Question

What causes traffic jams? Too many cars, right? No! Some Brits are now saying that traffic lights are to blame for much of the congestion（交通拥挤）. They suggest that traffic lights be removed at busy roads. They believe people are a better judge of when it’s safe to go, not a traffic light programmed by an absent regulator.

A report from the Institute of Economic Affairs, a UK think tank（智囊团）, argues that abolishing traffic signals would decrease congestion, reduce exhaust emissions（废气排放）and improve safety.

The report said that removing lights should also prevent other bad behavior caused by signals, such as speeding up to catch a green light. It would also avoid the wasted time when drivers have to sit at a red light even if no one is using the green.

The idea may sound strange, but it’s not new. Seven cities and regions in Europe are experimenting with no-lights roads.

Drachten in the Netherlands has got rid of 16 of its traffic light crossings and changed the other two to roundabouts under a “shared space” scheme. At crossings, cyclists dutifully raise their arm when they want to make a turn, and drivers follow a first-arrived, first-through approach and communicate by hand signs, nods and waving.

The result? Typical journey time has been cut in half, and accidents and congestion have mostly disappeared.

There have been small collisions but no problem, said Hans Monderman, creator of the scheme. “We want small accidents, in order to prevent serious ones. It works well because it’s dangerous. The driver has to be responsible for his or her own risk.

“The many rules take away the ability to be considerate,” Monderman added. “We’re losing our responsibility for socially responsible behavior.”

So far, Drachten’s locals have called the experiment a success. “I am used to it now,” said Helena Spaanstra, 24. “You drive more slowly and carefully, but somehow you seem to get around town quicker.”

Tony Ooostward, 70, was equally enthusiastic. “I am a walker and now you are the boss at the crossroads, everyone waits for you. But at the same time walkers wait until there are a number of people wanting to cross at the same time.”

Owen Paterson, UK’s Shadow Transport Minister, visited Drachten. He said Britain should learn from the model. “The idea is to create space where there is mild anxiety among everyone so they all behave cautiously. No one drives fast along a busy street thinking that they have right of way.”

60.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Don’t Count On Traffic Lights              B. New Traffic Systems Needed

C. Turn Those Traffic Lights Off         D. Let People Have More Say In Traffic

61.According to the report from the Institute of Economic Affairs, abolishing traffic lights would NOT lead to ____.

A. more time being saved                   B. reduction of traffic jams

C. improvement of the environment    D. right of way being taken for granted

62.The underlined word “collision” in Paragraph 7 means closest to ____.

A. jam     B. accident     C. trouble     D. congestion

63.From the passage we can see that the experiment in Drachten worked well because ____.

A. walkers have become the boss of the crossroads

B. cyclists, walkers and drivers each have specially designed routes

C. everyone finds that they have to do their share in regulating traffic

D. drivers are more careful and wait for eyclists or walkers to pass first

Answer 1

【小题1】C

【小题2】D

【小题3】B

【小题4】C