In 1974, the price of petrol in Britain rose by 120 percent; cars became expensive to run and train and bus fares increased. People who hadn't used a bicycle since they were children decided that they would buy bicycles.They discovered that cycling could be enjoyable and cheap. Bicycle sales had been falling for many years but suddenly everything changed.In 1975, British people spent more than one million on bicycles. Bicycle traffic increased by 11 percent. Bicycle fans compare the cost of running a car with the cost of running a bicycle.They also say bicycle-riding is a good form of exercise.In towns bicycles can often be faster than cars or buses.The bicyclists can ride through traffic jams and at the end of his journey he doesn't have to look for a parking space.Cycling through the countryside is a real pleasure; the cyclist has time to see things that the motorist, driving at over 100 kilometers an hour, never sees. But in the cities, cycling can be dangerous.You need good concentration and strong nerves, especially when a truck or a bus is trying to pass you.Since cycling became popular again, there has been an increase in the number of accidents. Cyclists say the answer to the problem is to separate bicycles from other traffic.Stevenage, a new town near London, has a system of "bikeways", where only bicycles are allowed to travel.However, in most towns, cyclists say, the needs of the bicycle riders are overlooked.Cyclists have formed into "action groups" in many towns in Britain.They want to persuade local councils-who are in charge of the roads and traffic in their areas-to make sure there are safe facilities for cyclists.Or, they say, interest in cycling will die. Today the Britain want to ride bikes because _ . A) trains and buses are too crowded B) the cost of riding bikes is much cheaper than that of taking trains or buses C) there are a lot of thieves on the trains or in the buses D) the traffic accidents easily happen while people go to work by train or by bus
B
New Movies You Need to Know Ahout This Month Sherpa Type; Documentary Release Date: Friday, December 18, 2015 Duration: 96 mins "Unforgettable"..."unbelievably absorbing".With praise like that, this doc looks like acan't-miss. Director Jennifer Peedom travelled to Nepal in 2014 to film the climbing season fromthe point of view of the local peopleSherpas. During the climbing, a disaster struck killing 16 Sunset Song Type: Drama Release Date: Friday, December 4, 2015 Duration; 135 mins The classic 1932 Srnttish romantic novel is adapted into a beautiful film by Director Terence Davies. In only her second film role, London supermodel Agyness Deyn proves her talent foracting as the daughter of a farming family who must live on all by herself when both her parentsare killed. When Harry Met Sally Type: Comedy Release Date: Friday, December 11,2015 Duration; 95 mins The perfectand we do mean perfectromantic comedy returns. _ The script, written by the much missed writer and director Nora Ephron, who died in 2012, is a joy. Snoopy and Charlie Brown:The Peanuts Movie Type: _ Release Date: Monday, December 21, 2015 Duration: 93 mins The most loveable character of them all, Charlie Brown, is back on the big screen with astory written by Craig Schulz. His father Charles Schulz created the famous cartoon characterSnoopy in the 1950s. We really look forward to this hit, but is the 3D really necessary? Please click here for more information. (A) What is the writer's attitude towards the 3D effect of The Peanuts Movie? A) Active. B) Unsure. C) Unknown. D) Definite.
B
Q: Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were all started before the American Revolution made the thirteen colonies into states. In the early years, these schools were much alike. Only young men attended colleges. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students graduated, most of them became ministers or teachers. In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard's law school. In 1852, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German, as well as Latin and Greek. Soon it began teaching American history. As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects that interested them. Special colleges for women were started. New state universities began to teach such subjects as farming, engineering and business. Today, there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are divided into smaller schools that deal with special fields of learning. There is so much to learn that one kind of school cannot offer it all. As knowledge increased, colleges began to teach _ . A) everything that is known B) many new subjects C) French and German D) farming
A: B
Texting walkers aren't just an annoyance to other walkers, Australian researchers armed with movie special-effects technology have determined scientifically that they're threats to themselves. Using motion-capture technology similar to that used for films, researchers concluded that texting while walking not only affects balance but also the ability to walk in straight line. "Some people like checking emails while walking to work in the morning" said the study co-author Hoorn, "but they may not know it has a serious effect on the safety of themselves". Other facts have also proved this. A tourist from Taiwan walked off a pier near Melbourne last month while checking Facebook, bringing a sudden and icy end to a penguin-watching visit. Another person who was too _ in his phone to notice dangers walked straight into the fountain in front of a shopping mall. The Australian study involved 27 volunteers, a third of whom admitted having knocked into objects while texting. They were asked to walk 8.5 meters three times--once without phones, once while reading text and once while writing text, when eight cameras recorded their actions. They found the volunteers using the phone walked slower, and, more seriously, they locked their arms and elbows in like "robots", which forced their heads to move more, throwing themselves off balance. "In a pedestrian environment, inability to maintain a straight path would be likely to increase potential for traffic accidents", said Mr. Hoorn. "The best thing to do is to step aside and stop, or keep off the phone." Authorities world-wide have taken note. Signs on Hong Kong's subway system advise passengers in three languages to keep their eyes off their phones. Police and transport authorities have highlighted the danger in Singapore, where the Straits Times newspaper recently declared cellphone-distracted road crossing as "bad habit No. 2" contributing to the rising number of road deaths. Some U.S. states, including New York and Arkansas, are considering bans on what they're calling... About the Australian study, we know that _ . A) the volunteers using phones while walking moved normally B) ten volunteers admitted having bumped into things while texting C) the volunteers were divided into three groups during the study D) texting walkers are exposed to greater possibility of traffic accidents
D