1 . Lanrick Jr. Bennett holds a unique title in Toronto: bicycle mayor. He led a Halloween Kidical Mass ride recently, which I attended with my daughter, son-in-law, their two dogs, and my granddaughter. He is working towards making cycling mainstream and safe for all residents in the city. I did not know that Toronto had a bicycle mayor; I surely would have voted for him in an election.
The bicycle mayor program is run by BYCS, an Amsterdam-based global NGO that believes “bicycles transform cities and cities transform the world”. Standing in the strange but wonderful Bentway, a park built under an elevated expressway, Bennett says, “BYCS has 150 bicycle mayors across the world. And through a few friends putting in some really nice letters of encouragement, BYCS offered me a two-year term as an advocate here in the city of Toronto, becoming the first bicycle mayor of the city.”
Bennett says he is boosting the work being done to make cycling more mainstream in Toronto. “I am giving a bit more exposure to the great work that has allowed me to be able to ride a bike throughout the city. It’s getting better, we’re seeing more infrastructure (基础设施), and we’re seeing more people not wanting to depend on cars as their primary piece. I’m happy that I have been part of a fantastic group thus far,” says Bennett.
Since there’s still a lot of work to do, Lanrick Jr. Bennett has been working hard to improve cycling conditions in Toronto, and his efforts have been recognized by the community. He has been advocating for more bike lanes (车道), better lighting, and other safety measures to make cycling a practical option for commuters (通勤者). It’s great to see people like Lanrick.
Jr. Bennett working towards making cycling safe and accessible for all residents.
1. What can we say about the author?| A．She is fond of varieties of outdoor activities. |
| B．She is supportive of efforts to promote cycling. |
| C．She is planning to participate in the election for mayor. |
| D．She is trying to make cycling the mainstream of the city. |
| A．The way Bennett got his position. | B．Transformation of Toronto city. |
| C．Bennett’s ambition to change the world. | D．Mayor’s deeds throughout the world. |
| A．Upset. | B．Challenged. | C．Curious. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．It is the best in the world due to the presence of BYCS. |
| B．It has already well-developed and does not require improvement. |
| C．It is improving, but further work and development are still needed. |
| D．It is virtually non-existent, making Bennett’s job extremely important. |
2 . I used to be really frustrated when I got “trapped” in the train station in New York. When this happened, I spent time “observing” people and found that New York City trains formed “an underground NYC”.
I met with all kinds of people there. Sitting in trains coming from suburban boroughs (区) like Queens and Brooklyn, I saw babysitters and housekeepers, in white or pink uniforms, carrying a shopping bag with lunch and another prettier bag for their makeup. Some gentlemen in suits got squeezed (挤) in between ladies, reading the New York Times, holding Starbucks coffees and a piece of napkin.
The passengers’ skin color would get lighter as the train went from suburban areas to uptown NYC. Clothes brands changed from “Nike” and “Babyphat” to “Armani” and “Prada”.
Getting lost is not embarrassing at all. Even New Yorkers who have lived in the city for 20 years need to check out the map before going to a new place by train. People from other states are just as confused as foreigners when they are “thrown” underground.
It was funny when people carrying big backpacks and holding maps, asked me where they could transfer while I was trying to find an exit. I often said, “I’m sorry. I am trying to find my way out, too.” I felt really bad about not being able to help them. To my surprise, the two guys with blue eyes didn’t look disappointed at all. They laughed and told me, “Oh, we are wondering if there’s really an exit because we have been walking around here for 10 minutes and we still don’t know where to transfer to the uptown train!”
NYC trains are just like doors rotating (旋转) on and on. If I hadn’t got lost several times, I might not have had the chance to stop and see what was happening outside my block.
1. How did the author describe the gentlemen he saw in the trains?| A．They were dressed in white uniforms. |
| B．They took a shopping bag with lunch. |
| C．They made way for women passengers. |
| D．They carried coffees and read a newspaper. |
| A．The train went from uptown NYC to a suburb. |
| B．The train went from a suburb to uptown NYC. |
| C．The train went from uptown NYC to downtown NYC. |
| D．The train went from downtown NYC to uptown NYC. |
| A．It is normal for people not to find their way in the train stations. |
| B．New Yorkers are quite familiar with the way in the train stations. |
| C．People from other states are often ignored by New Yorkers in the train stations. |
| D．People from other states are more confused than foreigners in the train stations. |
| A．They wanted to know how to get out of the station. |
| B．They lost something very important in the train station. |
| C．They didn’t know where to buy train tickets in the station. |
| D．They had no idea how to change trains to their destination. |
| A．By bike. | B．By bus. | C．By car. |
1. Where does the woman want to go?
| A．A park. | B．A museum. | C．A parking lot. |
| A．20 minutes. | B．25minutes. | C．30 minutes. |
| A．Lead the man to her car. |
| B．Follow the man’s advice. |
| C．Reserve a train ticket. |
1. Where does the conversation take place?
| A．In a travel agency. | B．In a bar. | C．In a hotel. |
| A．50 minutes. | B．25 minutes. | C．15 minutes. |
| A．Pay the bill. | B．Take a bus. | C．Receive the receipt. |
| A．Have a drink. | B．Write a thank-you note. | C．Sign the guest book. |
1. What is the woman probably?
| A．A travel agent. | B．A hotel receptionist. | C．A flight attendant. |
| A．By subway. | B．By train. | C．By cab. |
| A．Have a second thought. | B．Ring the woman. | C．Book а flight. |
| A．At a bus stop. | B．At home. | C．At the airport. |
8 . Remember solar roadways, where solar panels were embedded(嵌入) in roads? The idea of the solar roadway seems attractive because the solar resource is everywhere, and someday there will be a lot of electric cars that will need charging. But for me, the idea has little to recommend it. There is another kind of road — the railway — that might be a much better place for solar panels. And that’s what is happening in Germany, where the British company Bankset Energy is installing solar panels between the rails.
As estimated, 100 kilowatts of electricity can be generated per kilometer of railway line. Since the rail network in Germany is over 60,000 kilometers long, the power that can be generated is comparable to the output of five nuclear power plants in total.
But, why is putting solar panels is a railway better than a roadway? Trains generally stay on the rails, so there is no need to have solar panels designed to take any serious load. Although there is a serious amount of vibration, the panels wouldn’t shake apart. Railways usually own their rights of way and restrict access, so they have much better control. They also own the electrical infrastructure, which is right overhead and can directly use the electricity. German railways have been trying to justify hydrogen-powered trains because it was too expensive to electrify many of their lines. Turning their rail beds into power sources might change the economics.
On the other hand, rail rights of way are generally a lot wider than the tracks; it might make more sense to fix the panels next to the tracks, pointing in the right direction instead of lying flat. German Rail is already a huge consumer of solar power from more conventional installations.
1. What does the author think of solar roadways?| A．He thinks they are attractive. |
| B．He shows disapproval of them. |
| C．He believes they are underused |
| D．He figures they are energy-saving. |
| A．The solar railway has won wide recognition. |
| B．Germany is leading the world in rail transportation. |
| C．Fixing solar panels on railways in better than on roadways |
| D．The solar railway has great potential for generating electricity |
| A．The length of the railway. |
| B．The lower installation costs. |
| C．The safety of the solar panels. |
| D．The wider use of the electricity. |
| A．German roadways start to go downhill. |
| B．Solar railways are coming down the line. |
| C．German railway are facing a great challenge. |
| D．Solar energy becomes a cost-competitive alternative |
| A．He used to have a car. | B．He likes driving very much. | C．He lives far from the subway. |
| A．In a restaurant. | B．On a plane. | C．In a cafe. |
