Банк заданий ЕГЭ по английскому языку - страница 224
Вопросы
Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12-18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
What it is really like to travel alone
My wanderlust started with a Billy Joel song. Yes, some might say it is unwise to visit a city just because of a catchy tune. But that was how I made my way to Austria with only good old Billy as my travel buddy.
In college, I took part in a spring work/study program in London. And while I loved the U.K. and my job working for a health website, what excited me most was the opportunity to travel. I spent my weekends visiting cafés in Barcelona with my roommates, and admiring Edinburgh accompanied by friends. But no one wanted to stay and explore Europe more extensively after our sixteen weeks were up. So, I decided to do it alone.
I did not set out wanting to travel by myself. It is something that young women are discouraged from doing. My own mother was desperate to talk me out of the idea. “It’s dangerous for girls to travel by themselves,” she would warn me every time we spoke. I insisted that I knew women my age who had done it, and that I would be fine. My friends back home were skeptical, too. “Wait, no one’s going with you?” they would ask. No doubt they wondered who would be taking photos of me for my posts on the Internet.
But after convincing them that just because I am a Millennial woman does not mean I have to be constantly surrounded by a team, I had to convince myself to believe it. The night before my departure I was terrified. While everyone else was flying back to the States, I would be on the Chunnel to Paris to start my two-week trip alone. The thought was disabling. I have always been a person who recharges with alone time, but this suddenly seemed like too much to take on, especially in unfamiliar places.
The journey was liberating. While I was nervous that my first meal alone would be awkward, I was not tempted by the idea of eating takeout in my hostel room, either. So, I faced the fear. I slipped on my formal (albeit a bit wrinkled) jacket, channeled my inner Cool French Girl, and stepped out into the cool spring air of the Montmartre quarter. I was going to dinner.
It ended up being one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life. I savored the otherworldly steak frites for which the restaurant is famous, observed the elegant Parisian women adorned in their Saturday evening pearls, and even ordered in the language of love. I enjoyed my glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and devoured a plate of the most delicious eclairs in the entire City of Light. I had no fear of judgment by others, since no one knew me, nor did I know anyone.
This freedom ended up being one of the most enjoyable aspects of my trip, and for once, that did not mean feeling guilty. I spent hours riding on a water bus in Venice. I decided not to climb the Duomo in Florence because it just seemed like too many stairs. I read for hours in the lush gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Though the trip was not without its uncomfortable moments, of course, my solo trip was not a mistake – for sure.
I spent the final hours of my trip wandering around the gorgeous, pastel façade-lined streets of Vienna. About fifteen minutes prior to leaving, I pulled out my iPod and listened to “Vienna.” After the familiar piano trills, Billy’s familiar voice flooded in: “Slow down you crazy child,” he sang. “You’re so ambitious for a juvenile.” I began to cry – partially from exhaustion, perhaps, but mostly because the moment felt intensely profound. Here I was, in a city I had always escaped to in my mind through Billy’s song, closing out the most incredible experience of my life. A little crazy, a little ambitious. All me.
Why did the author decide to travel alone?
This freedom in Paragraph 7 (“This freedom ended up being one of the most enjoyable aspects of my trip …”) refers to…
Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12-18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
Cycling
Winter is over, and snow is but a memory. Because of the warmer climate, getting around the town by bicycle has become a more viable option. With parking problems and rising gas prices, people should bike more, as it is a less costly alternative to using automobiles, and it is better for the environment and personal health.
It would not be revolutionary to claim that parking in our city can be a bit of a hassle. Recently, the University students were asked about their experiences with parking. Their main complaint — and the bottom line of the problem — is that parking is expensive. However, those expenses can be avoided by using bicycles, as bike parking on campus is free.
Another expense issue with cars is gas, as prices have been on the rise. Though price averages in our state remain below the national average, it is still a lot more compared to the pricing from a year ago. This would obviously not be an issue if one were to cycle instead.
The great weather we have had and the cost-efficiency of cycling should be enough to convince people to bike more, but there are other benefits aside from general convenience.
Firstly, cycling is better for the environment. Bikes do not release pollutants into the air, and consistent cycling is estimated to prevent 6 to 14 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere every year. Infrastructure requirements for bikes are minimal, as they do not require the establishment of highways. This means fewer resources need to be used and less land needs to be urbanized.
Secondly, cycling is better for you. Cycling as a means of transportation will get you where you need to go while providing you with an accessible workout that increases your strength, stamina, and overall fitness. Additionally, cycling has mental health benefits. Regular cyclists are likely to experience improved moods. To build on this, a study shows that cyclists experience 21.6 percent fewer bad mental health days, suggesting that cycling is beneficial to one’s well-being in more ways than one.
Essentially, there are plenty of reasons why everyone should bike more. Our city is a particularly encouraging place to bike. There are signs and lanes everywhere dedicated to making cycling more convenient, and the university encourages this alternative as well.
Well, there are some problems, of course. One of these is bike theft. To avoid it, just follow some rules if you rely on bicycle transportation to get to and from campus. Many of these actions can also help police locate and identify your bicycle, should it go missing. First of all, use a high-quality lock. When you lock your bike, be sure to lock your bike frame and wheel to fixed, approved bike racks. Second, keep a record of the make, model, and serial number of your bike, including a photograph. This will make it easier to report your bike if it is stolen, and to return it to you if it is located. Next, balance protection and visibility. Lock up your bike in a moderately busy area with high visibility rather than an isolated location. Avoid leaving your bike unattended in the same area for multiple days. Finally, consider investing in a tracking device for your bicycle and report bike theft and suspicious activity near bike racks. Following these simple tips, you won’t lose your bike and you’ll help save others.
Considering that the weather is warmer and automobiles are still a hassle to use in the city, now is as good a time as any to start biking. If you have an old bike lying around, maybe it is time to start using it. If not, it might be time to invest in one.
The author thinks using a bike now is easier because of…
What does the author most probably refer to calling parking a bit of a hassle in “…parking in our city can be a bit of a hassle” (paragraph 2)?
