1. The first underground railway system in the world was in London. It was opened in 1863 and ran 4 miles (6,5 kilometers) from the west of London to the City in the east. The first lines were built close to the surface and used steam trains. They then built deeper tunnels and the electric underground railway was opened in 1890. This system was called the Tube, still the most popular name for the London Underground. Some of the tube stations are so deep that they were used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War, when hundreds of families would spend the night in the stations.
2. One million people commute into central London every day. Sixty percent of these people use the Tube, mainly because the Underground system extends far into the surburbs: the Northern Line, running from north to south, covers 18 miles (28 kilometers); the Piccadilly Line, running from east to west is 47 miles (76 kilometers) long.
3. Buses in London are not as popular as the Tube because they get stuck in traffic. One of the most popular forms of urban transport in Britain used to be the tram. The most environmentally friendly vehicle is a bicycle. London taxis drive round the centre of the city looking for a customer. Taxis are often called «cab».
4. Traditional taxi-drivers or cabbies, are proud of the knowledge of London. They have to know every street in the 113 square miles of central London and spend up to four years learning the best routes. To get their licence, they have to pass a series of tests, known as The Knowledge, until they are absolutely accurate in their answers. Because of this long training period, cabbies are often angry that people can drive minicabs without a licence. Minicabs look like normal cars, do not have meters and cannot pick up people in the street: people have to phone for one.
5. Прочитайте 4-й абзац и вопрос к нему. Из приведенных вариантов ответа укажите номер предложения, содержащего правильный ответ на поставленный вопрос:
What is the Knowledge?
1) … the long training period.
2) … a licence.
3) … a series of tests.