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 bicyclist can ride through traffic jams and at the end of his journey he doesn't have to look for a parking space. Cycling through tile countryside is a real pleasure； the cyclist has time to see things that the motorist, driving at over 100 kilometres 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 "cycleways", where only bicycles are allowed to travel. However, in most towns, say cyclists, the needs of the bicycle riders are overlooked. Cylists 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.
Words: 300
Total Reading Time:___________
Words per minute:___________
Notes:concentration 专心，council 理事会
I. True or False:
1. People who hadn't used a bicycle decided to buy bicycles.
2. It took British people over one million to buy bicycles.
3. Cycling in the cities can be as dangerous as that in the countryside.
II. Answer the Questions:
4. Why did bicycle traffic increase in 1975 in Britain?
_________________________________________________
5. What have the cyclists formed?
_________________________________________________
III. Multiple Choice:
6. The main reason why the English want to ride bikes today is that ____________ .
A. they can enjoy a lot of things during their cycling
B. the cost of riding a bike is much lower than that of taking a bus or a train
C. they can easily drive through traffic jams
D. riding a bike is a good form of exercise
7. Cycling in towns can be enjoyable only when ____________ .
A. more and more people in Britain like to ride bikes
B. the old like to take buses or trains while the young like to ride bikes
C. more and more young people are going to buy motor bikes
D. safe facilities for cyclists are provided
8. Cycling has a lot of strong points, but ____________ .
A. too many bikes will make the streets crowded
B. traffic accidents easily happen while people ride bikes in the cities
C. there are no parking places for too many bikes in the cities
D. a lot of bus-drivers and trainmen will be out of work because of the increase of the number of people who ride bikes
% Comprehension: ____________
参考答案：
1．F。这些买车人童年时曾骑过自行车。
2．T。
3．F。在城里骑车要比在农村危险。
4．A lot more people bought bicycles，and some did not have good concentration or strong nerves．
5．They formed into"action groups"to persuade the local councils to make sure there are safe facilities for cyclists．
6．A。由第一段最后一句enjoyable可得知。
7．D。否则会发生意外事故。
8．B。参见文章第四段。
