The United States has about 475,000 school buses ---all painted yellow.Each day they carry more than 25,000,000 children, half of all schoolchildren in the country.But these buses, on average, use four liters of diesel (柴油) fuel to travel less than sixteen kilometers.When the school year began last fall, diesel averaged 55 cents a liter nationally.The price nearly doubled, to a dollar and 8 cents, by the end of school in June.
Bob Riley speaks for the American School Bus Council.He says fuel prices for schools are not much lower than others have to pay.As a result, schools are looking for ways to reduce transportation costs.Bus routes are being redrawn or, in some cases, canceled (取消).Some areas are buying buses that use natural gas or other alternative fuels.Other steps include fewer field trips and less travel by sports teams.And some school districts (地区) may end any bus service not required by law.
Studies show that school buses are the safest form of transportation to and from school.The American School Bus Council says cuts in bus service are bad for children and possibly the environment.It says removing buses from the road will mean an increase in other vehicles transporting students.Spokesman Bob Riley says another concern is that reducing bus services might reduce attendance.
But it could also get more children to walk or bicycle to school.And that would surely make people happy at the National Center for Safe Routes to School.More kids walking or biking safely to school is the aim of a three-year-old federal program, part of an international movement.The goal is to increase physical activity and reduce air pollution.The United States will celebrate Walk to School Day on October the eighth this year.But for some students, high fuel prices could make every day a walk-to-school day.
【小题1】What does this passage mainly tell us?A．High fuel prices’ influences on school buses.B．New measures to transport school students.C．The safest form of student transportation.D．The origin of Walk to School Day.【小题2】Which of the following information is implied in the first paragraph?A．There are too many school buses in the United States.B．There are too many students in the US.C．Diesel prices are going up too rapidly in the US.D．School buses consume too much diesel in the US.【小题3】What can we learn from Paragraph 3?A．Cuts in bus service will have negative results.B．The US government is encouraging cuts in bus services.C．The US schools are searching for the safest transportation means.D．Reducing bus service will do a lot of good to the environment.【小题4】The National Center for Safe Routes to school encourages more children to walk or bike to school in order to .
A.save more fuels and diesel for the country
B.keep the children safe on their way to school
D.keep the children healthy and the environment clean.A
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(答案→)A
解析：
【小题1】A 主旨大意题。根据文章1,2段可知不断增长的油价，让很多的地方的校车都在减少，引起了一系列的影响和变化。故A正确。
【小题2】C 推理题。根据第一段最后一句When the school year began last fall, diesel averaged 55 cents a liter nationally.The price nearly doubled, to a dollar and 8 cents, by the end of school in June.可知油价上涨得很快，几乎要翻倍了，故C正确。
【小题3】A 推理题，根据第三段后3行It says removing buses from the road will mean an increase in other vehicles transporting students.Spokesman Bob Riley says another concern is that reducing bus services might reduce attendance.说明本段讲述的是校车减少以后所产生的不好的影响。故A正确。
【小题4】D 推理题。根据文章最后4行More kids walking or biking safely to school is the aim of a three-year-old federal program, part of an international movement.The goal is to increase physical activity and reduce air pollution.The United States will celebrate Walk to School Day on October the eighth this year.But for some students, high fuel prices could make every day a walk-to-school day.可知the National Center for Safe Routes to School.的目的就是鼓励人们步行或者骑自行车来进行身体锻炼，同时减少汽油的消耗，改善环境。故D正确。