Cars in the future will be self-driving, so they won't have a _______________.

______________ are designed to optimize traffic on highways by making the traffic more fluid with so many streets .

Many argue that the minimum age to legally obtain a ____________ should be 21.

You __________________ text while you are driving.

You _______________ with a red pen in the exam yesterday, the teacher got really mad.

My dad _______________ jeans at school. They had a special rule against it.

Lizeth ___________ last week. Now it is too late. she failed most of her exams.

Guys, you can't sleepover. We _____________________ that!!! Sorry!!

My mind often _____________ when I'm doing my homework and working on my projects.

I get ________________________ by complex concepts and elaborated methodologies.

A recent investigation into the human brain found that those struggling _______ a puzzle give up very easily.

I have tried to give up _____________________ several times but I can't simple manage to do so.

I always avoid ________________________my opinion when it comes to conspiracies. it's all non-sense and absurd stubborn ideas and people get really mad when making their point.

When I was on my way to school I stopped ________________________ / ______________ a phone call. I had something urgent to tell my girl and it is dangerous to call while driving.

Researches suggest ________________ a comedy sketch or a film that people know will bring a smile to their face.

I can't understand why my dad can't simply let ______________ to the party.

After her first psychology seminar on "the mind", Jennifer felt she hadn't fully _____________ to what the lecturer was explaining.

She had only ____________ a few ideas so she asked Sasha for help.

They looked at each other's notes and _______________________ as to what the lecturer had explained.

Finally she went out for some coffee with a friend that was in the last semester. Talking __________ with her friend fully helped her to really grasp all the concepts and it dawned on her.

LISTENING Why didn't the first speaker pass his first driving test?

How did the frist speaker react to passing his test?

How did the second speaker feel before the test?

How did the second speaker fail her test?

How was the third speaker affected by taking her driving test the day after she applied?

LISTENING 2 What does the speaker say about her daughter?

What is the speaker´s attitude towards the younger generation?

The speaker thinks that friendship ...

The speaker says that children are self-centered because...

What does the speaker suggest about the younger generaton?

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. (1) ___________________________

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. (2) ___________________________

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. (3) ___________________________

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. (4) ___________________________

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. (5) ___________________________

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. TRUE/FALSE (6) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau's main concern was to reduce pollution from transportation.

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. TRUE/FALSE (7) It is thought that more pollution comes from factories and power plants than transport.

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. TRUE/FALSE (8) The experiment in November 2006 was repeated again during the Olympic Games.

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. TRUE/FALSE (9) The government is planning other traffic reduction policies

READING Driving in the capital of China Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking to the road, in 2006, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it could deal with this grave environmental problem. Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. The cause was pollution emitted from public transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground in the form of dense smog. (2) The effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. Those particularly affected were babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct consequence. A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. The experiment took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes. During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. The government brought in an even-odd licence plate system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4) The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion, and the levels of pollution within the city diminished. Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. The city now has thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. This is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively. Today, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that the city is now becoming cleaner. The cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants can see the real colour of their sky. A The high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week. B The results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded. C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars, buildings and the city’s water supply. D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day. F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations. G When the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines. (10) Drivers follow the system to avoid paying a fine.