Grammar Warm-up – Part 51

 Look at the words or phrases in capitals. Choose the most appropriate word or phrase

Air pollution can DEFINE / BE DEFINED as the addition of something harmful to the air at a faster rate than it can ABSORB / BE ABSORBED. Everyone should be concerned about air pollution. It AFFECTS / IS AFFECTED us all, and as it CONTINUES / IS CONTINUED to worsen, so the environmental impact increases

One of the major causes of air pollution in cities is car use. Cars USE / ARE USED for even the shortest of journeys, and all efforts by governments to encourage people TO USE / TO BE USED public transport seem to be failing. Industry is another major cause of pollution in our cities, but fortunately, new industrial sites ARE BUILDING / ARE BEING BUILT away from large urban centres

It SAYS / IS SAID that there are too many contributing factors for us TO DECIDE / TO BE DECIDED exactly which one is the main problem, but I believe that one of the most serious problems that needs TO TACKLE / TACKLING is the use of the car. In some cities laws HAVE PASSED / HAVE BEEN PASSED concerning car use. Athens, for example, only ALLOWS / IS ALLOWED a certain number of cars into the city centre each day. In my opinion, this is a good idea. With this kind of law people have no choice and FORCE / ARE FORCED to use buses and trains. This ensures governments KNOW / IS KNOWN that public transport WILL USE / WILL BE USED, and can therefore justify the investment and expense of ensuring the system works properly

Another thing governments could do is to force people to HAVE THEIR CARS CHECKED / CHECK THEIR CARS for carbon emissions and fine people with cars that produce high levels of harmful gases

: ANSWERS

Air pollution can be defined as the addition of something harmful to the air at a faster rate than it can be absorbed. Everyone should be concerned about air pollution. It affects us all, and as it continues to worsen, so the environmental impact increases

One of the major causes of air pollution in cities is car use. Cars are used for even the shortest of journeys, and all efforts by governments to encourage people to use public transport seem to be failing. Industry is another major cause of pollution in our cities, but fortunately, new industrial sites are being built away from large urban centres

It is said that there are too many contributing factors for us to decide exactly which one is the main problem, but I believe that one of the most serious problems that needs tackling is the use of the car. In some cities laws have been passed concerning car use. Athens, for example, only allows a certain number of cars into the city centre each day. In my opinion, this is a good idea. With this kind of law people have no choice and are forced to use buses and trains. This ensures governments know that public transport will be used, and can therefore justify the investment and expense of ensuring the system works properly

Another thing governments could do is to force people to have their cars checked for carbon emissions and fine people with cars that produce high levels of harmful gases