Language Development: Vocabulary
Fill in the missing words to complete the essay. (The correct answer is given below)
Some people believe that lowering the speed limit is the best way to improve road safety.
Others think that there are other ways to make roads safer. Discuss these two options and
give your opinion.
St____ indicate that the number of road-traffic accidents is cl____ steadily year on year
and that, tr____, schoolchildren are at the greatest risk. This situation has pr____ some
motoring experts to pr____ reducing the maximum speed permitted, whilst others put
fo____ alternative strategies. This essay will examine both ap____ and suggest that a
w____-r____ response would be appropriate.
Making it illegal to drive above a ce____ speed could undoubtedly lead to a fall in fa____.
Accidents would be less serious and more drivers, pa____ and pe____ would survive
them. This would mean fewer lives nee____ cut short and fewer gr____ relatives.
However, such a measure would fr____ those behind the wheel of a car by le____
journey times and potentially increasing the lik____ of traffic jams, congestion and
gr____.
Governments have the power to introduce other l____-s____ policies. For instance, the
wearing of seat-belts could be made co____ and car-users might be forced to re-t____
their driving test on an an____ basis. Road surfaces ought to be improved and advertising
ca____ which raise awareness about the pe____ of driving should be la____. These
re____ simple and st____ measures would certainly be c____-ef____ in the long run and
would probably enjoy public ap____. It needs to be ad____ though, that such policies
require a level of commitment which our political leaders often l____.
Having considered the ma____ in some d____, I cannot see why a wide range of measures
should not be b____ in. If policy-makers out____ excessively high speeds and introduced
the other strategies me____ above, far fewer lives would be destroyed unnecessarily. I
ge____ hope those in power will ov____ the barriers, difficulties and ob____ and make
our streets safer and our world better.
ANSWER
Some people believe that lowering the speed limit is the best way to improve road safety.
Others think that there are other ways to make roads safer. Discuss these two options and
give your opinion.
Statistics indicate that the number of road-traffic accidents is climbing steadily year on
year and that, tragically, schoolchildren are at the greatest risk. This situation has
prompted some motoring experts to propose reducing the maximum speed permitted,
whilst others put forward alternative strategies. This essay will examine both approaches
and suggest that a wide-ranging response would be appropriate.
Making it illegal to drive above a certain speed could undoubtedly lead to a fall in
fatalities. Accidents would be less serious and more drivers, passengers and pedestrians
would survive them. This would mean fewer lives needlessly cut short and fewer grieving
relatives. However, such a measure would frustrate those behind the wheel of a car by
lengthening journey times and potentially increasing the likelihood of traffic jams,
congestion and gridlock.
Governments have the power to introduce other life-saving policies. For instance, the
wearing of seat-belts could be made compulsory and car-users might be forced to re-take
their driving test on an annual basis. Road surfaces ought to be improved and advertising
campaigns which raise awareness about the perils of driving should be launched. These
relatively simple and straightforward measures would certainly be cost-effective in the
long run and would probably enjoy public approval. It needs to be admitted though, that
such policies require a level of commitment which our political leaders often lack.
Having considered the matter in some depth, I cannot see why a wide range of measures
should not be brought in. If policy-makers outlawed excessively high speeds and
introduced the other strategies mentioned above, far fewer lives would be destroyed
unnecessarily. I genuinely hope those in power will overcome the barriers, difficulties and
objections and make our streets safer and our world better.
