阅读理解。
COPENHAGEN-The world is gathered in Copenhagen for the U.N. climate summit, but Denmark's
bicycle-friendly capital has also given its name to a movement of cities trying to find a kinder way to
commute (往返上下班).
Nearly 40 percent of Copenhagen's population cycle to work or school on ubiquitous (无处不在的)
paved cycle paths. Many residents take to their bikes year-round, braving rain and snow through the
winter in a city where the bicycles outnumber the people.
Amsterdam and Beijing too are known for their bicycles, but the Danish capital is where urban planners
from around the world have been looking for ways to get their people out of cars and up onto bikes, an
effort known as Copenhagenisation.
Klaus Bondam, Copenhagen's technical and environmental chief, calls himself a "mega cyclist" and
says the bike's popularity stems partly from high taxes on cars which meant working-class Danes could
not afford to drive in the 1930s and 40s. "Today you'll meet everybody on the bicycle lanes-women and
men, rich and poor, old and young," Bondam said.
The local government has during the last three years invested more than 250 million crowns ($49.42
million) in bicycle lanes and to make the traffic safer for bicyclists. Today around a third of the population
drive cars to work or study, another third take public transport, while 37 percent cycle-a figure the city
aims to boost to 50 percent by 2015.
There are many benefits when citizens choose bicycles over cars: pollution and noise decline, public
health improves, and more people on bikes or walking creates a sense of safety in the city. Fewer parked
cars leaves more space for playgrounds, parks, shopping areas and other useful public places.
1. According to the first paragraph, Copenhagen is better known as ______. [ ]
A. a city without cars
B. a bicycle-friendly city
C. Denmark's capital
D. the U.N. climate summit
2. We can learn from the second and the third paragraph, ______. [ ]
A. there is no path for cars during rainy and snowy days
B. citizens are limited to have only one bike for each person
C. two-thirds of people in Copenhagen cycle to work or school
D. city planners try their best to encourage more citizens to ride bikes
3. Bikes are popular in Copenhagen partly because ______. [ ]
A. the citizens are unable to afford to buy a car
B. the rich tend to keep fit by cycling to work
C. young people regard cycling a fashion to follow
D. high taxes were paid for cars in the 1930s and 40s
4. Which of the following is NOT the benefit of cycling? [ ]
A. Saving time on the road.
B. Declining pollution and noise.
C. Improving public health.
D. Creating safety in the city.
