What is the solution to the global traffic jam?
This year the 成人快手 is looking into the future, in key areas of science, politics, education and our personal life in a series called What If? As part of this, 6 Minute English looks at the question: 'What if everyone had a car?'
There are already a billion cars in the world but what would be the consequences if there were even more vehicles on the road? Rob and Jennifer discuss what might happen and they talk about some designs for cars of the future.
We'll be hearing some driving-related words and phrases along the way.
This week's question:
In 2010, one of the world's longest jams occurred in Beijing in China. How long was it?
a) 50 kilometres
b) 100 kilometres
c) 200 kilometres
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Listen
Global traffic jam
End of Section
Vocabulary
- traffic jams
a queue of vehicles on a road that are not moving, or moving very slowly
- gridlock
a situation where there are so many vehicles on the road that none of them can move
- a maelstrom
a situation that is confusing and chaotic
- bumper to bumper
cars travelling close together and almost touching
- to get behind the wheel
to start driving a car
- the end of the road
a point where you cannot continue any further
- gas-guzzling
using a lot of fuel
