Public Transport and Urban Mobility

Reading passage
A
Public transport refers to buses, trains, and other vehicles that carry many people at the same time. These services are available to everyone in a city or town. Most public transport systems charge a small fee for each trip. In large cities, millions of people use public transport every day to travel to work, school, or shops. Public transport helps reduce the number of private cars on the road. This is important because fewer cars mean less traffic and cleaner air.
B
Buses are the most common type of public transport in cities around the world. They run on fixed routes and stop at specific places along the street. Passengers wait at bus stops and pay when they get on the bus. In some cities, people buy tickets before boarding. Buses can carry between 30 and 100 passengers depending on their size. They are cheaper to operate than trains because they do not need special tracks. However, buses often get stuck in traffic, which makes journeys slower.
C
Underground trains, also called subways or metros, run in tunnels below the city streets. They are very fast because they avoid traffic completely. Cities like London, Paris, and Tokyo have large underground train networks. These systems can move thousands of people every hour. Building underground railways is very expensive because workers must dig deep tunnels. As a result, only large and wealthy cities can afford to build them. Despite the high cost, underground trains are popular because they save time for travellers.
D
Light rail systems are a type of electric train that runs on tracks at street level. They are smaller and lighter than regular trains. Light rail vehicles often share the road with cars and buses in city centres. They are quieter than buses and produce no air pollution because they use electricity. Many cities have built light rail systems in recent years. These systems cost less than underground railways but more than bus networks. They work well in medium-sized cities that need better transport than buses can provide.
E
Public transport offers important benefits for the environment. Cars and motorcycles produce gases that pollute the air and contribute to climate change. When people use buses or trains instead of driving, fewer vehicles are on the road. This means less fuel is burned and less pollution is created. One full bus can replace 40 private cars on the road. In cities with good public transport, air quality is often better than in cities where most people drive cars. This leads to fewer health problems for residents.
F
The cost of public transport affects how many people use it. In some cities, governments keep ticket prices low to encourage more passengers. They pay for the transport system using taxes collected from citizens. In other places, passengers must pay the full cost of their journey. When tickets are expensive, many people choose to drive instead. Research shows that people are more likely to use public transport when it costs less than running a car. Affordable fares help attract more passengers and reduce traffic problems.
G
Many cities are working to improve their public transport systems. They are adding more bus routes and increasing the number of trains. Some cities are building new railway lines to connect different areas. Modern technology also helps make public transport better. Passengers can now use mobile phone apps to check bus and train times. Electronic payment systems allow people to pay fares quickly using cards or phones. These improvements make public transport easier and more convenient to use. As a result, more people choose public transport over driving their own cars.

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Questions 1 to 20

Answer the following questions based on the passage

1.Public transport refers to buses, trains, and other vehicles that carry many people at the ___.

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2.Most public transport systems charge a ___ for each trip.

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3.Public transport helps reduce the number of ___ on the road.

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4.___ are the most common type of public transport in cities around the world.

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5.Buses run on ___ and stop at specific places along the street.

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6.Buses can carry between ___ passengers depending on their size.

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7.Buses are cheaper to operate than trains because they do not need ___.

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8.Underground trains run in ___ below the city streets.

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9.Underground trains are very fast because they avoid ___ completely.

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10.Underground train systems can move ___ every hour.

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11.Building underground railways is very expensive because workers must dig ___.

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12.Light rail systems are a type of electric train that runs on tracks at ___.

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13.Light rail vehicles are quieter than buses and produce no air pollution because they use ___.

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14.Light rail systems cost less than underground railways but more than ___.

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15.Cars and motorcycles produce gases that pollute the air and contribute to ___.

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16.One full bus can replace ___ on the road.

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17.In cities with good public transport, ___ is often better than in cities where most people drive cars.

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18.In some cities, governments keep ___ low to encourage more passengers.

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19.Governments pay for the transport system using ___ collected from citizens.

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20.Passengers can now use ___ to check bus and train times.

0 / 3 words