Beijing will complete construction of five new subway lines and start work on another four this year, authorities said yesterday.

The Beijing municipal commission of development and reform says the five new lines will add up to more than 300 kilometers.

Other trains will come on line in future years. One high-speed subway will be able to handle maglev trains capable of speeds of 160 kilometers per hour, twice as fast as standard underground trains. That train scheduled to open in 2015.

Beijing now has nine subway lines under construction.

The average number of daily subway passengers in Beijing was 4.8 million in 2009, accounting for 34 percent of the total number of passengers that use public transport.

Questions:

1: Why does Beijing need new subway lines?

2. How many kilometers will these five new subway lines add to Beijing’s subway system?

3. Will all trains resemble traditional subway cars?

Answers:

1. Beijing reports 4.8 million daily subway passengers, which means there clearly is a need for subways.

2. The five new trains will add 300 kilometers to the system.

3. One high-speed subway will be able to handle Maglev trains capable of speeds of 160 kilometers per hour. That’s twice as fast as standard underground trains.

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

Todd Balazovic is a reporter for the Metro Section of China Daily. Born in Mineapolis Minnesota in the US, he graduated from Central Michigan University and has worked for the China daily for one year.