Patrick and Rachel Hugens have biked around the world. The Hugenses, who live in Boise when not on their bikes, are 25 months into their latest round-the-world adventure, scheduled to end in March. They've visited 36 countries on this tour, touching Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. “Traveling by bike is the greatest freedom," Rachel said via email. “You can see people's daily lives and can communicate with them.”
Rachel warns, “Cycle touring can become addictive.” Bike tourism is on the rise in the United States and around the world, according to the Adventure Cycling Association. The U. S. Bicycle Route System has grown 66 percent in the past two years and now has a presence in 24 states, including Idaho, and the District of Columbia.
Dennis Swift，secretary of the Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association, rode across the U.S. last year- from Seattle to Salem, Mass. Six people started the tour and three finished, riding 52 out of 56 days. They averaged about 60 miles per riding day. Swift also rode through the Basque Country with a group of Boise cyclists last year. He's planning to participate in a Virginia bike tour this year. “When you get older, your health is most important,” he said. “My mom had Alzheimer's disease. They say what's good for health is good for the brain, so riding is one thing to be first in my life.”
This is the third time that the couple have quit their jobs to tour. Rachel is a nurse; Patrick is an architect. Both regained their former jobs when they returned home in 2000 and 2007. They're uncertain what will happen this time. They've given themselves a chance to save extra money by going to work by bike and avoiding some bills that are basic for most ( cell phones, cable TV).“Traveling changes your view of money and what it can do for you,” Rachel said. “We've met some cyclists traveling long term. They have many reasons to spend wisely.”
“The fellow cyclists we meet mostly come from Britain, Germany, Spain, Holland, Australia or New Zealand," Rachel said, “It is so nice to see that people all over the world are friendly and welcoming.”
1. How many countries have the Hugenses visited on their latest tour? (不多于2个单词)2. Why does Dennis Swift ride bikes? (不多于2个单词)
3. How do the Hugenses save extra money for their bike tours? (不多于10个单词)
4. What is the passage mainly about? (不多于3个单词)
2 . Each year there is an increasing number of cars on roads and streets as millions of new cars and trucks are produced. One out of every six Americans works at putting together the parts of cars, driving trucks, building roads or filling cars and trucks with gas. Americans won’t live without cars!
Most Americans would find it hard to think what life would look like without cars. However, some have realized the serious problems of the air pollution that is caused by the car.
The polluted air becomes poisonous and dangerous to health.
One way to get rid of the polluted air is to build a car that does not pollute. That’s what several of the large car factories have been trying to do. But to build a clean car is easier said than done. Progress in this field has been slow.
Another way is to take the place of the car engine by something else. Inventors are now working on steam cars as well as electric cars. Many makers believe that it will take years to develop a practical model that pleases man.
To prevent the world from being polluted by cars, we’ll have to make some changes in the way many of us live. Americans, for example, have to cut down on the number of their total cars. They are encouraged to travel and go to work by bicycle. Bicycling is thought to help keep the air clean.
But this change does not come easily. A large number of workers may find themselves without jobs if a car factory closes down. Thus the problem of air pollution would become less important than that of unemployment.
Although cars have led us to a better life, they have also brought us new problems.
1. How many ways to get rid of air pollution are suggested in this article by the writer?| A．Four. | B．Three. |
| C．Two. | D．One. |
| A．to have no work to do | B．to keep the air clean |
| C．to get a better life | D．to go to work by bike |
| A．Bicycling is the only way out. |
| B．The number of cars must be cut down. |
| C．Cars bring us nothing but serious problems. |
| D．Cars bring us not only a better life but serious problems. |
| A．Americans have to cut down on the number of their total cars. |
| B．People are encouraged to travel and go to work by bicycle. |
| C．The number of cars on the roads should be limited every day. |
| D．People should build more roads and fill cars and trucks with gas. |
3 . Electric Cars
Where do cars get their energy from? For most cars, the answer is petrol. But some cars use electricity. These cars have special motors that get their power from large batteries.
Most people tend to think of electric cars as a new invention, but they have been around for a long time. They were popular when the technology for petrol engines was not very advanced. Recently, electric cars have again become popular because people want cars that pollute less.
Electric cars are better than petrol cars in several ways. The biggest benefit is reduced pollution. In areas where there is a high percentage of electric cars, there is less pollution. But it is important to understand that electric cars still cause pollution. Remember that the electricity to power electric cars has to come from somewhere, which is most likely a power station. Unless these power stations run on solar or wind energy, they are most likely burning coal and oil to make electricity. The second benefit of electric cars is a reduction in the dependence on foreign oil.
There are several countries, including the United States, which don't want to rely on oil coming from other countries to power their transportation systems. They want the power to come from within their country, and since electric cars can run on electricity from coal or nuclear power stations, there is less of a need to import oil.
Despite the benefits of electric cars, there are some problems with them as well. One disadvantage is that electric cars are more expensive than petrol cars. This is mostly due to the high cost of the batteries these cars need. Electric cars run on batteries, just like a mobile phone does. But unlike a mobile phone, you cannot charge your electric car's battery by plugging it into a wall. They need to be charged in special places. Now, there is a lack of places where people can charge the batteries. Another problem is that electric cars cannot travel as far as petrol cars. Some people are afraid that the battery will run out of electricity (and the car will stop) before they reach their destination.
Despite these problems, many people, including automobile industry experts, believe that the percentage of electric cars will increase in the future.
1. What's the main idea of Paragraph 3?| A．Electric cars make some countries independent. |
| B．Electric cars cause no pollution to the environment. |
| C．Electric cars have some advantages over petrol cars. |
| D．Electric cars need electricity from solar or wind energy. |
| A．Electric cars need special motors to get power. |
| B．Petrol cars are cheaper than electric cars. |
| C．Petrol cars can travel farther than electric cars. |
| D．Electric cars need special places to get charged. |
| A．electric cars will take the place of petrol cars |
| B．no one holds hope for electric cars at present |
| C．electric cars waste more energy than before |
| D．more and more people will use electric cars |
| A．argue and prove | B．inform and explain |
| C．attract and discuss | D．advertise and conclude |
4 . Sydney Trains is one of the most economical, reliable and convenient ways to travel throughout Sydney and its surrounds.
Our network, the NSW Trains Intercity, covers suburban Sydney and extends to the Hunter, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and South Coast regions.
The network is made up of several color-coded lines. Trains from different lines can share the same platform, so check display screen and listen to announcements.
Ticket prices are generally based on the distance traveled. You can visit transportnsw. Info for details.
Getting to the City.
In Sydney, if you’re near a train station, you’re on your way to the city. Every rail line leads directly or indirectly to the City Circle. It’s the loop around the central business district of Sydney. Most City stations are underground so look out for the sign on street level.
Automatic ticket gates
Large stations have automatic gates for entry to, and exit from, the station. If you have an Opal card or a ticket which has a magnetic stripe you must use the automatic gates. You may use the wide gate for wheelchair, pram or luggage access. Station staff will assist you.
Night Ride buses
Most trains do not operate between midnight and 4:00 a.m. For your convenience a special Night Ride bus service is available between these hours on most Sydney suburban lines.
Track work
In order for the tracks to the maintained, we sometimes have to replace train with buses, particularly at weekends, please check the track work section for the latest service alterations on your line.
1. To get more information about ticket prices, travelers had better________.| A．go to the City Circle |
| B．visit a website |
| C．check display screen |
| D．listen to announcements |
| A．A free Opal card. |
| B．Earlier entry to the station. |
| C．Help from station workers. |
| D．A ticket with a magnetic stripe. |
| A．At midnight. |
| B．On Sunday afternoon. |
| C．Between midnight and 4:00 a.m. |
| D．At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. |
5 . Singapore's public transport system is one of the best in the world, so you should have no problem finding your way around like a local. There are three main forms of public transport that you would find in any other major city－trains, buses and taxis.
TRAINS
Trains run from 6:00 am to midnight. Single trip tickets start at 80 cents. If you buy an EZ-Link card for $15, you can ride the trains and buses as you like. If you need more information, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.
BUSES
There are several bus services in Singapore and fares start at 80 cents. Be sure to always ask the driver the cost of your ticket as he cannot give change. If you need help, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.
TAXIS
There are three main taxi companies－City Cab (6552 2222), Comfort (6552 1111) and Tibs (6552 8888). Booking can also be easy by calling the numbers listed above.
RENTAL CARS
Driving in Singapore is a pleasure and if you like to travel at your own pace, renting a car is a good choice. Renting takes away the hassle of getting to places around Singapore. Just sit back and enjoy the city. It also means you'll get to see a lot more that a train or a bus won't let you see.
For car rental, call Avis on +65 6737 1668.
1. By an EZ-Link card, you can take ______.
| A．both buses and trains | B．only trains |
| C．both buses and taxis | D．only rental cars |
| A．麻烦 | B．乐趣 |
| C．景点 | D．费用 |
| A．A local has no trouble finding his way around. |
| B．It's much cheaper to go around by bus than by train. |
| C．You can see a lot more in Singapore only by renting a car. |
| D．It's very convenient for visitors to travel in Singapore. |
Developed for the government by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the intelligent bicycle, runs on electricity．A commercial-available bicycle is expected to be on the market in the next two years and should sell for between 1, 700 to 3, 200 euros per bicycle．
The devices on the bike are linked through an onboard computer with a vibrating (震动的) warning system fitted in the bicycle's saddle and handlebars to warn cyclists of the coming danger.
The saddle vibrates when other cyclists approach from behind, while, the handlebars do the same when barriers appear ahead．
“Accidents often happen when cyclists look behind them or get a fright when they are passed at high speed,” said Maurice Kwakkernaat, one of TNO's research scientists involved in the project. “The onboard system technology has already been at work in the car industry,” he said.
“More and more elderly people are using a bicycle, not only for short distances, but also for longer distances, ”Dutch Environment and Infrastructure Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen told AFP. “This type of bicycle is truly needed in the Netherlands because it will help us bring down the number of elderly people who are injured every year and allow them to continue to enjoy cycling, ”she said．
In the Netherlands, bicycles outnumber the population of 17 million by at least one million and there are some 25,000 km of bicycle path in the country. Those statistics are set to grow as more and more people take to two-wheeled transport, leading to an increased risk of injury.
Last year, 184 cyclists died in the country, of which 124, or 67%, were older than 65, according to the Central Statistics Office. The year before, 200 cyclists died, the majority of victims also being elderly.
The current model weighs 25 kilograms but researchers are working on making the onboard systems smaller.
1. The intelligent bicycle is aimed to ________．
| A．protect the environment |
| B．help reduce traffic pressure |
| C．popularize the use of bicycles |
| D．improve safety for elderly cyclists |
| A．The handlebars. |
| B．The wheels. |
| C．The saddle. |
| D．The onboard computer. |
| A．the elderly ride bicycles wherever they go |
| B．the accident rate among elderly cyclists is high |
| C．the number of elderly cyclists is decreasing |
| D．the elderly are planning to give up cycling |
| A．A Test Bicycle |
| B．Elderly Cyclists |
| C．A Smart Bicycle |
| D．A Bicycle-mad Country |
A SydneyPass gives you unlimited and flexible travel on the Explorer Buses: the ‘red’ Sydney Explorer shows you around our exciting city sights while the ‘blue’ Bondi Explorer visits Sydney Harbour bays and famous beaches. Take to the water on one of three magnificent daily harbor cruises (游船). You can also travel free on regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries or CityRail services (limited area), so you can go to every corner of this beautiful city.
Imagine browsing at Darling Harbour, tasting the famous seafood at Watsons Bay or enjoying the city lights on an evening ferry cruise. The possibilities and plans are endless with a SydneyPass. Wherever you decide to go, remember that bookings are not required on any of our services so tickets are treated on a first in, first seated basis.
SydneyPasses are available for 3, 5 or 7 days for use over a 7-calendar-day period. With a 3 or 5-day pass you choose on which days out of the 7 you want to use it. All SydneyPasses include a free Airport Express inward trip before starting your 3, 5 or 7 days, and the return trip is valid for 2 months from the first day your ticket was used.
SydneyPass Fares
| Adult | Child* | Family** | |
| 3-day ticket | $90 | $45 | $225 |
| 5-day ticket | $120 | $60 | $300 |
| 7-day ticket | $140 | $70 | $350 |
**A family is defined as 2 adults and any number of children from 4 to under 16 years of age from the same family.
1. A SydneyPass doesn’t offer unlimited rides on ________.
| A．the Explorer Buses | B．the harbor cruises |
| C．regular Sydney Buses | D．CityRail services |
| A．save fares from and to the airport |
| B．take the Sydney Explorer to beaches |
| C．enjoy the famous seafood for free |
| D．reserve seats easily in a restaurant |
| A．$225. | B．$300. | C．$360. | D．$420. |
