Study Buddy (Challenger): 4 funicular railways around the world to visit after riding Hong Kong’s reopened Peak Tram

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  • A funicular is an inclined railway with two counterbalanced cars, and this type of railway can be found in Japan, Portugal, Hungary and South Africa
  • Study Buddy Challenger is for students who want to take their understanding to the next level with difficult vocabulary and questions that will test their inference skills
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When the Peak Tram first opened in 1888, it was the first of its kind in Asia. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Content provided by British Council

Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:

[1] Just as one iconic Hong Kong attraction bites the dust – or more accurately, the seabed – another has been restored and resuscitated. Unlike the Jumbo Restaurant, which mostly catered to tour groups, the Peak Tram is relied upon by commuters and other locals. To celebrate its reopening in August, let’s take a look at a few famous funicular railways, beginning with a definition.

[2] The word is derived from the Latin funiculus, meaning “rope” or “cord”, from which the cables were originally made. A funicular is an inclined railway with two counterbalanced cars, meaning the weight of the car going down pulls the other one up. They are usually built to run on a single track with a passing loop.

[3] Hong Kong’s much loved Peak Tram opened in 1888 and was the first of its kind in Asia. The coal-fired, steam-powered marvel carried 800 curious colonials on its first day of operation, compared with about 11,000 daily passengers more recently.

[4] In Tokyo, the Takao Tozan Railway’s two cars, Aoba (“green leaves”) and Momiji (“maple tree”), whisk passengers 271 metres up Mount Takao in five minutes. Autumn is the time to experience Japan’s steepest funicular, specifically from mid-November to early December, when trackside foliage offers up a pyrotechnic palette of purple, crimson and blazing gold. The month-long Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival draws large crowds, who enjoy dance and orchestral performances. The hiking and sightseeing spot is less than an hour from downtown Tokyo.

[5] Known for its canary yellow trams, Lisbon is also home to three funiculars, Glória, Bica and Lavra. The elevadores certainly come in handy, as the Portuguese capital is built on seven hills. The trio are listed as national monuments – although TripAdvisor comments suggest areas for improvement: “Charming, except for all the graffiti!” If you only have time for one ride, hop aboard Bica, which offers great views as it clanks its way up to the hilltop Bairro Alto (meaning “upper neighbourhood”), Lisbon’s foremost nightlife district.

[6] The Buda Castle Hill Funicular, in Budapest, Hungary, opened in 1870 and was the second of its kind in Europe. It transports passengers between the Danube River and the historical district of Castle Hill. Damaged during World War II, the funicular began operating again in 1986 and gained Unesco World Heritage status a year later. Dreamy Danube vistas, from the riverbank or high above the city at Buda Castle, are well worth the modest fare. The two carriages, named Margit and Gellért – after a Hungarian princess turned nun and a martyred bishop – used to travel faster but were slowed down when people complained there wasn’t enough time to appreciate the spectacular views.

[7] Replacing a bus service that operated on the route until 1996, the Cape Point Funicular, also called the Flying Dutchman Funicular (named after a mythical ghost ship), is the only one of its kind in Africa. In the Western Cape province of South Africa, each of the two cars can carry 40 passengers on a ride that lasts three minutes. The track rises 87 metres from the lower station, and it’s also possible to walk the route. From the summit of Cape Point, there are panoramic views of southwestern Africa and the Atlantic Ocean.

Source: South China Morning Post, August 26

The Flying Dutchman Funicular in South Africa has panoramic views of southwestern Africa. Photo: Captured on Facebook

Questions

1. In paragraph 1, which attraction has bitten the dust, and what does this mean? (2 marks)

2. Paragraph 2 provides an explanation of ...

A. the origins of a word

B. how a certain vehicle is made

C. the difference between two types of strings

D. a particular way of life

3. According to paragraph 4, what is the meaning of the names of Takao Tozan Railway’s cars?

4. In paragraph 4, “purple, crimson and blazing gold” refers to ...

5. According to paragraph 5, what complaint do some people have about Lisbon’s iconic trams?

6. In paragraph 5, what does the word “clank” imply about the Bica?

7. In paragraph 6, the Buda Castle Hill Funicular ceased operations for a period of time because ...

A. its path had to be diverted

B. of a lack of passengers

C. it was in need of repair

D. a member of the royal family ordered its closure

8. Which word in paragraph 7 refers to a view of a wide area of land?

9. Decide if the following statements are True, False or Not Given in the text. Blacken ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)

(i) The majority of those taking the Peak Tram are foreigners, followed by local residents.

(ii) Visitors who are interested in a glimpse of Lisbon’s nightlife ought to take the Bica.

(iii) It is possible to hike the route between the edge of the Danube River and Castle Hill.

(iv) Changes were made to the speed of the Buda Castle Hill Funicular because some people felt that it was too slow.

The three funiculars in Lisbon, Portugal are helpful for traversing the hilly city. Photo: Captured on Facebook

Answers

1. The Jumbo Restaurant has bitten the dust, and this means the restaurant has closed down permanently. (accept other similar answers)

2. A

3. green leaves and maple tree

4. the foliage passengers can see when taking the Takao Tozan Railway between mid-November and early December

5. They have graffiti on them.

6. It makes loud sounds when it moves. (accept other similar answers)

7. C

8. panoramic

9. (i) NG; (ii) T; (iii) NG; (iv) F

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