TEST 26
Questions 1-7. Match the following headings (A-H) to the texts (Q1-Q7).
Note: There is one extra heading which you do not need to use.
HEADINGS:
A) Controlling skies
B) Lack of safety
C) Bicycle is faster
D) Office at home
E) Blocked roads
F) Paid roads
G) Improving railways
H) Buses instead of cars
Q1.
The world’s first public passenger railway was built in Great Britain in 1826 and ran between the industrial
north-eastern towns of Stockton and Darlington. After 180 years’ experience the British say that their trains
still don’t seem to run efficiently or even safely. On average, about 500 accidents with
broken rail tracks
happen in the country every year.
Q2.
The British government is promising to give £33.5 billion to modernise the railways before 2010. Another
£30 billion is to come from the private sector. The main target is to increase safety and speed. For example,
new London-to-Scotland high-speed trains significantly reduce journey times and in 2004 a
warning
system was installed throughout the country.
Q3.
Statistics show that only 12% of all journeys made in Britain are by public transport. The remaining 88%
are made by car. Every year British people spend about two weeks travelling to and from work including
nine days in their own cars. But anyone will say this isn’t a quick and easy way to travel. In fact,
a journey
from London to Manchester frequently takes seven hours. A cyclist could get there quicker.
Q4.
Every year there are about half a million traffic jams in Britain. That is nearly 10,000 a week. There are
hundreds of big traffic jams every day.
According to the forecast, the number of jams will grow by 20 per
cent over the next ten years. Nearly a quarter British people find themselves in a jam every day and 55 per
cent at least once a week.
