Traffic in London - PAU inglés Andalucía 2004 resuelto

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos Andalucía

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When cars first replaced horses in London, everyone was pleased. Thank goodness, the streets would no longer be full of smelly excrements. But Londoners have changed their minds about cars since then. In February 2003, in fact, the city introduced a plan to cut traffic and make it a nicer place to live in. All motorists coming into the capital between 7.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. have to pay a ₤5 admission fee.

The success of this system is highly unexpected. It was introduced by the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, in the face of opposition from business leaders, politicians, and a lot of people who just love their cars. Business leaders claimed that their companies would suffer, while politicians said it would unfairly penalise various groups. Even the Government took an attitude of wait and see. Against predictions, private traffic is now down by 20 per cent, while fees and fines provide ₤130 million each year for improving public transport.

In order to sell this plan to the public, you cannot just introduce it, you have to get people to accept it. If you ask motorists directly, they say no, but if you put it in a package with a reduction in the price of petrol, or in a package including better roads and better public transport, a majority of motorists will support it.

RESPUESTAS

I. READING COMPREHENSION

ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN   IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.                                                               

1) Why do you think Londoners have changed their minds about cars since they replaced horses in London?

• BECAUSE TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED TOO MUCH SINCE THEN

2) How does this system help public transport?

• BY COLLECTING MONEY FROM FEES AND FINES AND REDUCING PRIVATE TRAFFIC (both reasons must be given)  

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.

3) If motorists want to drive into London between 7.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., they are charged some money.

• TRUE All motorists coming into the capital between 7.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. have to pay a ₤5 admission fee. (line 4)

4) The Government agreed to support this plan introduced by the Mayor.

• FALSE …the Government took an attitude of wait and see. (line 8)

5) In spite of this plan, traffic has not decreased in London.

• FALSE …private traffic is now down by 20 per cent (line 9)

6) Most motorists will support the plan if it is combined with other measures.

• TRUE … if you put it in a package… a majority of motorists will support it. (lines 12-14)

II. USE OF ENGLISH

7) Give one synonym for PLEASED (adjective) (line 1)                      

• HAPPY, GLAD, DELIGHTED

8) Find in the text the word that has the following definition:           

    “Sum of money paid for breaking a law or rule”        

• FINE (line 9)

9) Give one adjective with the same root as SUCCESS (noun) (line 5)                              

• SUCCESSFUL

10)  Give one noun with the same root as IMPROVE (verb) (line 10)      

• IMPROVEMENT

11) Turn the following sentence into the active voice:          

      The scheme had been introduced by the Mayor, Ken Livingstone.

• THE MAYOR, KEN LIVINGSTONE, HAD INTRODUCED THE SCHEME

12) Complete the following sentence:                                                        

• If I were a driver,… I WOULD NEVER DRIVE INTO LONDON

13) Turn the following sentence into reported speech:              

      In 2001 the councillor said: “The city will launch a radical traffic plan next February”

• IN 2001 THE COUNCILLOR SAID (THAT) THE CITY WOULD LAUNCH A RADICAL TRAFFIC PLAN THE FOLLOWING FEBRUARY/THE NEXT FEBRUARY

14) Give a question for the underlined words:                                           

      This system has been running for two years.

• HOW LONG HAS THIS SYSTEM BEEN RUNNING? (“FOR HOW MANY YEARS?” NOT ACCEPTABLE)

+EXÁMENES RESUELTOS