How do you get to work? Walk? Bus? Train? River? The last one might sound abnormal, but it is a route of travel for people in the city of Basel, Switzerland. Here, the Rhine river has become a famous swimming spot and one that some people even use as a mode of transportation, floating along with their belongings stored in waterproof bags.

To get from point A to point B, people in Basel don’t simply dive in with their clothes on, but instead pack their belongings into a Wickelfisch that will keep everything dry until they’ve reached their destination. This has made the Wickelfisch a popular accessory in Basel, where it can be found on sale in lots of shops.

Strong swimmers are encouraged to enjoy the stretch between the Wettsteinbrücke and Johanniterbrücke bridges and let the current do the work. Given rivers are typically one-directional (though they do sometimes run backwards) you’re looking at a return journey on foot, but drifting down a river to work is a dreamy way to start the day.

Basel isn’t alone in using the river for recreation and the occasional commute (通勤), reports Business Insider. There are also swimmers in Bern — Switzerland’s capital city — who have used the Aare River as a means of transport, floating along with waterproof bags.

“I only had like 30 seconds walking from my office to the river,” Evelyn Schneider-Reyes, a local resident, told Le News. “I had an ‘Aare Bag’, where I put all my clothes, my smartphone, wallet and shoes. I put on my bathing suit and swam home.”

Considering that emissions data has found more traditional routes of commute like planes, trains, and automobiles to be the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, perhaps it’s time more of us got creative with our journeys to the office.

1.Why does the author raise the questions at the beginning of the text?

A To invite some readers to answer them.

B To draw readers’ attention to the topic.

C To test readers’ knowledge about commuting.

D To show the importance of rivers.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。文章开头作者提出了一系列问题“你怎么去上班?走路?公共汽车?火车?河吗?”然后作者针对最后一个问题进行描述，主要是为了吸引读者的注意到以河流作为交通工具这个话题上来。故选B。

2.What is a Wickelfisch according to the text?

A A famous bridge.

B A means of transport.

C An inessential accessory.

D A waterproof bag.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句“floating along with their belongings stored in waterproof bags”和第二段第一句的“a Wickelfisch that will keep everything dry until they’ve reached their destination”可知，当地有一种名叫“Wickelfisch”的游泳专用防水袋，拥有极其强大的防水功能。故选D。

3.What’s the author’s attitude to the river as a means of transport?

A Skeptical.

B Disapproving.

C Tolerant.

D Supportive.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据最后一段内容可知，考虑到碳排放，数据发现，飞机、火车和汽车等更传统的通勤方式是最大的温室气体排放源，结合最后一句“perhaps it’s time more of us got creative with our journeys to the office”可知，作者对于以河流作为通勤交通工具持赞成态度。故选D。

4.What is the purpose of the passage?

A To persuade.

B To introduce.

C To appeal.

D To advertise.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。本文主要向我们介绍瑞士一个城市的一些人通过游泳上下班的相关情况。故选B。