Alternative Transportation
A Transportation is a major issue in urban areas around the world. Rising
fuel costs, environmental problems, and traffic-clogged roads are some
of the concerns that have led people to consider alternative forms of
transportation.
B Fuel-efficient cars and cars that run on alternative sources of energy
are receiving increasing interest as people become more concerned
about the costs of using gasoline. These costs include not only the ever-
increasing price of filing up a car’s fuel tank but also the environmental
costs of emitting huge amounts of car exhaust into the atmosphere.
Climate change is an issue of global concern. Closer to home, cities have
to consider the effects on the health of their citizens. Car emissions have
been linked to a range of health problems, particularly respiratory
problems. For example, studies have linked childhood asthma and
stunted lung growth to exposure to car exhaust in the air. Research has
also made connections between car emissions and heart disease,
certain cancers, and immune system problems.
C The popularity of smaller, more fuel efficient cars is on the rise. Hybrid
vehicles are also becoming more common. These cars have two
engines— one that is battery powered and one that is gasoline powered.
The battery- powered engine gets the car moving from a standstill. Once
the car reaches a certain speed, the gasoline engine, which is more
efficient at higher speeds, takes over to keep the car moving. There is
also a growing interest in cars that are completely battery powered.
These are cars that would be plugged into an electric outlet to recharge
when not in use. Many consider such vehicles to be the car of the future.
However, as long as the electricity is generated by coal-burning plants, as
is often the case, these cars cannot be considered as using clean energy.
Solar cars and hydrogen cars are other “clean technologies that are
receiving attention and hopes for the future.
D Car emissions are the most serious source of concern, but the sheer
number of vehicles on the road —over 250 million in the United States
alone and over one billion worldwide—has other repercussions, as well.
The roads and highways that are built to accommodate the growing
number of cars in use are a source of pollution themselves. Ground that
is covered with pavement cannot absorb rainwater, thus motor oil and
other pollutants are washed off the roads and into lakes, rivers, and the
ocean. Chemicals, herbicides, concrete, asphalt, paint, and other
materials that are used during road construction also contribute to
environmental pollution.
E Personal convenience and health are also affected. While private cars
are seen as a convenient way to get from place to place, crowded roads
mean traffic moves much more slowly, making it difficult to travel,
especially during “rush hour” periods. And people who spend hours each
day sitting in cars stuck in traffic are not standing up, moving around, or
getting any sort of exercise, a situation that can lead to a variety of health
problems.
F Thus, in addition to developing passenger cars that run on alternative
sources of fuel, we also need to look at alternative forms of
transportation. These would include walking, bicycle riding, carpooling,
and various types of public transportation. The benefits of walking and
cycling are obvious. They cause no pollution and improve physical
health. Car pools—several people sharing a ride in a private car—mean
fewer cars on the road and allow the riders to share the expenses
involved. Public transportation— buses, subways, commuter trains—has
many benefits, as well. For one, it may provide users with opportunities
for physical exercise as people have to get from their homes to the bus
stops and train stations, and this is often done on foot. There are also
mental health benefits, as relaxing on a train or bus while reading the
newspaper or listening to music is a good deal less stressful than driving
one’s own car through rush hour traffic. All of these forms of
transportation decrease the number of cars on the roads and greatly
reduce emissions. Looking toward the future, cities need to pay as much
attention, or more, to public transportation and to accommodating
walkers and cyclists as they do to building roads and accommodating
drivers of passenger cars.
Questions 1-5
The list below shows some problems that are associated with the use of
private cars.
Which FIVE of these problems are mentioned in the article?
A Social isolation
B High maintenance costs
C Air pollution
D Noise pollution
E Traffic congestion
F Stress
G Lack of parking space
H Rising price of gasoline
I Reduced opportunities for physical exercise
1…………………..
2…………………..
3…………………..
4…………………..
5…………………..
Questions 6-13
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the
passage? In boxes 6-13 on your answer sheet write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
6 Car emissions can contribute to illnesses of the respiratory system.
7 Cars are the largest source of environmental pollution in the modern
world.
8 People are becoming more interested in hybrid cars.
9 Electric cars don’t pollute the environment.
10 Solar-powered cars are currently too expensive for the average person
to own.
11 Roads and highways contribute to water pollution.
12 Bicycle riding has health benefits.
13 Car pools can reduce individuals’ transportation costs.
