When people think of tuk-tuks, they often picture small, three-wheeled vehicles buzzing through crowded city streets. Known for being affordable and nimble (灵活的) in heavy traffic, these rides are a common sight across Asia, Africa, and South America. However, there is another side to the tuk-tuk that goes beyond everyday transport—it has become the heart of a thrilling motorsport.

Tuk-tuk racing may sound unusual, but in countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand, it has grown into a popular yearly event. Though the sport likely existed locally for some time, it began gaining international attention around 2017. The real turning point came in 2020, when Red Bull — known for sponsoring extreme sports — organized the “Red Bull Tuk-It” race. This two-day, 80-mile competition attracted 200 teams from around the world and put tuk-tuk racing on the global map for the first time.

Unlike Formula 1, where speed is everything, tuk-tuk racing focuses on balance, control, and teamwork. The vehicles are not built for speed; even the world’s fastest custom tuk-tuk only reaches about 81 km/h. Ordinary ones move much more slowly. The challenge lies in keeping the three-wheeled vehicle upright on rough dirt roads, muddy paths, and narrow alleys. Teammates must shift their body weight carefully during turns to prevent tipping over, making coordination as important as driving skill.

Despite the slow speeds, the sport is far from safe. Accidents can lead to serious injuries, and breakdowns or stuck vehicles are common amid challenging terrains (地形) like mountains and jungles. Yet these difficulties are part of what tests a team’s ability and adds to the excitement. For spectators, the unpredictable nature of each race creates a lively and entertaining atmosphere.

1.1.What can we infer from the first paragraph about tuk-tuks?

A They are costly.

B They have two roles.

C They are only in Asia.

D They are always slow.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。第一段首先描述 tuk-tuks 作为日常交通工具的特点（便宜、灵活、常见于多洲），接着用 “However” 转折指出它还有另一个角色——成为激动人心的赛车运动的核心。由此可推断，tuk-tuks 具有双重角色：日常交通工具和赛车工具。A 项与文中 “affordable”（价格实惠）矛盾；C 项 “only in Asia” 与文中提到的亚洲、非洲、南美洲不符；D 项 “always slow” 在首段未提及，且后文提到赛车时涉及速度变化，并非总是慢速。因此 B 项正确。

2.2. Why is the year 2020 important for tuk-tuk racing?

A It was first invented locally.

B It became a yearly event then.

C It gained worldwide attention.

D It reached its highest speed.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。第二段明确提到：“The real turning point came in 2020, when Red Bull... organized the ‘Red Bull Tuk-It’ race. ... put tuk-tuk racing on the global map for the first time.” 这说明 2020 年是 tuk-tuk 赛车首次获得全球关注的关键年份。A 项错误，因为赛车早在 2020 年前就已本地存在；B 项错误，文中说在斯里兰卡和泰国它早已是 “popular yearly event”；D 项错误，最高速度在第三段提及，但未说明是 2020 年达到的。因此 C 项正确。

3.3. How is tuk-tuk racing’s challenge different from Formula 1?

A It needs more balance and teamwork.

B It needs more money.

C It uses faster vehicles.

D It has more participants.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。第三段首句直接对比：“Unlike Formula 1, where speed is everything, tuk-tuk racing focuses on balance, control, and teamwork.” 后文进一步解释挑战在于保持三轮车在崎岖路面上的平衡，需要队员配合移动身体重量。因此，与 F1 注重速度不同，tuk-tuk 赛车更注重平衡和团队合作。B 项（需要更多钱）、C 项（使用更快的车辆）、D 项（更多参与者）均未在文中提及。故 A 项正确。

4.4. What attracts spectators to tuk-tuk races?

A Serious accidents often happen.

B The vehicles run extremely fast.

C Joining the race is cheap.

D They are full of surprises.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。 第四段末尾提到：“For spectators, the unpredictable nature of each race creates a lively and entertaining atmosphere.” 说明比赛的不可预测性（如车辆故障、地形挑战等）创造了热闹有趣的氛围，这正是吸引观众之处。A 项错误，严重事故是风险，但并非观众观看的原因；B 项错误，文中强调 tuk-tuks 速度慢；C 项错误，参赛成本未提及。因此 D 项 “比赛充满惊喜” 与 “unpredictable nature” 相符。故选D。