READING
1 Read the article and tick () A, B, or C.
A radical transport system
As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, there has been a huge increase in China’s
urban population. With so many more people also able to afford cars, China’s cities now
have some of the biggest traffic congestion problems and produce more pollution than any
other country in the world.
But one Chinese engineer, Youzhou Song, has designed an exciting solution: the straddling
bus (a bus which goes across and above part of the road, like a moving bridge). This bus,
which looks like a train, holds passengers on the top level while cars can continue to drive
beneath. The bus, travelling at about 40 kilometres an hour, will not move as fast as a car,
but it will never have the problems of traffic jams. It is as wide as two lanes of the road, but it
won’t slow down the traffic. It can carry 1,200 passengers, and replace up to 40 conventional
buses, saving 860 tons of fuel and 2,640 tons of carbon emissions per year. As it also runs
on a combination of electricity and solar power, it offers a much greener, cleaner, quieter
and more economical form of transport. It is also three times faster and ten times cheaper to
build than the same length of underground railway. Designed with a huge window in the top
of the bus, it is also a lighter and more cheerful way to travel!
Youzhou Song has thought of everything. The bus will follow fixed routes and passengers
will board the bus from stations above the ground. These stations will also recharge the bus
with electricity. If you’re worried about the bus crashing into other vehicles, don’t be. A
system of lights and alarms will stop this from happening. Youzhou Song has even designed
escape doors which open at the side in an emergency, just like on an aeroplane.
If tests on the new technology go well, Song’s company is talking about building over 180
kilometres of bus route. Los Angeles is also interested in this idea for solving traffic problems
and, who knows? We may all be looking forward to a new era of elevated bus travel!
Example: The Chinese economy has grown _____.
A very fast B faster than any other country C very slowly
1 In recent years, the traffic in China has got _____.
A faster B better C worse
2 An engineer has designed _____ to resolve traffic congestion.
A a train B a bus C a bridge
3 The new vehicle will travel more slowly than _____.
A a car B a normal bus C all other traffic
4 _____ will be used to run the new system.
A Only electricity B 860 tons of fuel C Electricity and solar power
5 The other forms of transport are not as _____ as the new system.
A noisy B quiet C expensive
6 The bus will get electricity from _____.
A the stations B the ground C the route
7 A safety system will stop accidents with _____.
A pedestrians B traffic lights C cars
8 There are plans to build _____ kilometres of bus route.
A more than 180 B 40 C almost 180
2 Read the article again. Mark the sentences T (true) or F (false).
Example: Many more people live in cities in China than in the past. T
1 Traffic has got worse in China because more people have cars. _____
2 The new bus will carry 40 people. _____
3 Cars and the new bus will use different levels. _____
4 It is three times faster to build than the underground railway. _____
5 The new bus will not pollute the city as much as the old buses. _____
6 There will be an escape system similar to an aeroplane’s. _____
7 China is the only country interested in this new bus system. _____
3. WRITING
A foreign exchange student is coming to stay. Write an email to welcome him / her and send
some information about where you live. (140–180 words)
Begin the email with this introduction:
I’m really looking forward to seeing you. Let me tell you about my town.
• How big is it?
• What is interesting about it?
• What do you like best about it?
• What is the transport system like?
