TOEFL Topic: On the road Go Back

Exercise 1 - Some of the words and phrases from the box below have been defined in sentences 1 – 16. In some cases, these definitions are correct, and in some they are incorrect. Decide which are which.

  1. Rush hour is the time of day when there are not many vehicles on the road because most people are at home. Correct / Incorrect
  2. If a service such as public transportation is subsidized, all of its running costs are paid for by the government or a local authority. Correct / Incorrect
  3. A traffic school is a school for people who want to learn to drive a motor vehicle. Correct / Incorrect
  4. An expressway is a wide road (usually in a city) where people can drive quickly, and is the US equivalent of a British dual carriageway. Correct / Incorrect
  5. Road rage is anger or violent behavior by one driver towards another driver. Correct / Incorrect
  6. Traffic calming measures are fines and other penalties imposed by the police on bad or dangerous drivers. Correct / Incorrect
  7. In the United States, the interstate is part of the national public transportation system (including trains and buses) which people use to travel around the country. Correct / Incorrect
  8. Someone who has been accused of joyriding has stolen a car in order to drive it for pleasure, usually in a dangerous way. Correct / Incorrect
  9. A turnpike is a main road in the eastern part of the United States that drivers must pay to use. Correct / Incorrect
  10. Someone who backs out in a vehicle drives it very quickly and dangerously, usually in a busy or built-up area. Correct / Incorrect
  11. A cycle lane is a part of the road that is set aside for people on bicycles, and which may not be used by drivers of motor vehicles. Correct / Incorrect
  12. A traffic-free zone is a main road between major towns and cities that drivers do not have to pay to use. Correct / Incorrect
  13. Fatalities (in this context) refers to people who are injured in accidents on the road. Correct / Incorrect
  14. A black spot is a place on a road where a lot of car accidents happen. Correct / Incorrect
  15. A mile is a measure of distance equivalent to 1.609 kilometers. Correct / Incorrect
  16. A sidewalk is a part of the road in a town or city where drivers can park their vehicle. Correct / Incorrect
  1. Incorrect. Rush hour is the time of day when there are a lot of vehicles on the road because most people are traveling to or from work.
  2. Incorrect. Part of its operating costs are paid for by the government or a local authority.
  3. Incorrect. In the United States, a traffic school is a school where drivers are sent to correct their bad driving (usually offered as an alternative to another form of punishment such as a fine or prison sentence when the driver has done something dangerous or caused an accident).
  4. Correct.
  5. Correct.
  6. Incorrect. Traffic calming refers to methods used to slow down traffic in towns and cities (for example, by building raised areas across roads). It is a British-English expression that is becoming more widely used in the United States.
  7. Incorrect. The interstate is a wide road with several lanes of traffic going in each direction, built for fast travel over long distances as part of a national road system.
  8. Correct.
  9. Correct.
  10. Incorrect. Back out is another expression for to reverse (to move a car backwards).
  11. Correct.
  12. Incorrect. A traffic-free zone is an area where you cannot drive a vehicle (including, in some cases and at some times, bicycles).
  13. Incorrect. Fatalities are people who are killed in accidents on the road.
  14. Correct
  15. Correct
  16. Incorrect. A sidewalk is an area to the side of a road where people can walk.

Exercise 2 - Complete this article with appropriate words and phrases from the box in Exercise 1. You may need to change the form of some of the words.

(1) _____________ and (2) _____________ on our roads are increasing from year to year: last year, 2,827 people were killed and almost 300,000 hurt in traffic-related accidents in the state. Most of these were caused by drivers (3) _____________ in built-up areas, where many seem to disregard the 30mph (4) _____________, or (5) _____________, especially around July 4th and Thanksgiving, when more alcohol is consumed than at any other time of the year. In many cases, it is (6) _____________ who are the victims, knocked down as they are walking across the street at (7) _____________ by drivers who seem to have forgotten that a red (8) _____________ means 'Stop'. But these innocent victims, together with the help of the highway patrol and local safety groups, are fighting back. In New Stockholm, a city plagued by (9) _____________ and (10) _____________ caused by traffic, and a notorious accident (11) _____________ for pedestrians and cyclists, the city council has recently implemented its new (12) _____________, which has improved the flow of traffic to the benefit of those on foot or on two wheels. (13) _____________ measures such as speed bumps have slowed traffic down. (14) _____________ schemes have helped reduce the number of cars in the city, as office workers and shoppers leave their cars outside the city and bus in instead. Lincoln Street, the main shopping thoroughfare, has been designated a (15) _____________, closed to all vehicles during the day. There are more (16) _____________ on main routes into the city, making it safer for the huge number of students and residents who rely on bicycles to get around. And (17) _____________ public transportation has helped to keep down the cost of using buses. Meanwhile, the police and the courts are coming down hard on drivers who misuse the roads, handing down large (18) _____________ or even jail sentences to selfish, inconsiderate drivers who believe it is their right to (19) _____________ the roads; for these people, (20) _____________ is not offered as a softer alternative.

(1) injuries and (2) fatalities on our roads are increasing from year to year: last year, 2,827 people were killed and almost 300,000 hurt in traffic-related accidents in the state. Most of these were caused by drivers (3) speeding in built-up areas, where many seem to disregard the 30mph (4) speed limit, or (5) drink-driving, especially around July 4th and Thanksgiving, when more alcohol is consumed than at any other time of the year. In many cases, it is (6) pedestrians who are the victims, knocked down as they are walking across the street at (7) crosswalks by drivers who seem to have forgotten that a red (8) traffic light means 'Stop'. But these innocent victims, together with the help of the highway patrol and local safety groups, are fighting back. In New Stockholm, a city plagued by (9) congestion and (10) pollution caused by traffic, and a notorious accident (11) black spot for pedestrians and cyclists, the city council has recently implemented its new (12) transport strategy, which has improved the flow of traffic to the benefit of those on foot or on two wheels. (13) Traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps have slowed traffic down. (14) Park and ride schemes have helped reduce the number of cars in the city, as office workers and shoppers leave their cars outside the city and bus in instead. Lincoln Street, the main shopping thoroughfare, has been designated a (15) traffic-free zone / pedestrian mall, closed to all vehicles during the day. There are more (16) cycle lanes on main routes into the city, making it safer for the huge number of students and residents who rely on bicycles to get around. And (17) subsidized public transportation has helped to keep down the cost of using buses. Meanwhile, the police and the courts are coming down hard on drivers who misuse the roads, handing down large (18) fines or even jail sentences to selfish, inconsiderate drivers who believe it is their right to (19) dominate the roads; for these people, (20) traffic school is not offered as a softer alternative.