Until last spring, Nia Parker and the other kids in her neighborhood went to school on Bus 59．But as fuel prices rose, the school district needed to find a way to cut its transportation costs. So the school’s busing company redrew its route map, canceling Nia’s bus. Now Nia and her neighbors travel the half mile to school via a “walking school bus”—a group of kids, supervised （监护） by an adult or two, who make the walk together.

Many parents are delighted to see their kids walking to school, partly because many did so themselves. According to a 1979 survey, nearly half of school kids walked or biked to school, compared with only 16 percent in 2011.Modern parents have been unwilling to let kids walk to school for fear of traffic, crime or simple bullying, but with organized adult supervision, those concerns have reduced.

Schools and busing companies are finding other ways to save．In rural areas where busing is a must, some schools have even chosen four-day school weeks. Busing companies instruct drivers to cancel extra stops from routes and to turn off the engine while idling（挂空挡）.They are also using computer software to determine the most fuel-efficient routes, which aren’t always the shortest ones.

There could be disadvantages, however, to the busing cutbacks. If every formerly bused student begins walking to school, it’s an environmental win—but if too many of their parents decide to drive them instead, the overall carbon footprint can grow. Replacing buses with many more parent-driven cars can also increase safety risks. A 2011 report concluded students are 13 times safer on a school bus than in a passenger car, since buses have fewer accidents and withstand(承受) them better due to their size. And some students complain about the long morning hikes, particularly when the route contains a really big hill.

56. In regards to walking to school, modern parents seem much concerned with the _____.

　 A. safety of their kids’　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 B. kids’ physical strength

　 C. time spent on the way　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 D. changes in the route

57. To save money, some schools choose to _____.

A. shorten the school week B. take the shortest routes

　 C. stop using school buses　　　　　 　　D. use fuel-efficient buses

58. Busing cutbacks may lead to _____.

　 A. fewer complaints about long morning hikes

　 B. more students taking public transportation

　 C. an increase in carbon dioxide emissions

　 D. a decrease in the safety of school buses

One day newly wedded Nancy lost her ring while helping to plant potatoes. Friends were called and the field was searched long but in vain. Later, when the potatoes were harvested, Everyone looked out for the ring but it remained lost. Another year came round and all the farmers working in the field kept their eyes open. The following year was the same. And year after year, whoever had business in the field aways had Nancy’s ring in his mind.

Then the farm changed hands but it went no farther than to cousins. So the memory of the lost ring remained alive until thirty-eight years had passed. Then came a spring day when a man was ploughing the field behind a pair of horses. Even after thirty-eight years he still looked out for the ring, and knew just which part of the field Nancy had lost it in. At this time, when he came there, he found it .He picked it up, put it carefully into his pocket, left his horse, and ran all the way down to the village and placed it into Nancy’s hand.

56．How did Nancy come to lose her ring?

A. She lost it while helping to harvest tomatoes in the field

B. She lost it while watering the plants in the field.

C. She lost it while working in the field.

D. She lost it while helping to plant potatoes in the field.

57.  What was done so that the lost ring could be found?

A. Friends were asked to join in the search.

B. The field was searched for a long time.

C. Dogs were called to look for it.

D. Both A and B

58.  Why did people keep looking for the ring even after the farm changed hands?

A. It was a very expensive ring                           B. They all wanted to solve the mystery.

C. They all loved Nancy.                                        D. Everybody wanted to have this ring.

59.  What did the ploughman do after finding the ring?

A. He picked it up and put it in his pocket.

B. He ran back to tell everybody in the village.

C. He placed it in a secret spot.

D. He returned it to the owner.

60.  What can you infer from the story?

A. The ring was invaluable.

B. People on the farm were honest and helpful.

C. The ring’s mysterious disappearance was the work of supernatural power.

D. Nancy no longer expected that her ring would be found again.

One day newly wedded Nancy lost her ring while helping to plant potatoes. Friends were called and the field was searched long but in vain. Later, when the potatoes were harvested, Everyone looked out for the ring but it remained lost. Another year came round and all the farmers working in the field kept their eyes open. The following year was the same. And year after year, whoever had business in the field aways had Nancy’s ring in his mind.

Then the farm changed hands but it went no farther than to cousins. So the memory of the lost ring remained alive until thirty-eight years had passed. Then came a spring day when a man was ploughing the field behind a pair of horses. Even after thirty-eight years he still looked out for the ring, and knew just which part of the field Nancy had lost it in. At this time, when he came there, he found it .He picked it up, put it carefully into his pocket, left his horse, and ran all the way down to the village and placed it into Nancy’s hand.

56．How did Nancy come to lose her ring?

A. She lost it while helping to harvest tomatoes in the field

B. She lost it while watering the plants in the field.

C. She lost it while working in the field.

D. She lost it while helping to plant potatoes in the field.

57.  What was done so that the lost ring could be found?

A. Friends were asked to join in the search.

B. The field was searched for a long time.

C. Dogs were called to look for it.

D. Both A and B

58.  Why did people keep looking for the ring even after the farm changed hands?

A. It was a very expensive ring                           B. They all wanted to solve the mystery.

C. They all loved Nancy.                                        D. Everybody wanted to have this ring.

59.  What did the ploughman do after finding the ring?

A. He picked it up and put it in his pocket.

B. He ran back to tell everybody in the village.

C. He placed it in a secret spot.

D. He returned it to the owner.

60.  What can you infer from the story?

A. The ring was invaluable.

B. People on the farm were honest and helpful.

C. The ring’s mysterious disappearance was the work of supernatural power.

D. Nancy no longer expected that her ring would be found again.

One day newly wedded Nancy lost her ring while helping to plant potatoes. Friends were called and the field was searched long but in vain. Later, when the potatoes were harvested, Everyone looked out for the ring but it remained lost. Another year came round and all the farmers working in the field kept their eyes open. The following year was the same. And year after year, whoever had business in the field aways had Nancy’s ring in his mind.

Then the farm changed hands but it went no farther than to cousins. So the memory of the lost ring remained alive until thirty-eight years had passed. Then came a spring day when a man was ploughing the field behind a pair of horses. Even after thirty-eight years he still looked out for the ring, and knew just which part of the field Nancy had lost it in. At this time, when he came there, he found it .He picked it up, put it carefully into his pocket, left his horse, and ran all the way down to the village and placed it into Nancy’s hand.

56．How did Nancy come to lose her ring?

A. She lost it while helping to harvest tomatoes in the field

B. She lost it while watering the plants in the field.

C. She lost it while working in the field.

D. She lost it while helping to plant potatoes in the field.

57.  What was done so that the lost ring could be found?

A. Friends were asked to join in the search.

B. The field was searched for a long time.

C. Dogs were called to look for it.

D. Both A and B

58.  Why did people keep looking for the ring even after the farm changed hands?

A. It was a very expensive ring                   B. They all wanted to solve the mystery.

C. They all loved Nancy.                                   D. Everybody wanted to have this ring.

59.  What did the ploughman do after finding the ring?

A. He picked it up and put it in his pocket.

B. He ran back to tell everybody in the village.

C. He placed it in a secret spot.

D. He returned it to the owner.

60.  What can you infer from the story?

A. The ring was invaluable.

B. People on the farm were honest and helpful.

C. The ring’s mysterious disappearance was the work of supernatural power.

D. Nancy no longer expected that her ring would be found again.