Keep to the left
A street in an English town. A policeman stops a car. In the car there is a visitor from another country.
Policeman: (holding up his hand) Stop!
Visitor: (in the car) What’s the matter?
Policeman: Why are you driving on the right side of the road?
Visitor: Do you want me to drive on the wrong side?
Policeman: You are driving on the wrong side.
Visitor: You said that I was driving on the right side.
Policeman: That’s right. You’re on the right, and that’s wrong.
Visitor: A strange country! If right is wrong, I’m right when I’m on the wrong side. So why did you stop me?
Policeman: My dear sir, you must keep to the left. The right side is the left.
Visitor: It’s like a looking-glass! I’ll try to remember. Well, I want to go to Bellwood. Will you kindly tell me the way?
Policeman: Certainly. At the end of this road, turn left.
Visitor: Now let me think. Turn left! In England left is right, and right is wrong. Am I right?
Policeman: You’ll be right if you turn left. But if you turn right, you’ll be wrong.
Visitor: Thank you. It’s as clear as daylight.
Ex. 3. Ask as more questions as possible to the text. / Поставте до тексту якомога більше питань.
Ex.4. Using new vocabulary retell the text. / Вживаючи нову лексику перекажіть текст (впр.1).
Самостійна робота 7
Ex. 1. Fill in the gaps with the right word and translate into Ukrainian. / Заповніть пропуски вірним словом і перекладіть на українську мову:
________ traffic and _______ traffic mean regulations requiring all traffic _______ either to the left or the right side of the ________.
About _____ of the world's people live in ______ countries and 66% in right-traffic ________.
Pedestrians ________ a two-way _______ should first look for _____ from their right.
Most traffic signs ________ motorists are on the _______ side of the road.
Most _______ have a ________ driver's position, instruments and ________.
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Ex.2. Match the following English words with their Ukrainian equivalents. / Співставте англійські слова з їх українськими еквівалентами:
right-hand traffic a) кільцева транспортна розв’язка
oncoming b) транспортний засіб
roundabout c) пересікати
pedestrian crossing d) дорожні знаки
vehicle e) зіткнення
to cross f) автомобіліст
traffic signs g) правосторонній рух
collision h) вірогідність
motorist i) пішохідний перехід
likelihood j) зустрічний рух
Speed limits
Ex.1. Read the text and translate into Ukrainian. / Прочитайте та перекладіть текст на українську мову:
A road speed limit is the maximum speed allowed by law for road vehicles. Speed limits are commonly set and enforced by the legislative bodies of nations or provincial governments, such as countries within the world.
In addition to setting an explicit maximum speed limit, most governments also enforce speed limits that are related to driving conditions; for example, requiring drivers to adjust their speed when driving in fog or heavy rain. Some roads also have "minimum speed limits", where slow speeds are considered to impede traffic flow or be dangerous.
The first speed limit was the 10mph (16.1km/h) limit introduced by the Locomotive Act of 1861 (or "Red Flag Act") in the United Kingdom (automobiles were in those days termed “light locomotives”). In 1865, the revised Locomotive Act reduced the speed limit to 4 mph (6 km/h) in the country and 2 mph (3 km/h) in towns. The 1865 Act required a man with a red flag or lantern to walk 60 yards (50 m) ahead of each vehicle, enforce a walking pace, and warn horse riders and horse drawn traffic of the approach of a self-propelled machine. The replacement of the "Red Flag Act" by the Locomotive Act of 1896, and the increase of the speed limit to 14 mph (23 km/h) has been commemorated each year since 1927 by the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
Most public roads in most places are legally assigned a default maximum speed limit. The relevance of default speed limits to road users varies; in some places, authorities always post a sign stating the maximum speed limit(s) of a given road with a numerical value which may or may not be the default speed
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limit. In other places, default speed limits that are relevant to road users may be indicated by a non-numeric sign, a lack of speed limit signs, the presence of streetlights, or the physical arrangement of the road. If a default limit applies everywhere within one country or state, it is known as a national or state speed limit. Different default speed limits usually apply to urban streets, rural highways, and freeway like roads and these values may also vary according to the type of vehicle. A posted limit that is lower than a default speed limit is generally given precedence. A posted speed limit differing from the default speed limit is typically a linear speed limit and only applies to that road, and not necessarily any intersecting roads. Zonal speed limits apply on all roads beyond the sign that defines them.
The start of a different speed limit is usually marked numerically by posting a speed limit sign. Speed limit signs often appear near borders and road intersections, and in some cases, especially the U.S., speed limit reminder signs appear at regular intervals. In the European Union, large signposts showing the national (default) speed limits of the respective country are usually erected immediately after border crossings, with a repeater sign some 200 to 500 metres (about 650 to 1,650 ft) after the first sign. The same practice is followed in many American states.
Vocabulary
allow – дозволяти, допускати
еnforce – слідкувати за виконанням
to adjust – пристосовуватися, регулювати
revise – передивитися
lantern – ліхтар
to assigne – назначати
default – несплата; автоматичний вибір; не виконувати обов’язків
relevance – доречний
apply to – стосуватися чогось
Ex.2. Complete and translate the following word-combinations. / Доповніть і перекладіть словосполучення:
A road ________ limit, ________ bodies of nations, provincial governments, ______ public roads in most places, urban ______, rural highways, and freeway, a speed ________sign, speed ______ ______ often appear near borders and road intersections.
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Ex.3. Answer the following questions. / Дайте відповіді на питання:
What is a road speed limit?
What was the first speed limit? When?
Do some roads have "minimum speed limits"?
Ex.4. The following diagram illustrates the popularity of the various types of transport that people use to commute. Look at the diagram and fill the gaps with words from the list. / Зазначена діаграми показує популярність різних видів транспорту, яким можна дістатися до місця. Подивись на цю діаграму і заповни пропуски словами із списку:
-
minority
per cent
large proportion of
majority
The … of people prefer to commute by train.
2. A … people take the bus to work.
3. Fifteen … of people drive to work.
4.
A … of people cycle to work.
52 % 28 % 15 % 5 %
TRAIN BUS CAR BICYCLE