BEIJING changed the office hours of many institutions starting April 12 in the hope of reducing traffic jams during rush hour.
The new policy asked 800,000 employees to replace their former working schedule of 8:30 am to 5:30 pm with the new working hours of 9 am to 6 pm.
This is just one part of the Beijing municipal government’s plan to fight traffic jams. Starting April 1, daytime parking fees in 13 downtown areas were raised to encourage less driving. On April 2, the government announced limitations launched after the Beijing Olympics would be extended until April 2012. These ban Beijing’s 5.8 million drivers from driving one workday each week. The ban is based on the last number of the car license plate.
A multi-billion yuan fund has also been set up to build more underground ring roads in heavily populated areas. Major roads above ground will also be expanded.
According to Beijing’s traffic authorities, key projects include repairing major ring roads and expanding the subway network. The city will also create more taxi stops and bike rental stations, probably under the hundreds of overpasses (天桥) citywide.
Beijing’s fight against traffic jams is
a smaller example of what is happening all around China. The central government is now supporting new ideas that will change the future of Chinese roads.
Bus rapid transit (BRT,快速公交系统) is one such idea. Special bus lanes carry almost as many passengers as a subway system. They cost less and are becoming popular in many big cities. Now Beijing has five BRT lines
Shanghai is dealing with traffic problems by charging higher fees for license plates（牌照）. The city is also controlling the total number of plates sold. Now, it is considering a plan to charge cars for entering the central business district, as London does.
Meanwhile, there are signs that Chinese are more aware of the serious problem of traffic. For example, there has been a sharp increase in the number of posts looking for carpooling (拼车) partners on major websites.
By the end of March, 2010, China had 192 million cars, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
小题1: The article is mainly about___________.
| A．the fight against traffic jams all around the world |
| B．the increase of daytime parking fees in 13 downtown areas in Beijing |
| C．the Beijing municipal government’s measures to reduce traffic jams |
| D．news ideas that are likely to change the future of Chinese roads |
小题2: According to the new policy, workday office hours in Beijing will be___________.
| A．from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | B．from 9 am to 6 pm |
| C．from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm | D．from 7:30 am to 4: 30 pm |
小题3: The plans made by the Beijing municipal government to fight traffic jam
s include all the following except ____________
| A．adjustments to office hours | B．increases in daytime parking fees |
| C．the extension of the limitations launched after the Beijing Olympics |
| D．charging higher fees for license plates |
小题4: The article tells us that____________.
| A．the BRT system will become common China’s rural areas |
| B．the Chinese government is aiming at changing the future of Chinese roads |
| C．the Shanghai government has charged cars for entering the central business district |
| D．here are enough ways to deal with traffic jams in Beijing |
