There is a range of activities which require movements of about one to four or five miles. These might be leisure activities, such as moving from home to swimming pool, tennis club, the theater or other cultural centers, or to a secondary or more advanced school, or they might be movements associated with work and shopping in the central areas of cities. The use of cars capable of carrying five people at 80 mph for satisfying these needs is wasteful of space and most productive of disturbance to other road users.
The use of the bicycle, or some more modem derivative of it, is probably worth more consideration than has recently been given to it. The bicycle itself is a remarkably efficient and simple device for using human muscular energy for transportation. In pure energy terms, it is four to five times as efficient as walking, even though human walking itself is twice as efficient as the movement of effective animals such as dogs or gulls. It is still widely used, not only in some developing countries where bicycles are major means of people and goods, but in a few richer towns such as Amsterdam in Holland and Cambridge in England.
It usually gives inadequate protection from the weather, is not very suitable for carrying goods, and demands considerable muscular work to make progress against wind or uphill. It also offers its rider no protection against collisions with other vehicles. All these difficulties could, however, be greatly eliminated, if not removed, with relatively small changes in design The whole machine could be enclosed in a plastic bubble which would provide some protection in case of accidents. It would be easy to add a small petrol or electric motor. A wide variety of designs would be possible. As in rowing, we might employ the power of the arms or the general body musculature, as well as those of the legs; more muscular exercise would be good for the health of many people in cities, and a wide use of bicycle like muscle-powered vehicles would be a useful way to ensure this. It could also provide ample opportunities for showing off by the young and vigorous.
1. The main idea of the first paragraph is that the car ________
A. can satisfy the demand for speed
B. causes waste of space
C. produces disturbance to other road users
D. is far from perfect for short range movements
2. More attention should be given to the bicycle as a means of transport because it is_______
A. a very efficient and simple device B. much cheaper than a car
C. widely used in Amsterdam and Cambridge D. still used by rich people
3. Enclosing the bicycle in a plastic bubble would _________
A. make it easier to use
B. save muscular energy
C. provide protection from the weather
D. prevent it from colliding with other vehicles
4. Which of these is untrue for the present bicycle
A. It is far more efficient than the movement of animals.
B. It offers its rider no protection.
C. It is not very suitable for carrying goods.
D. It can hardly be improved on.
核心词汇注释
leisure n．空闲，闲暇，悠闲，安逸
associate vt．使发生联系，使联合 vi．交往，结交 凡合伙人，同事
adj．联合的，联盟的，合伙的；准的(会员)
disturbance n．骚动，动乱； 打扰，干扰，骚扰，搅动
derivative adj．引出的，系出的 n．派生的事物，派生词
muscular adj．肌肉的，强健的
inadequate adj．不充分的， 不适当的
collision n．碰撞，冲突
eliminate vt．排除，消除 u．除去
bubble n．泡沫，幻想的计划 vi．起泡，潺潺地流
musculature n．肌肉组织
长难句剖析
The use of cars capable of carrying five people at 80 mph for satisfying these needs is wasteful of space and most productive of disturbance to other road users．
[结构分析]本句的主干是The use of cars…is wasteful of space and most productive，cars的后置定语是形容词短语capable of…at 80 mph，for satisfying these needs短语作主语use的目的状语。
[参考译文]开一辆时速80英里的、能载5个人的汽车去满足这些需要是对空间的浪费，而且会给其他的行车者带来不少麻烦。
The use of the bicycle or some more modern derivative of it is probably worth more consideration than has recently been given to it．
[结构分析]本句的主干是The use…is probably worth more consideration，or…it 与bicycle并列。consideration后面是由than引导的定语从句。在英语语法中than不仅可以作比较副词，还可以用来引导定语从句，它在定语从句中的成分是关系代词。
[参考译文]骑普通的或是更加现代化的自行车或许更值得我们考虑。
it is still widely used ,not only in some developing countries where bicycles are major means of pe6ple and goods，but in a few richer towns such as Amsterdam in Holland and Cambridge in England．
[结构分析]本句的主干是it is still widely used，后接由not only in…but in引导的地点状语。在第一个地点状语中，developing countries后面接的是where引导的定语从句。在第二个地点状语中，a few richer towns后面的such as引导的短语作补语。
[参考译文]自行车仍然被广泛使用着，不仅一些发展中国家把自行车当作主要的交通和运输工具，而且少数几个较为富裕的城市，像荷兰的阿姆斯特丹和英格兰的剑桥也是如此。
全文参考译文
有一系列的活动需要大约一至四五英里的运动。这些运动可能是些休闲活动，比如从家到游泳池、网球俱乐部、剧院或其他的文化中心，或者是要去一家中学或大学，或者可能与去市中,~212作和购物活动有关。开一辆时速80英里、能载5人的汽车去满足这些需要是对间的浪费，而且会给其他的行车者带来不少麻烦。
骑普通的或是更加现代化的自行车或许更值得我们考虑。自行车本身是一种可以把人的体能转化为运输的非常有效的简单装置。从纯粹的能量上讲，骑车的效率是步行的4到5倍，虽然人类步行的效率已经比像狗或海鸥这样行动有效的动物要高一倍。自行车仍然被广泛使用着，不仅一些发展中国家把自行车当作主要的交通和运输工具，而且少数几个较为富裕的城市，像荷兰的阿姆斯特丹和英格兰的剑桥也是如此。
自行车通常无法不受天气的影响，也不是很适合携带物品，而且刮风和上坡的时候需要相当的体能才能前进。与其他交通工具相撞时骑车人得不到任何防护。但是所有这些困难即使无法根除也能得到很好地解决，只要在设计上做些小小的改变。整辆车可以用塑料防护罩包起来，这样一旦发生事故可以提供一些防护。加个燃油或是电的发动机也很容易。各种各样的设计都是可行的。在骑车过程中，我们不仅要使用双腿的力量，还要使用手臂和全身肌肉的力量：对于很多在城市中生活的人来说，更多的肌肉练习有益健康，广泛地把自行车当作肌肉练习的工具使用，将会是保证这一点的有效方法。这也可以给年轻又有活力的人提供大量的机会炫耀自己。
题目答案与解析
1．第1段的主题是汽车_________。 [答案]D
A．可以满足速度的需求 B．造成空间的浪费
C．对其他的道路使用者产生干扰 D．很不适合小范围的运动
[解析]本题的依据句是第1段的最后一句话The use of cars capable of carrying five people at 80 mph for satisfying these needs is wasteful of space and most productive of disturbance to other road users。从中可知，A、B、C三项都不能完整地表达第1段的中心思想，只有D项涵盖了前三项的意思，因此是正确答案。
2．作为交通工具，自行车应该被给予更多的重视，因为自行车________。 [答案]A
A．是非常有效并且简单的装置 B．比汽车要便宜
C．在阿姆斯特丹和剑桥都广泛使用 D．仍然被富人使用
[解析]本题的依据句是文章第2段的第2句话The bicycle itself is a remarkably efficient and simple device for using human muscular energy for transportation。从中可知A项为正确答案。
3．把自行车装入塑料防护罩里将 _________。 [答案]D
A．使其更容易使用 B．节省肌肉能量 C．避免坏天气 D．防止与其他车辆相撞
[解析]本题的依据句是文章第3段的The whole machine could be enclosed in a plastic bubble which would provide some protection in case of accidents。从中可知D项为正确答案。
4．关于现在的自行车，以下各项中哪一项是错误的 [答案]D
A．它比动物运动的效率要高得多。 B．它无法为骑车人提供保护。
C．它不适合运载货物。 D．无法对它再进行改良了。
[解析]本题可参照文章的第2段。第2段介绍了如何通过改造来克服自行车的缺点，因此D项为正确答案。