Use of English

City Under Pressure

In many towns and cities, environmental problems are no longer distant issues discussed only by scientists. They are now part of daily life. In my local city, for example, traffic has (0) BECOME a major concern, especially during rush hour, when long lines of cars fill the streets and send harmful gases into the air. One of the most noticeable problems is the poor air quality, which many residents blame (1) .......... the growing number of private vehicles. Another issue is the lack of green spaces, as several empty areas have been built (2) .......... in recent years. This has reduced the number of places where people can relax or where wildlife can survive. The city council has promised to (3) .......... action, but many people feel that progress has been too slow. Although recycling bins have been provided, not everyone makes full use of them, and large amounts of rubbish still (4) .......... up in public parks and rivers. Local groups have therefore started campaigns to (5) .......... awareness of these problems and encourage people to change their habits. In the end, real improvement depends (6) .......... both government decisions and individual behaviour. If residents are willing to (7) .......... down on waste and use public transport more often, the city may gradually become a cleaner and healthier place to live. Otherwise, the situation is likely to get (8) .......... before it gets better.