CPE Reading and Use of English Part 5
You are going to read an article about public transport and rising car ownership. For questions 31-36 choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Caught in the Traffic: Cities at a Crossroads
At seven-thirty on a weekday morning, the roads leading into most major cities begin to resemble slow-moving car parks. Engines idle, tempers fray, and the promise of a swift commute dissolves into a daily test of patience. The surprising thing is that it unfolds in cities that have spent decades investing heavily in public transport. Underground lines extend further than ever, tram networks have been revived, and bus fleets have been modernised, with routes reaching far beyond city limits. Yet despite these efforts, the number of private cars on the road continues to rise, steadily eroding the advantages such systems were designed to provide.
For many suburban commuters, the decision to drive is not always born of preference, but of frustration. A journey that should, in theory, be straightforward can become unpredictable when it depends on multiple connections, each vulnerable to delay. Miss one train or bus, and the entire schedule unravels. Over time, these small nuisances add up, nudging even the most environmentally conscious travellers towards the perceived dependability of their own vehicle. Ironically, as more individuals choose to do so, the roads become less reliable too, trapping everyone in the very congestion they had hoped to avoid.
This growing dependence on private cars has consequences that extend beyond the traffic jams, that have long become the norm. Buses and trams, which often share road space with cars, are inevitably slowed down, making them less attractive to passengers. As service efficiency declines, so too does ridership, reducing revenue and limiting the capacity for further investment. What emerges is a gradual, almost imperceptible public transportation death spiral — with each small shift away from public transport making the system incrementally weaker.
City authorities have not been blind to these developments. Measures such as congestion charges, restricted traffic zones, and dedicated lanes for buses have all been introduced with the aim of rebalancing the system. In some cases, these initiatives have delivered measurable improvements, particularly where enforcement is consistent and alternatives are readily available. Elsewhere, however, their impact has been diluted by political resistance or partial implementation, leading to outcomes that fall short of expectations.
Alongside these efforts, cycling has been promoted as a practical and affordable alternative, especially for shorter journeys. In cities that have invested in protected bike lanes and integrated cycling into their transport planning, the results have been striking: more people on bicycles, fewer short car trips, and a noticeable shift in how urban space is used. Nevertheless, such success stories remain uneven. In many places, cyclists must still contend with fragmented infrastructure and safety risks that discourage widespread adoption, particularly among less confident riders.
Hovering over all of this is the longer-term issue of urban sprawl. As property prices in city centres continue to climb, increasing numbers of people are pushed further out, into suburbs and satellite towns. For these residents, the daily commute often involves significant distances, and public transport options may be limited, complicated, or time-consuming. Faced with these constraints, the car becomes less a luxury and more a necessity — a tool for navigating a system that does not fully accommodate their needs.
What makes the situation particularly difficult to resolve is that each of these factors reinforces the others. Expanding road capacity may offer temporary relief but ultimately encourages more driving. Improving public transport requires substantial investment, which is harder to justify if passenger numbers are falling. Encouraging cycling demands infrastructure as much as a cultural shift in how cities prioritise different modes of transport. There is no single solution, and attempts to only address singular aspects of the problem are unlikely to succeed.
If there is a lesson to be drawn, it is that urban transport systems function as interconnected ecosystems rather than independent components. Policies that fail to recognise this complexity risk producing unintended consequences. Without a coordinated approach — one that simultaneously improves public transport, supports alternative modes such as cycling, and discourages unnecessary car use — cities may find themselves locked into patterns of congestion that risk becoming too difficult to reverse, and no amount of funding will be able to address it.
31 What is the main point made in the first paragraph?
A Public transport systems have expanded beyond what cities require.
B Investment in public transport has failed to reduce car usage.
C Increasing car ownership is diminishing the benefits of public transport.
D Traffic congestion is primarily caused by poor urban planning.
32 What does the writer suggest about suburban commuters?
A They tend to underestimate the impact of their travel choices.
B They are gradually becoming more dependent on private cars.
C Their preference for driving is largely based on convenience.
D Their decisions are largely shaped by the unreliability of public transport.
33 The third paragraph suggests that the decline in public transport
A is to a great extent the result of deliberate policy decisions.
B occurs progressively as a consequence of shifting user behaviour.
C is inevitable once car ownership reaches a certain level.
D primarily affects systems that rely on shared road infrastructure.
34 How does the writer present the overall impact of measures such as congestion charges and restricted traffic zones?
A As potentially effective, though often weakened by uneven implementation
B As fundamentally flawed due to strong public opposition
C As beneficial primarily in reducing suburban commuting distances
D As unnecessary in cities with well-developed public transport systems
35 Why has cycling not been adopted more widely in some cities?
A It requires a level of physical fitness that many people lack.
B Existing infrastructure does not adequately support safe cycling.
C Public attitudes towards cycling remain largely negative.
D It is impractical for commuting over longer distances.
36 What overall conclusion does the writer reach?
A People naturally gravitate towards using private cars.
B Isolated interventions are unlikely to resolve systemic transport issues.
C Improving road networks doesn’t dissuade people from driving.
D Urban transport policies are constrained primarily by financial considerations.
For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary
