Bike share programs range from small, community-based programs that offer bikes for free use to larger, technology-based services that involve public and private partnerships. Whichever form, they share common goals: fewer traffic jams in large cities, more lasting means of transportation, improved safety of communities and better health for riders.
While many Europeans have relied on biking as a form of transportation for many years, bikes share programs were introduced in large cities of the U.S. to encourage non-bike riders to join along and make it convenient for people to get around town without having to worry about locking up their bike or maintaining it.
This original programs that offered free bikes were ruined by theft and vandalism(故意破坏), but newer technology has helped decrease crime. Most large programs have electronic cards, computer or telecommunication tracking, and a system that stores credit card information. Bikes are usually clearly designed or colored so they are immediately recognized and some have parts that won’t work on other bikes. With membership fees at usually around forty dollars every year, they are significantly cheaper than driving and public transportation.
In the United States, community bike programs have been around for years. Portland’s Yellow Bike Project started in 1994. SmartBike DC, which started in 2008, and over one hundred bikes spread around Washington, D.C. New York City has an experimental bike share program in the summer; Portland, Minneapolis, Arlington, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago are all intending to start small bike share programs.
Colleges have also been interested in community bikes. At the University of New England, for instance, students are given a $260 bicycle, for free, in exchange for leaving their car at home with their parents. However, many have had to stop programs due to unreturned bikes and vandalism
Starting bike share programs isn’t easy. Even the large programs in Europe still face theft and vandalism, and ridership drops during the winter and maintenance fees can add up. One disadvantage in the U.S. is that many communities aren’t set up for biking; they’re set up for driving. Long travels and a lack of bike lanes can’t necessarily be solved with easy-to-access bikes. Yet for those cities that are relatively flat and crowded, bike share programs —and increased bike ridership in general — offer so many benefits you have to wonder if two wheels might be the ride of the future.
Title: Bike Share Program
Goals | ● To 71._____________ traffic jams in large cities ● To encourage more lasting means of transportation ● To improve safety of communities and riders’ health |
Measures | ● Most large programs have electronic cards, computer or telecommunication tracking, and a system 72._____________ credit card information. ● Bikes are usually clearly designed or colored, so they are easy to 73. _____________ and some have parts that won’t work on other bikes. |
74. _____________ | ●Portland’s Yellow Bike Project started in 1994 ● SmartBike DC started in 2008 ● New York City has an experimental bike share program in the summer ● The University of New England gives students a $260 bicycle free of 75. ______________ |
Advantages | ● It brings 76. _____________ to people getting around town without having to worry about locking up their bike or maintaining it ● Biking is not as expensive as driving and public transportation |
77._____________ | ● Bikes are not 78. __________, and they are often destroyed on purpose ● Fewer people ride bikes during the winter and maintenance fees can 79.___________. ● Many communities are set up for driving 80. ___________ of for biking |
71. reduce 72. storing 73. recognize 74. Examples 75. charge
76. convenience 77. Disadvantages 78. returned 79. increase 80. instead
In a society, such as the United States or Canada, which has many national, religious and cultural differences, people highly value individualism--the difference among people. Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special. The educational systems in these countries show these values. Students don't memorize information. Instead, they work individually and find answers themselves. There is often discussion in the classroom. At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.
In most Asian societies, by contrast, people have the same language, history, and culture. Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of Asia reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan, and Korea often work together and help one another in assignments. In the classroom, the teaching methods are often very formal. The teacher lectures, and the students listen. There is not much discussion. Instead, the students recite rules of information that they have memorized.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these systems of education. For example, one advantage to the system in Japan is that there much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school. They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control. There is, however, a disadvantage. Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information that they have memorized.
The advantage of the educational system in North American, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. There is, however, a disadvantage. When students graduate from high school, they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.
Title: 76 of Educational System between North America and Asia
Students in the US and 77 | Students in China, Japan and Korea | |
What do they 78 | Individualism | 79 goals and purposes |
Different 80 of study | Working individually | Listening to the teachers |
Forming their own ideas and opinions | Reciting rules and memorizing information | |
A lot of discussion in the classroom | Not much discussion | |
81 | Learning to think for themselves | Learning much more math and science |
Studying more hours each day and more days each year | ||
Good for a society that values 82 | Good for a society valuing 83 and self-control | |
Disadvantages | Students haven’t memorized many basic rules and facts before 84___ | Information is 85 easily. |
Directions: Read the following passage. Complete the diagram by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.
American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools called charter schools.
In 1991, there were no charter schools in the Unite States. Today, more than 2300 charter schools operate in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575. 000 students attend these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older.
A charter school is created by groups of parents, teachers and community members. It is similar in some ways to a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate a number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments provide the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate.
Unlike a traditional public school, however, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to teach.
Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach those goals. Class sizes are usually smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say teachers in charter schools can be more creative.
However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often oppose charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly needed by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling.
Congress provided 200 million dollars for establishing charter schools in the 2006 federal budget. But, often the schools say they lack enough money for programs. Many also lack needed space, District officials say they have provided 14 former school buildings for charter education. Yet charter school supporters say officials should try harder to find more space.
Title: 71.
72 ________ | Independent public school | ||
Similarities between charter schools and traditional schools | ●73 ________ to operate U number of students ●Having to prove the students are learning ●Getting 74 ________ to operate from government | ||
75 __________ between charter schools and traditional schools | ●Not having to obey most laws for public schools ●Being free to decide the 76 ________ ●Being free to choose the goals and decide 77 ________ them ●There usually being 78 ________ students in charter schools’classes ●Having teachers who are more creative | ||
Charter school's problems | Opinions from education departments | These schools receiving money badly needed by 79 ________ Not all doing well | |
Opinions from charter schools | Lacking enough money Lacking 80._________ |