WHY THE BRITISH DRIVE ON THE LEFT

About a quarter of the world drives on the left, and there is a perfectly good reason for it. Up to the late 1700s, everybody travelled on the left side of the road. In violent societies of mostly right-handed people, this seemed the sensible option because, when you passed a stranger on the road, you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and them.

However, a change was introduced all over continental Europe by Napoleon, who was left-handed. He made his armies march on the right in order that he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent. From then on,any part of the world which was at some time part of the British Empire was thus left hand, and any part colonised by the French was right hand. When the USA adopted the drive-on-the-right policy, it began to manufacture only right9 hand-drive cars, so many countries changed out of necessity.

The last European country to convert to driving on the right was Sweden in 1967. As everyone in Sweden was getting used to the new system, they paid more attention and took more care, resulting in a reduction of the number of road accident casualties. Even so, since September 2009 Samoa drives on the left instead of the right. The main reason for this is that they want to use cars from Japan and New Zealand, both of which drive on the left. Today, European countries would like Britain to follow the rest of Europe, but this is not easy, since it would cost  billions of pounds to change everything round.

I * COMPREHENSION (3 points)

CHOOSE AND WRITE THE CORRECT OPTION (A, B, C or D). (0.5 points each)

1. Some countries decided to drive on the right because…
(a) drivers take more care when they drive on the right.
(b) it was the sensible option to take.
 (c) they mainly imported cars from the USA.
 (d) most cars were made in Japan and New Zealand.

2. European countries want Britain to drive on the right but this…
(a) would increase the number of accidents.
 (b) would be very expensive.
 (c) would be contrary to British tradition.
(d) would make drivers pay less attention to the road.

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points each)

3. In ancient times, walking on the left was a matter of safety.
TRUE: “… every travelled on the left side of the road. In violent societies of mostly right-handed people, this seemed the sensible option (/)  when you passed a stranger on the road, you walked on the left to ensure that your protectiv sword

4. Napoleon’s armies did not march on the left because he was left-handed.
TRUE“… Napoleon, who was lefthanded. He made his armies to march on the right in order that he could keep his sword arm between him and any Opponent

5. Sweden reduced the number of accidents because driving on the right is safer.
FALSE: “… they paid more attention and took more care, resulting a reduction of the number of road accident casualties"

6. Samoa is one of the countries which have always driven on the left.
FALSE: “… so, since September 2009 Samoa drives on the left instead of the right." (line 12)

II * USE OF ENGLISH (4 points; questions 7-12, 0.25 points each; 13-17, 0.5 points each)

7. FIND IN THE TEXT THE WORD WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION:
 “Someone who is neither a friend nor an acquaintance.”
stranger ( line 3)

8. GIVE AN ADJECTIVE WITH THE SAME ROOT AS “attention” (noun).attentive

9. FILL IN THE GAP WITH THE CORRECT OPTION:
“British people are very keen… keeping their traditions.” of / on / to / in

10. FIND IN THE TEXT ONE OPPOSITE FOR “rise” (noun).reduction (line 11)

11. WHICH WORD IS NOT AN ADVERB? often / early / chilly / eagerly

12. WHICH WORD DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME MEANING? enemy / antagonist / fool / opponent fool

13. JOIN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USING A RELATIVE. MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY.
“My cousin Martha is British. She has always driven on the left.”
My cousin Martha, who is British, has a driven on the left / My cousin Martha, who has a driven on the left, is British

14. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONAL SENTENCE:
“If Spain decides tomorrow that cars should drive on the left…”
 there will/ can / would/could/might be a lot of accidents.

15. TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INTO THE ACTIVE VOICE:
 “A change was introduced all over Europe by Napoleon.
”Napoleon introduced a change all over Europe

16. JOIN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USING AN APPROPRIATE LINKER (DO NOT USE AND, BUT, OR BECAUSE). MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY.
 “He composed outstanding music. He was deaf.”
Although / In spite of the fact that / Despite the fact that he was deaf, he composed outstanding music / He was deaf; however, he composed

17. GIVE A QUESTION FOR THE UNDERLINED WORDS:
 “I bought a kimono for my friend Kate in Japan.”
 Where did I/you buy a kimono for my/your friend Kate?