A
There are more bicycles than residents in the Netherlands, and in cities like Amsterdam and Hague up to 70% of all journeys are made by bike. The BBC's reporter, Anna Holligan, examines what made everyone get back in the saddle(车座)．
Before World War Ⅱ， journeys in the Netherlands were mainly made by bike, but in the 1950s and 1960s, as car ownership increased quickly, this changed. The jump in car number caused a huge rise in the number of deaths on the roads. In 1971, more than 3,000 people were killed by motor vehicles, and 450 of them were children. In response, a social movement demanding safer cycling conditions for children was formed. Called Stop de Kindermoord (Stop the Child Murder), it took its name from the headline of an article written by journalist Vic Langenhoff whose own child had been killed in a road accident.
The Dutch love of the motor vehicle was also shaken by the Middle East oil crisis of 1973, when oilproducing countries stopped export to the US and Western Europe.
These twin pressures helped to persuade the Dutch government to invest in improving cycling infrastructure(基础设施) and the Dutch urban planners started to change from the roadbuilding policies designed mainly for cars.
To make cycling safer and more inviting, the Dutch have built a vast network of cycle paths. These are clearly marked, have smooth surfaces, separate signs and lights for those on two wheels, and are wide enough to allow cycling side by side and overtaking(超车)．
Even before they can walk, Dutch children live in a world of cycling. As babies, they travel in special seats on bikes. As the children grow up, they ride their own bikes. And, as the Dutch are not allowed to drive until 18, cycling offers teenagers an alternative form of freedom.
The state also plays a part in teaching, with cycling lessons a compulsory(必修的) part in Dutch schools. All schools have places to park bikes and at some schools 90% of pupils cycle to class.
本文为说明文，介绍了在荷兰，自行车的数量超过了本国人口的数量。作者主要解释了自行车在荷兰如此流行的原因。
21．What does Anna Holligan intend to find out?
A．How journeys are made in the Netherlands.
B．Why cycling is popular in the Netherlands.
C．What the main means of transport in the Netherlands is.
D．What makes the children like cycling in the Netherlands.
解析 B 细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句The BBC's reporter, Anna Holligan, examines what made everyone get back in the saddle(车座)可推知，Anna的主要目标是找到自行车在荷兰如此受欢迎的原因，故选B项。
22．What resulted in the Dutch government's changing roadbuilding
policies?
A．More cars and roads accidents.
B．A social movement and financial crisis.
C．More cars and lower oil prices.
D．Road accidents and oil shortage.
解析 D 细节理解题。根据第四段中的These twin pressures可知，导致荷兰政府改变公路政策的原因有两个，再结合第二段中提到的road accident和第三段中的oil crisis可知，是频发的交通致死事故和石油危机导致荷兰政府改变了公路政策，故选D项。
23．What can we learn about the Dutch children?
A．They must get a license to ride a bike.
B．They are not allowed to drive until 16.
C．They must have cycling lessons at school.
D．They don't use bikes when they are very young.
解析 C 细节理解题。根据最后一段第一句The state also plays a part in teaching, with cycling lessons a compulsory(必修的) part in Dutch schools可知，自行车课程在荷兰的学校属于必修课，故选C项。
