Use of English

City Travel Through Time

Public transport systems have (0) CHANGED enormously over the centuries, reflecting the needs of growing cities and the people who live in them. In the past, most people had to (1) .......... on foot or use horses if they wanted to travel any distance. However, as towns expanded, this was no longer practical, and new forms of transport began to (2) .......... up. In the nineteenth century, horse-drawn buses became common in many cities, and later they were (3) .......... by electric trams, which were faster and cleaner. Underground railways soon followed, allowing large numbers of passengers to move (4) .......... the city without adding to traffic on the streets above. During the twentieth century, buses and metro systems spread widely and had a major (5) .......... on daily life. They made it easier for people to live further from where they worked and still get there on time. Today, many cities are trying to (6) .......... down pollution by investing in cleaner vehicles and better networks. As a result, public transport is often seen as the best way to (7) .......... with traffic problems and reduce the number of private cars on the road. Its history shows how transport can (8) .......... a vital part in shaping modern urban life.