China’s famed “bike wars” may soon be fought on foreign shores,as Bluegogo and Mobike compete with fellow stand-free cycle hire company ofo in the British market.
Cycle hire startups,so-called bike Ubers,are big business in China.Around 30 companies control tens of thousands of bikes in at least 35 Chinese cities.The two largest,ofo and Mobike,recently secured $450 million and $300 million in funding,respectively.
Already locked in a battle for market share across China,the startups now have London in their sights.Elsewhere in the UK this month,Beijing Bikelock Technology’s bike hire business ofo is launching a pilot bike-hiring scheme in Cambridge.Mobike is reportedly interested in launching similar projects in Birmingham and Manchester.
The Sunday Times recently reported Bluegogo and Mobike were looking at London.
Both London and Birmingham already have bike-hire schemes.The Chinese services differ in doing away with docking stations.Users of the bikes offered by the Chinese companies are free to pick up a cycle wherever they find one and leave it wherever they want,using a smartphone app and a code to deactivate and activate(激活) a built-in lock.
The capital’s transport authority,Transport for London,has expressed interest in the new technology.
TfL’s head of strategy and outcome planning,Lilli Matson,said: “We are always keen to talk to companies to explore advancements in technology and discuss new ideas,and have spoken with a number of companies,to understand their plans.”
A spokesperson for ofo said: “We have had brief discussions with TfL about how our scheme works in China and other markets and they are interested in hearing how our trial works in Cambridge.Our primary focus is ensuring the Cambridge trial is a success.We will potentially look to enter other areas later.”
1.Where will ofo launch their pilot bike-hiring plan in the UK?
A.Birmingham. B.Manchester. C.Cambridge. D.London.
2.When you want to hire a bike,what should you have in advance?
A.An app. B.A smartphone. C.A code. D.A cycle.
3.From the fourth paragraph,we know that .
A.Bluegogo and Mobike were going to visit London
B.Bluegogo and Mobike were planning to expand the market in London
C.Bluegogo and Mobike were looking forward to London
D.Bluegogo and Mobike were launching business in London
4.Which may be the best title of the passage?
A.Chinese“bike wars”to break out in UK.
B.Chinese bike business in UK.
C.Chinese“bike war”to fight against UK.
D.Chinese bike Ubers in UK.
语篇解读:本文是说明文,主要讲述了中国几家共享单车的公司计划在英国推出他们的产品,竞争海外市场。
答案及剖析:
1.C 细节理解题。由文章第三段第二句“Beijing Bikelock Technology’s bike hire business ofo is launching a pilot bike-hiring scheme in Cambridge”可知,Beijing Bikelock Technology’s bike hire business ofo在英国剑桥发起了飞行员自行车租赁计划,故选C。
2.B 细节理解题。由文章第五段第三句“Users of the bikes offered by the Chinese companies are free to pick up a cycle wherever they find one and leave it wherever they want,using a smartphone app and a code to deactivate and activate(激活) a built-in lock”可知,共享单车的使用者须事先拥有一部智能手机,故选B。
3.B 推理判断题。结合文章第四段内容可知,Bluegogo和Mobike计划拓展伦敦市场,故选B。
4.A 主旨大意题。文章主要报道了中国几家共享单车的公司计划在英国推出他们的产品,竞争海外市场,故选A。
