Imagine the world without bridges. How would people get across rivers? How about visiting someone in another city? Life without bridges would not be easy, as we know. Bridges are an important part of our transportation (交通) ways.

The first bridges were built as a result of a need to make life and travel easier. The first bridges were built in the form of trees falling across small rivers. The wood was strong enough to hold the weight of a person or two at a time.

Later, people made bridges by putting rope (绳子) lines across an open area. In China and other places, rope bridges are still used.

Then, people built arch bridges (拱桥) with large blocks of stones. Arch bridges are among the strongest and longest lasting. Some built more than 1,500 years ago are still used. Even today, people build arch bridges, but usually with wood or other things.

Another kind is the cantilever bridge (悬臂桥). Canada’s Quebec Bridge is one of the world’s longest, about 1,800 feet (549m) across the St. Lawrence River.

A suspension bridge (悬索桥) is over even more space. Probably the most famous suspension bridge is California’s Golden Gate, about 4,200 feet (1,280m) long. When finished in 1937, it was the world’s longest, but in 1964, New York’s Verrazano-Narrows Bridge beat that with about 4,260 feet (1,298m) long. Then in 1981, England’s Humber Bridge beat that with about 4,626 feet (1,410m) long. And since 1998, Japan’s Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge has held the record, about 6,532 feet (1,991m) long.

Some people think riding bicycles isn’t popular. They aren’t interested in it. So less and less people ride bicycles in the city. Nowadays some office workers usually go to work by car. Most students take the bus or the subway to go to school.

But I don’t think so. I think riding bicycles is good for my health. It has many benefits. Firstly, when I am riding a bicycle, my whole body is exercising all the time. It is a good way to keep fit. Usually most office workers are busy with their things and most students are busy with their lessons, so they have no time to do sports. So riding bicycles is a good way to keep healthy for them.

Secondly, riding bicycles does good to our environment. As we know, driving cars can pollute air. It makes the temperature high day by day. If we go to walk by bike, the air will become cleaner than before. We can also save money at the same time. Why not enjoy doing it?

Riding bicycles is good for our health and the environment. We should all ride bicycles.

In America, most students take the school bus to school. All American school buses are yellow. 【小题1】. The older students sit at the back of the school bus, and the younger students sit in the front of the school bus. 【小题2】. They usually listen to music, talk on their phones, read books or just sleep on it. 【小题3】. For example, when the school bus goes on the road, other cars have to make way for the school bus. 【小题4】. If the drivers don’t follow the rules, the school bus driver will tell the police and the police will give the driver a ticket (罚单). 【小题5】. If some students are late for the school bus, they need to go to school by bus, by taxi, by bike or in their parents’ car.