In China, the “kingdom of bicycles”， people went everywhere by bicycle.However, now as a result of industrialization, from 1995 to 2005, the number of bikes declined by 35% in Chinese cities, while cars and other motor vehicles doubled.This has left air polluted and roads crowded.In China, pollutant levels have risen alongside urban population growth.
To deal with this issue, Chinese cities have invested (投资) increasingly in public transport systems like bikesharing.Bikesharing systems have grown extremely in China in the past decade.The first major models started in European
cities Amsterdam and Copenhagen in 1968 and 1995 and offered a service through which citygoers could easily borrow bikes to travel around the city.Since then, bikesharing systems have grown rapidly.
China now has the biggest and largest number of bikesharing programs.One of the largest programs is the Hangzhou Public Bicycle Service.The system is straightforward — pick up a bike from any station and you can ride for free in the first hour.Need another hour? Pay 1 Chinese yuan for a second hour.Given its ease and cheapness, it's no surprise that an average of 310,000 people use the system every day.
However, the adoption of bikesharing wasn't easy at the beginning.After the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing struggled in maintaining its bikesharing programs, as bikesharing companies suffered heavy financial (财政的) losses due to little government support and little demand.Shanghai similarly struggled in 2014, with citizens choosing to take taxis or to buy their own bikes.Then things started to look up.And now more bikesharing programs, like Mobike and Ofo, are developing quickly.
Regardless of how bikesharing systems change in China, it's evident that they've made their mark on China's transport systems, on the way to making the country return to the “kingdom of bicycles” and hopefully regain clean air.
1．What contributed to the birth of bikesharing programs in China?
A．Rising pollutant levels.
B．The population growth.
C．The tradition of riding bicycles.
D．People's increasing interest in cycling.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“To deal with this issue, Chinese cities have invested (投资) increasingly in public transport systems like bikesharing.”可知， this issue应指第一段所提到的“However, now as a result of industrialization ...while cars and other motor vehicles doubled.This has left air polluted and roads crowded.”，所以说是机动车的增加导致的城市环境污染催生了中国的共享单车项目。
2．What can we learn about bikesharing from Paragraph 2?
A．It serves as the most convenient transport system.
B．It is a common means of transport in Europe.
C．It enjoys popularity in most Chinese cities.
D．It has a history of about half a century.
解析：选D 推理判断题。根据第二段的“The first major models started in European cities Amsterdam and Copenhagen in 1968 and 1995 ...”可知，共享单车已经有半世纪的历史，故选D项。
3．What made Shanghai have trouble keeping its bikesharing programs at first?
A．Little demand. B．Too many taxis.
C．A lack of money. D．No government support.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第四段的“Shanghai similarly struggled in 2014, with citizens choosing to take taxis or to buy their own bikes.”可知，市场需求少是造成上海最初发展困难的因素。
4．What would be the best title for the text?
A．Bikes: an ecofriendly means of transport
B．The benefits of bikesharing
C．The kingdom of bicycles
D．Bikesharing in China
解析：选D 标题归纳题。本文主要介绍了共享单车在中国的发展过程，故D项为最佳标题。
