Task 2
Questions 13-18
Read the article about travelling on an underground railway.
For questions 13-18, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
Mark your answer on the answer sheet.
Going Underground
I’ve been travelling on the metro or, as I prefer to call it, the underground for as long as I can remember. Although I passed my driving test, living and working in a crowded city of ten million people, I could never see the point in owning a car. Nevertheless, I often ask myself why I only travel by underground. My weekly ticket, which is hardly cheap, also allows me to use the bus, but I never do. Neither would I mind occasionally getting wet walking through the streets in the rain if I could be bothered. I suppose it’s just that I’ve got used to it after all this time. There are probably tens of thousands of people like me.
Despite the fact that I often feel like a nap, I try to avoid falling asleep on the underground. Once, many years ago, I missed my stop and was an hour late for work after failing to wake up in time. Others seem to manage it though.
I notice that, unlike me, many passengers use their daily trips as an opportunity to catch up with their unfinished business from the office. There are always commuters with their laptops on their knees or going over reports with a red pen. On the other hand, some simply like to watch the capital’s inhabitants as they make their way to and from work, while others have their heads in novels. I’m definitely one of the former.
It’s not all good news, though. Users of the capital’s underground railway system have plenty of annoying habits. The gentleman unfolding his morning paper in your face is slightly irritating, as are the young couples in the evening who can’t keep their hands off each other. Nevertheless, I’m convinced that the majority of commuters, including yours truly, would consider the consumption of snacks such as burgers to be the most anti-social practice on our journeys. Loud music on iPods or phones, especially rap and heavy metal, probably wouldn’t be far behind. Nevertheless, things are improving.
Of course, one could write a whole book about etiquette on the underground. For instance, knowing when to offer your seat to someone can be a tricky business. As a rule, I give up my place to people who obviously need it, such as pregnant women, parents with very young children or the very old. However, you can never jump to conclusions. I recall a proud-looking old man getting upset when a young woman got up and vacated her seat for him. “Young lady. Do you think I’m too weak to stand on my own two feet?” he roared at the rather shocked woman. She was only trying to help and I would probably have done the same as her. The poor girl was horrified, and you could hear the sound of laughter from one or two cruel people.
Then there are all the things that make the underground such an interesting experience. One of these is the musicians, or buskers, who play for money in the stations. They’ve always been there as far as I can recall, and I’ve seen a few good ones over the years. Some of my fellow passengers would like to see a change. They think buskers do little more than beg for money. It is true that they can block the way sometimes and there are one or two of them that aren’t particularly talented, but they are a distinguishing characteristic of our transport system. It’d be a shame if busking was made illegal.
Why does the author use the underground railway?
The author likes to spend her time on the underground
Which behaviour does the author dislike most on the underground?
Why did the author tell the little story in the fifth paragraph?
What's the author's opinion of the musicians who play in underground stations?
What was the author's aim in writing the article?