Traffic Jams-No Endin Sight

1 Traffic congestion（拥堵）affects people throughout theworld.Traffic jams cause smog in dozens of cities across both the developed anddeveloping world.In the

U.S.,commuters（通勤人员）spend an average of a fullworking week each year sitting in traffic jams,according to the TexasTransportation Institute.While alternative ways

of getting aroundare available,most people still choose their cars because they are looking forconvenience,comfort and prhacy.

2 The most promisingtechnique for reducing city traffic is called congestion pricing,whereby citiescharge a toll to enter certain parts of town at certain times of day.In

theory,if the tollis high enough,some drivers will cancel their trips or go by bus or train.Andin practice it seems to work:Singapore,London and Stockholmhave reduced

traffic andpollution in city centers thanks to congestion pricing.

3 Another way toreduce rush-hour traffic is for employers to implement flexitime,which letsemployees travel to and from work at off-peak traffic times to avoid the rush

hour.Those who haveto travel during busy times can do their part by sharing cars.Employers canalso allow more staff to telecommute(work from home)so as to keep more

cars off the roadaltogether.

4 Some urbanplanners still believe that the best way to ease traffic congestion is to buildmore roads, especially roads that can take drivers around or over crowded city

streets.But suchtechniques do not really keep cars off the road;they only accommodate more ofthem.

5 Other,moreforward-thinking,planners know that more and more drivers and cars are takingto the roads every day,and they are unwilling to encourage more private

automobiles whenpublic transport is so much better both for people and the environment.For thisreason,the American government has decided to spend some $7 billion on

helping to increasecapacity on public-transport systems and upgrade them with more efficienttechnologies.But environmentalists complain that such funding is tiny

compared with the$50 billion being spent on roads and bridges.Paragraph 4______

A.Paying to Get in

B.A Solution WhichIs No Solution

C.Changing WorkPractice

D.Closing CityCenters to Traffic

E.Not Doing Enough