1 SPEAKING Are you good at learning new technologies? Do you know what 3G, 4G, app, IoT stand for?
2 Look at the pictures and match them with the ideas below Look at the title of the text. Which of the ideas of future cities do you think are mentioned in the text?
- Sky cities will be built with solar-run buildings.
- Internet will control every human activity.
- People will work in mobile offices.
- Underground trips will become safer and faster than ever.
Reading Strategy
When asked to do a matching activity, first read all the statements carefully and make sure you understand the gist. Then choose the best options to fit each statement. Sometimes more than one option is appropriate. Read the instructions carefully to check if this is the case.
3 Read the Reading Strategy. Match the facts A-E with the means of transport 1, 2 or 3. Which fact relates to all three?
1 Air taxis 2 Undergrounds 3 Cars
A They can be a good solution to traffic congestion.
B They stop using routine fuel.
C They travel on three-dimensional roads with great speed.
D They can be autonomously controlled.
E They provide intercity trips in extremely short time.
4 Match the highlighted words in the article with their equivalents.
1 reach
2 a popular and well-accepted idea
3 incredible
4 good value
5 warn
6 introduction
5 Read the article again and complete the summary with one word for each blank.
All of the highways and roadways in cities will become 1__________ with lot sensors which will process data of weather, crashes, traffic conditions and send them directly to users. Users will not have to drive. Cars as well as other vehicles will go 2__________ 'Driver' will no longer be used. Traffic 3__________ be solved by tunnels. A 4__________ The word will system will run along 3D underground roads at high speed. Travelling from one city to another will not take much time thanks to air taxis. Green energy will be used for all means of transport, and the first concern is how to make effective 5__________
6 SPEAKING Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions.
- What do you think is the biggest problem when building smart tunnels?
- How many years may it take to put air taxis into popular use?
Go Autonomous-GO GREEN
🎧3.17
Since the birth of the car in 1886, transport in big cities has changed a lot. And it is no wonder that many experts think that there will be extraordinary changes in the next few decades.
As technology develops, highways, skylines, subways will be all transformed. Smarter 5 roadways and highways in cities outfitted with lot sensors will process all kinds of data in real time and alert users of the best transport options. Weather, crashes, traffic conditions will be communicated to users and smart stops will be found
everywhere providing renewable energy, green hydrogen or even greener energy, ensuring efficiency and safety on every highway. Tunnels will also be a smart choice 10 because of the reduction of traffic congestion. Underground roads will be built in 3D with a lift system which will take vehicles deep underground and will allow traffic to attain the greatest speed without intersections.
There will also be innovations in the sky. Air taxis are not a new idea, but in the future they will be completely environment-friendly. Aviation gasoline will be no 15 longer used. Green energy will be in place and cost-effective air taxis will enable people to travel from one busy urban city to another in record time.
New technologies such as Al and the rollout of 5G will pave the way for fully autonomous innovation. Cars will not be the only thing to go autonomous. Freight trucks, cargo vehicles, air taxis will all benefit from this technology and that is why 20 the term 'driver' will become extinct.
Transport will go green. Electric or hydrogen power will be mainstream. There will still be issues to solve such as safety, speed and cost, and of course governments will need to make new traffic laws.
