4.Until last spring,Nia Parker and the other kids in her neighborhood went to school on Bus 59.But as fuel prices rose,the school district needed to find a way to cut its transportation costs.So the school's busing company redrew its route map,canceling Nia's bus.Now Nia and her neighbors travel the half mile to school via a"walking school bus"-a group of kids,supervised (監(jiān)護(hù)) by an adult or two,who make the walk together.
Many parents are delighted to see their kids walking to school,partly because many did so themselves.According to a 1979survey,nearly half of school kids walked or biked to school,compared with only 16percent in 2011.Modern parents have been unwilling to let kids walk to school for fear of traffic,crime or simple bullying,but with organized adult supervision,those concerns have reduced.
Schools and busing companies are finding other ways to save.In rural areas where busing is a must,some schools have even chosen four-day school weeks.Busing companies instruct drivers to cancel extra stops from routes and to turn off the engine while idling(掛空擋).They are also using computer software to determine the most fuel-efficient routes,which aren't always the shortest ones.
There could be disadvantages,however,to the busing cutbacks.If every formerly bused student begins walking to school,it's an environmental win-but if too many of their parents decide to drive them instead,the overall carbon footprint can grow.Replacing buses with many more parent-driven cars can also increase safety risks.A 2011report concluded students are 13times safer on a school bus than in a passenger car,since buses have fewer accidents and withstand them better due to their size.And some students complain about the long morning hikes,particularly when the route contains a really big hill.
56.In regards to walking to school,modern parents seem much concerned with theA.
A.safety of their kids B.kids'physical strength
C.time spent on the way D.changes in the route
57.To save money,some schools choose toA.
A.shorten the school week B.take the shortest routes
C.stop using school buses D.use fuel-efficient buses
58.Busing cutbacks may lead toC.
A.fewer complaints about long morning hikes
B.more students taking public transportation
C.a(chǎn)n increase in carbon dioxide emissions
D.a(chǎn) decrease in the safety of school buses.
分析 本文介紹了一些學(xué)校為了減少校車成本,減少了校車運(yùn)營次數(shù)或者時間,有部分學(xué)生就開始步行上學(xué).同時討論了這樣做的另外一種可能性.
解答 56.A 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章第二段最后一句Modern parents have been unwilling to let kids walk to school for fear of traffic,crime or simple bullying,but with organized adult supervision,those concerns have reduced.可知現(xiàn)代父母親擔(dān)心孩子單獨上學(xué)的安全問題.故A正確.
57.A 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)第三段1,2句Schools and busing companies are finding other ways to save.In rural areas where busing is a must,some schools have even chosen four-day school weeks.可知有些學(xué)校為了節(jié)約成本,減少了school week,從5天變成4天.故A正確.
58.C 推理判斷題.根據(jù)最后一段第二句but if too many of their parents decide to drive them instead,the carbon footprint can grow.可知如果父母親沒有讓孩子步行上學(xué),而是開車送孩子上學(xué),那樣反而會增加會環(huán)境的破壞.故C正確.
點評 在做閱讀理解時,考生可快速閱讀短文,通讀測試題,明確考察點,在對應(yīng)細(xì)讀,加快做題速度.有時間還可以復(fù)查校對答案.