With the rapid expansion of mass transit system (公交体系), big cities like Shanghai should be able to ease the congestion（拥挤）and pollution caused by an excessive number of cars.

Statistics show that Shanghai’s subway lines will reach 350 km by the end of this year, making the city No. 3 in the world in terms of subway length. Shanghai could be ranked No. 1 when the length is extended to 430 km next May in time for the World Expo. This means about 5.5 million people each day could use the city’s subway system, thereby reducing traffic bottle-necks and air and noise pollution in downtown Shanghai.

At present, Shanghai suffers from severe traffic congestion, during not only rush hours and weekdays but also off-peak hours and weekends.

For years, car emissions (尾气) have been blamed for contributing 60 percent of the air pollution in the city center, causing various respiratory (呼吸道) diseases.

What’s more, Shanghai has not met its target of noise reduction for five years, which has become a major source of public complaints. Starting from August 1, cars that are considered highly polluting will be banned from entering the city centre.

Shanghai also plans to carry out the China IV emission standards, equivalent to Euro IV, on November 1, ahead of the 2011 national deadline. In addition, Shanghai is building 16 parking lots with 8,000 spaces near subway terminals so that people can park and ride the mass transit system instead of driving their cars into the city center.

Much more needs to be done for truly easing the traffic jams and air and noise pollution caused by automobiles. For example, the ban on using the horn, which was made effective from June 1, 2007, has hardly been enforced.

Many local people still regard owning and driving a car as a kind of demonstration of their wealth, without realizing the traffic and environmental hazards it can cause. When the subway system can take people to their destinations, driving a private car in downtown Shanghai could become a moral issue.

Shanghai should also show courage in leading Chinese cities to adopt the congestion charge system, which the city has been studying for the last eight years. A similar schedule, practiced in London and Singapore, has proved to be effective in reducing pollution and congestion in the city center.

Once Shanghai shows the way, other cities, like Beijing, too, may adopt the practice.

 

1.The best title for the passage may be___________.

A. Efforts to Ease Congestion & Pollution    B. Benefits of Public Transit System

C. Possibilities to Charge On Congestion     D. Ways to Reduce Car Emission

2.The following is true EXCEPT that Shanghai _________.

   A. plans not to carry out the Euro IV emission standards

 B. could be No. 1 in terms of subway length next May

C. has problems with crowding not only in rush hours

D. has strong public complaints about noise pollution

3.Guess the correct meaning of the underlined word “hazards”.

   A. sudden changes   B. violent forces     C. public dislikes   D. dangerous results

4.The writer of the passage intends to tell us________. 

  A. though many plans have been carried out, the situation is hopeless

  B. difficult as the situation seems, Shanghai is sure to overcome it

C. whether the problems will be solved depends on people’s action

D. environmental problem should be regarded as a moral issue.