1. It’s an increasingly urgent question for those who still have to travel to work, collect supplies, or visit vulnerable people – how can you get around without contracting or spreading the coronavirus? One answer could be cycling.
2. So why cycle? The coronavirus-specific paradox of a bike is that it simultaneously gets you out onto the streets, in touch with fresh air, the changing springtime climate, and other people, but it’s very rare to be in over-close proximity to others. Even at a rush-hour traffic light in a city, you can almost always stake out a meter or two of your own, away from other riders and drivers.
3. Earlier this week, a group of nearly 50 academics and experts on public health and transport wrote an open letter to the government, urging ministers not to discourage walking and cycling amid the pandemic, noting their vital importance in the wider public health issue of combating inactivity. During any lockdown, “all of our existing social and health risks do not simply go away”, they wrote.
4. More normalized health consequences of people living excessively inactive and sedentary lives are one of the leading causes of early death around the world, every year. Rather than impeding cycle use, governments should use the coronavirus crisis to make it easier, particularly in cities, so people can avoid public transport.
5. So why not make cycling easier, not more difficult? At one stroke, you have people kept distanced during transport, making them healthier in the long term – not to mention more likely to be able to see off respiratory infections like COVID-19. It could be time for action.
Choose an option (A, B, C, or D) that best answers each question.

1. Cruise vacations are becoming a preferred choice for many travelers, with approximately 20 million people setting sail on luxury liners every year. For many, cruising is the ultimate way to unwind, free from daily responsibilities and stress. These floating resorts offer everything one might need - shops, cinemas, theaters, swimming pools, and even leisure centers. The amenities available on modern cruise ships surpass those found in most small towns, making it clear why they have gained such popularity. However, despite their appeal, the environmental consequences of this booming industry deserve attention.
2. While water travel generally consumes less energy than land transportation, the sheer size of cruise ships presents a different challenge. The largest vessels accommodate up to 6,000 passengers and require massive engines that burn through as much as 300,000 liters of fuel daily. Research suggests that the emissions from a single cruise ship are equivalent to those produced by 5 million cars traveling the same distance. Additionally, since these ships operate far from regulated territories, they burn lower-quality fuel that would be banned on land. In any case, no international authority has established control over air pollution on the open sea, allowing the problem to persist unchecked.
3. Apart from air pollution, cruise ships contribute significantly to oceanic waste. Given their size and the number of passengers on board, these vessels generate massive amounts of garbage. However, recycling efforts on most cruise ships remain inefficient, leading to further waste accumulation. Another major issue is wastewater disposal - daily volumes comparable to those produced by a small town are discharged directly into the ocean, affecting marine ecosystems. While food waste from onboard restaurants is not dumped into the sea, it still creates challenges when transported back to land for disposal.
4. The impact of cruise tourism is not limited to the seas - it also disrupts life in port cities. Many popular destinations receive up to six cruise ships per day, bringing in thousands of visitors at once. At first glance, this influx may seem beneficial for local businesses, but in reality, it often does more harm than good. Instead of spending money at local restaurants, cruise passengers typically explore for a few hours before returning to the ship for meals. Additionally, the overwhelming crowds can put off other tourists, who find the congested streets unappealing.
5. To address the above concerns, some cities have imposed strict regulations, limiting the number of ships allowed to dock daily or even banning them altogether. With the cruise industry continuing its expansion, environmentalists and local communities fear that these problems will only escalate in the coming years.
Choose an option (A, B, C, or D) that best answers each question.