otherwise. It can also facilitate business trades and contribute to economic growth. Moreover, some experts believe that technological advancements could make air travel more sustainable in the future. For example, some airlines are experimenting with biofuels and electric planes, which could dramatically reduce the emissions associated with air travel.
So what’s the answer? Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide whether the benefits of air travel outweigh the environmental costs. However, there are steps that everyone can take to reduce their impact. For example, travellers can choose to fly less frequently, opt for direct flights, and offset (抵消) their emissions through programs like carbon offsetting. In the end, the key is to remain aware of the environmental impact of our choices and to make informed decisions based on our own values and priorities.
1. What’s the function of paragraph 2?| A．To present an argument. | B．To make a comparison. |
| C．To clarify the effect of air travel. | D．To describe various greenhouse gases. |
| A．It helps avoid economic problems. |
| B．It promotes globalization in some sense. |
| C．It will make biofuels popular in the near future. |
| D．It will accelerate the development of electric planes. |
| A．Approving. | B．Doubtful. | C．negative. | D．Objective. |
| A．Environmental concerns about air travel. |
| B．Whether we should travel by air or not. |
| C．How to reduce the pollution air travel causes. |
| D．The advantages and disadvantages of air travel. |
7 . A driverless train took its first trip around Hamburg, Germany in 2021 and may greatly improve transportation in the city. Acknowledged as the world’s first, the train created by Siemens Mobility and Deutsche Bahn (DB) officially went into service in December.
This is part of a large modernization project for the city’s S-Bahn urban rail. There were no changes to the tracks, as the autonomous(自动的) trains run on the same network as the current trains that have drivers operating them.
“The railroad has arrived in the digital future and Digital Rail Germany may become a reality. With automated rail operations, we can offer our passengers a significantly expanded and improved service,” said Dr. Richard Lutz, CEO of DB. “The new trains can transport up to 30 percent more passengers and operate on time, and they will be more energy-efficient. They are also encouraged for environmental protection reasons.”
The trains receive signals via radios. There will be drivers present when there are passengers on board but they will only supervise(监督) the run and the passengers. There are now plans to digitize Hamburg’s S-Bahn system entirely by the end of the decade and the government has already decided to put money into new trains and infrastructure (基础设施) improvements.
Autonomous transportation technology is being used in taxis by Waymo, which started as the Google self-driving project in 2009. Other companies that are working on driverless cars include Tesla,GM, Nissan, and Zoox. These cars have to find their ways on roads with the help of GPS technology but driving on a track is much simpler and safer. “The new technology has already been officially approved and, since it features open interfaces (接口), it can immediately be used by operators worldwide for all types of trains,” said Dr. Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens. Maybe it’s time for the new autonomous revolution.
1. What’s special about the new trains created by Siemens Mobility and DB?| A．They make long-distance trips much safer. |
| B．They use new driverless track systems. |
| C．They share tracks with traditional ones. |
| D．They still require human drivers’ operation. |
| A．The new trains greatly change the German lifestyle. |
| B．The digital railroad is spoken highly of by passengers. |
| C．The new trains benefit both people and the environment. |
| D．The digital railroad has promoted the development of tourism. |
| A．Worried. | B．Favorable. | C．Doubtful. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．The digital technology has a big potential market. |
| B．Germany’s design of trains needs to be further improved. |
| C．American companies see an increasing demand for self-driving taxis. |
| D．Operators have responsibility for ensuring fully autonomous driving. |
8 . With new advances in AI and autonomous driverless cars and trains, it makes sense that this mode of transportation could be expanded to buses, too. Now a full-sized autonomous bus service is up and running in Scotland. The buses began running in May, 2023, and are carrying passengers between Ferrytoll Park and the Edinburgh Park train and tram exchange. This 14-mile route is the first of its kind in the UK.
The autonomous buses are being operated by Stagecoach, the largest coach operator in the UK. While the buses are autonomous, fully self-driving vehicles are not currently permitted in the UK so a driver has to be onboard at all times.
The vehicles are required to have a safety driver to monitor the technology and a bus captain that will help passengers board and purchase tickets. The driver can take control in case of an emergency situation. And the vehicles use sensors to travel on specific routes and can reach the top speed of 50 miles per hour.
It took almost 10 years of research and development to reach this milestone, which is considered the first full-size use of autonomous buses in Europe. Scottish transport minister, Kevin Stewart, said in a press release, “It’s really exciting to see the innovative and ambitious CAVForth project take to the roads after all the hard work of the partner organizations involved in bringing this world first to Scotland.” This project was one of six to receive funding from a joint UK government and industries undertaking to speed up the commercialization of self-driving technology, reported The Guardian. The government hopes the autonomous buses will be faster and more reliable to use than conventional buses since 88% of road accidents are caused by drivers’ errors.
Other countries in Europe are exploring using driverless buses. There have already been short trials in several cities in Italy, Finland and France and there’re plans for driverless electric minibuses to be introduced in Switzerland, Germany and Norway. An autonomous bus may be just around the corner in a city near you.
1. A driver is needed in an autonomous bus to ________.| A．monitor the route | B．deal with emergencies |
| C．direct the bus | D．help passengers buy tickets |
| A．It is very easy to develop the driverless buses. | B．The autonomous buses won’t cause accidents. |
| C．Scotland becomes popular for the driverless buses. | D．The UK government values the autonomous buses. |
| A．Promising. | B．Hopeless. | C．Worrying. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．Autonomous Buses Are Widely Used in the UK | B．Self-driving Technology Has Been a Hit |
| C．Autonomous Buses Hit the Road in the UK | D．Conventional Buses Are Much Safer |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is road testing a new way to keep winter roads ice-free by spreading on them cheese brine, the salty liquid
Wisconsin, also called “America’s Dairyland”, is famous for its cheese. The state produced 2.8 billion pounds of cheese last year! As a result, there
Cheese brine has salt in it,
In addition to saving money, cheese brine could also be a more eco-friendly option. Many people suspect that all the rock salt used every winter
“China is expected put a hyperloop (超级高铁) into
Moring Post
As we know, China has already been a leader in high-speed rail technology. An assessment team,
China’s high-speed rail service,
