2024-02-26 Should we put roads underground 我们应该把道路建在地下吗？

许多城市都设有地下列车系统，这让日常出行变得更高效、更环保。如今，有人在探讨应不应该把道路也挪到地下，从而为咖啡馆、公园等更美观的场所腾出地上空间。本文围绕改在地下修建道路这一提议现实与否展开讨论。

词汇：traffic 交通

Can you imagine living in a city without roads on the surface? We’ve already put trains underground successfully, but the idea of building roads underground is now inspiring urban planners and engineers. Bradley Garrett, author of ‘Subterranean London’, says that there’s something magical about things happening out of sight, that it “gives the illusion of seamlessness“. So, how might underground roads reshape our cities and redefine the daily commute?

“If you want to revitalise the city centre, you pedestrianise the roads,” says Tom Ireland, the director of tunnelling at engineering company Aurecon. Moving roads below the surface can free up space for parks, pavement cafes, and other public amenities, improving the urban environment and mental health of the population. Not only that, it could reduce traffic congestion above ground, and who doesn’t want to be freed from noise pollution and the sight of gridlocked traffic? 

Underground roads could also make self-driving cars more popular, which are often more energy-efficient, and less prone to collisions. This, in a world trying to reduce its fuel consumption, is appealing. But if driverless cars end up becoming more attractive than public transport, it could actually make traffic worse, because cars take up more space than trains and buses.

That’s not the only drawback that may come with a motorised world beneath our feet. The construction and maintenance of underground infrastructure are both hazardous and energy-intensive processes. On top of that, most people don’t like the feeling of confinement you get when you’re travelling through underground tunnels, which may affect public perception.

Dreams of roadless, car-free cities bring both excitement and scepticism. We may fantasise about cityscapes made for pedestrians, but perhaps getting more people to use public transport rather than private vehicles would be more worth our time and resources.

词汇表

urban planner 城市规划师
the illusion of seamlessness 完美连贯的假象，无缝的错觉
commute 上下班往返，通勤
pedestrianise 设立步行街
free up space 腾出空间
public amenities 公共设施
congestion 拥堵，堵塞
noise pollution 噪声污染
gridlocked traffic 交通堵塞
self-driving car 自动驾驶汽车
energy-efficient 节能的
collision（车辆）碰撞，相撞
fuel consumption 燃油消耗量，耗油量
motorised 机动（化）的
infrastructure 基础设施
hazardous 危险的
energy-intensive 耗能的
roadless 无道路的
car-free 无车的，车辆禁行的
vehicle 车辆，交通工具

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What, according to Bradley Garret, gives “the illusion of seamlessness”?

2. What are two benefits of moving roads underground?

3. True or False? Self-driving cars are more prone to collisions.

4. What could be a potential downside of self-driving cars?

5. What does the article suggest could be a better use of our time and resources than underground roads?

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. New buses use less fuel, so they are more _______.

energy-intensive            seamlessness              energy-efficient           fuel consumption

2. The urban planners transformed the busy road into a street made for _______.

pedestrian                      pedestrians                  pedestrianise              pedestrianised

3. She likes to read during her daily train _______ to make the most of her time.

gridlock                          commute                      hazard                         pollution

4. Dad has _______ in the living room by removing his toy collection.

freed up space               free space up               freeing up space         free up space

5. To reduce her carbon footprint, she decided to be _______ for a month.

hazardous                      roadless                       motorised                    car-free

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. What, according to Bradley Garret, gives “the illusion of seamlessness”?

Things happening out of sight (like underground transport in a city).

2. What are two benefits of moving roads underground?

It can free up space for public amenities and reduce traffic congestion.

3. True or False? Self-driving cars are more prone to collisions.

False. Self-driving cars are less prone to collisions.

4. What could be a potential downside of self-driving cars?

If they become more attractive than public transport, it could make traffic worse.

5. What does the article suggest could be a better use of our time and resources than underground roads?

Getting more people to use public transport rather than private vehicles.

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. New buses use less fuel, so they are more energy-efficient.

2. The urban planners transformed the busy road into a street made for pedestrians.

3. She likes to read during her daily train commute to make the most of her time.

4. Dad has freed up space in the living room by removing his toy collection.

5. To reduce her carbon footprint, she decided to be car-free for a month.