19-20. Answer: B It failed when a partner in the scheme with drew support. D It was made possible by a change in people’s attitudes. Explain Which TWO of the following statements are made in the text about the Amsterdam bike-sharing scheme of 1999?
– Key words: two, statements, Amsterdam, bike-sharing, scheme, 1999
– While there are a few mentions of the Amsterdam bike-sharing scheme in the text, we need to find information about the 1999 scheme, not the initial one. We can find this in paragraph D onwards.
– Schimmelpennink and his scheme “succeeded in arousing the interest of the Dutch Ministry of Transport”, so A is incorrect.
– Schimmelpennink said “times had changed”, referring to people‟s change in attitudes towards the environment. This, combined with the success of the Danish bike-sharing scheme, led to the introduction of the new Amsterdam scheme in 1999. In other words, it was made possible by a change in people‟s attitudes. Thus, D is one correct answer.
– Paragraph E mentions several problems faced by the scheme: vandalism, theft, and most importantly, Postbank‟s withdrawal from the scheme. We know this because: “Postbank decided to abolish the chip card” and “the business partner had lost interest”. This was “the biggest blow” to the scheme, and the scheme could not continue. Therefore, B is correct.
21. Answer: D A bike-sharing scheme would benefit residents who use public transport, E The city has a reputation as a place that welcomes cyclists Explain Which TWO of the following statements are made in the text about the Amsterdam today?
– Key words: two, statements, Amsterdam, today
– We can easily find the phrase „Amsterdam today‟ at the beginning of paragraph G.
– “38% of all trips are made by bike”, but we cannot be sure that more trips in the city are made by bike than by any other form of transport, so C is incorrect.
– “it is regarded as one of the two most cycle-friendly capitals in the world”, which means Amsterdam is known as a place that welcomes cyclists. Thus, E is correct.
– Schimmelpennick also mentions the need for a bike-sharing scheme in Amsterdam today because “people who travel on the underground don‟t carry their bike around. But often they need additional transport to reach their final destination”. People using the underground are „residents who use public transport‟, and they would benefit from the scheme. Thus, D is correct.
