Chapter 17

Practice Test 1: Reasoning through Language Arts

You’re ready to take a crack at a full-blown practice GED Reasoning through Language Arts test. You’re feeling good and ready to go (well, maybe not, but you’re at least smart enough to know that this practice is good for you).

You have 95 minutes to complete the question-and-answer section and then another 45 minutes to write the Extended Response (a separate item). You get a ten-minute break before starting the Extended Response. Remember, you can’t save time from one section to use in the other.

The answers and explanations to this test’s questions are in Chapter 18. Go through the explanations to all the questions, even for the ones you answered correctly. The explanations are a good review of the techniques we discuss throughout the book.

Unless you require accommodations, you’ll be taking the GED test on a computer. Instead of marking your answers on a separate answer sheet, like you do for the practice tests in this book, you’ll see clickable ovals and fill-in-the-blank text boxes, and you’ll be able to click with your mouse and drag and drop items where indicated. We formatted the questions and answer choices in this book to make them appear as similar as possible to the real GED test, but we had to retain some A, B, C, D choices for marking your answers, and we provide a separate answer sheet for you to do so. Also, to make it simpler for you to time yourself, we present the questions in one unit rather than two units and the Extended Response at the end of the test.

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1, Reasoning through Language Arts

Reasoning through Language Arts Test

TIME: 95 minutes

DIRECTIONS: You may answer the questions in this section in any order. Mark your answers on the answer sheet provided.

Questions 1–5 refer to the following excerpt, written by Dale Shuttleworth (originally printed in the Toronto Star, January 2008).

What Is the History of the Social Enterprise Movement?

The Center for Social Innovation, a renovated warehouse in the Spadina Ave. area of Toronto, houses 85 “social enterprises,” including organizations concerned with the environment, the arts, social justice, education, health, technology, and design. Tribute has been paid to the “social enterprise movement” in Quebec and Vancouver for providing the impetus for this very successful venture.

Toronto, Ontario, also has provided leadership in the areas of community education and community economic development — essential components in the creation of social enterprises. In 1974, the Toronto Board of Education assisted in the establishment of the Learnxs Foundation Inc. as part of its Learning Exchange System.

The foundation represented an additional source of support for the burgeoning “alternatives in education” movement. In 1973, the Ontario government had imposed ceilings on educational spending and, together with reduced revenue due to declining enrollment, the Toronto board had limited means to fund innovative and experimental programs. The Learnxs Foundation was an independent “arms-length” nonprofit charitable enterprise, which could solicit funds from public and private sources and generate revenue through the sale of goods and services to support innovative programs within the Toronto system.

What followed during the 1970s was a series of Learnxs-sponsored demonstration projects as a source of research and development in such areas as: school and community programs to improve inner-city education; a series of small enterprises to employ 14- to 15-year-old school leavers; Youth Ventures — a paper recycling enterprise employing at-risk youth; Artsjunction — discarded material from business and industry were recycled for use as craft materials for visual arts classes; Toronto Urban Studies Centre — a facility to encourage the use of the city as a learning environment; and Learnxs Press — a publishing house for the production and sale of innovative learning materials.

The York Board of Education and its school and community organizations jointly incorporated the Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF), modeled on Learnxs. Originally devoted to multicultural arts enrichment, LEF during the 1980s joined with parental groups and the school board to establish 13 school-based childcare centers for infants, pre-school and school-age children.

In 1984, LEF was asked by Employment and Immigrant Canada to convene a local committee of adjustment in response to York’s high rate of unemployment and plant closures. Outcomes of the work of the Committee included:

York Business Opportunities Centre: In 1985, with support from the Ontario Ministry of Industry, Trade & Technology, LEF opened the first small business incubator operated by a nonprofit charitable organization.

Microtron Centre: This training facility was devoted to micro-computer skills, word and numerical processing, computer-assisted design, graphics and styling, and electronic assembly and repair.

Microtron Bus: This refurbished school bus incorporated eight workstations from the Microtron Centre. It visited small business, industry and service organizations on a scheduled basis to provide training in word and numerical processing for their employees and clients.

In 1996, the Training Renewal Foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit charity to serve disadvantaged youth and other displaced workers seeking skills, qualifications and employment opportunities. Over the years, TRF has partnered with governments, employers and community organizations to provide a variety of services including job-creation programs for: immigrants and refugees, GED high school equivalency, café equipment technicians, coffee and vending service workers, industrial warehousing and lift truck operators, fully expelled students, youth parenting, construction craft workers and garment manufacturing.

1. The Center for Social Innovation is

(A) a new restaurant

(B) a center housing social enterprises

(C) the head office of a charity

(D) a small enterprise to employ school leavers

2. The Learnxs Foundation supported

(A) homeless people

(B) scholarships for computer studies students

(C) innovative programs

(D) art programming

3. Artsjunction specialized in .

4. The Microtron bus helped

(A) provide transportation for computer science students to their labs

(B) provide training in word and numerical processing to employees and clients

(C) train auto mechanics in the digital controls in the new cars

(D) the center establish social enterprises

5. The Training Renewal Foundation serves

(A) as a social innovator for youth

(B) as a patron of the center

(C) dinner to the homeless

(D) as a business incubator

Questions 6–10 refer to the following excerpt.

How Must Employees Behave?

It is expected that employees behave in a respectful, responsible, professional manner. Therefore, each employee must do the following:

• Wear appropriate clothing and use safety equipment where needed.
• Behave appropriately and professionally in the workplace and refrain from unauthorized use of telephones and computers.
• Address all other employees and supervisors with courtesy and respect, using non-offensive language.
• Accept the authority of supervisors without argument. If you consider an action unfair, inform the Human Resources department.
• Respect the work environment of this company and conduct oneself in a manner conducive to the growth and the enhancement of our business.
• Refrain from inviting visitors to our place of work to keep the premises secure.
• Promote the dignity of all persons, regardless of gender, creed, or culture and conduct oneself with dignity.

If the employee chooses not to comply:

• On the first offense, the employee meets with his or her supervisor. A representative from Human Resources may choose to attend.
• On the second offense, the employee meets with the Vice President of Human Resources before returning to work.
• On the third offense, the employee is dismissed.

6. Which requirement relates to employee appearance?

(A) The employee must refrain from making personal phone calls.

(B) The employee must keep the premises secure.

(C) The employee must wear appropriate clothing.

(D) The employee must use courtesy and respect.

7. Which requirement addresses relations with supervisors?

(A) Accept authority.

(B) Contribute to business growth and enhancement.

(C) Refrain from inviting visitors to tour the facility.

(D) Refrain from unauthorized use of telephones and computers.

8. Which requirement is concerned with the growth and enhancement of the business?

(A) Computer and phone usage

(B) Promoting the dignity of all persons

(C) Dress code

(D) Personal conduct and respect of work environment

9. How are safety and security protected?

(A) by promoting dignity

(B) by not inviting others in

(C) by the types of interaction

(D) through meetings with supervisors

10. What are the penalties for continued noncompliance?

(A) You meet with the president of the company.

(B) You must avoid your supervisor.

(C) You have to take behavior classes.

(D) You are fired.

Questions 11–20 refer to the following business letter.

• Mr. Speedy Appliance Emporium
• 11 Peach Lane
• Atlanta, GA 30303
• Ms. Jessica North
• 733 Brower Ave.
• Atlanta, GA 30303
• Dear Mr. Speedy,
• [1]I would of liked to draw your attention to an issue that I am having with your company. [2]Last month on July 1st, I purchased a washing machine, and a dryer from Mr. Speedy Appliance Emporium. [3]Your salesman assured me that all the parts necessary for installation would arrive by the next Wednesday, July 6^th. [4]The appliances did arrive on July 6^th, and the washing machine was successfully installed. [5]The dryer did not come with the proper vent for installation. [6]Your installer immediately called the store and was told the necessary vent was out of stock and wouldn’t be available for ten days.
• [7]While I waited ten days for your installer to call me with a new date for installation. [8]When no one called by the tenth day, I called your store.[9] I was told that a manager wasn’t their but would call me back before the end of the day; I never received that phone call.
• [10]I originally patronized your store because of its’ reputation for speedy and reliable service.[11] I don’t think that I should continue to be inconvenienced, I have three small children and, needless to say, a lot of laundry. [12]I have been taking the laundry to a local laundromat and recurring an unnecessary expense because of your poor service.
• Please call me as soon as possible with a solution to this problem.
• Very truly yours,
• Jessica North

11. Sentence 1: I would of liked to draw your attention to an issue that I am having with your company.

Which improvement should be made to Sentence 1?

(A) change I would of liked to I would like

(B) change I would of liked to I would have liked

(C) change to draw your attention to to have drawn your attention

(D) change your to you’re.

12. Sentence 2: Last month on July 1st, I purchased a washing machine, and a dryer from Mr. Speedy Appliance Emporium.

Which improvement should be made to Sentence 2?

(A) change I purchased to I am purchasing

(B) add a comma after Last month

(C) delete the comma after washing machine

(D) add a comma after dryer.

13. Sentences 3 and 4: Your salesman assured me that all the parts necessary for installation would arrive by the next Wednesday July 6^th. [4]The appliances did arrive on July 6^th, and the washing machine was successfully installed.

Which improvement should be made to Sentences 3 and 4?

(A) change the period after July 6^th to a comma and change The appliances to the appliances.

(B) add a comma between Wednesday and July 6^th.

(C) change necessary for installation to necessary to the installing

(D) change arrive by to arrive at

14. Sentence 5: The dryer did not come with the proper vent for installation.

Which is the best transitional word to begin Sentence 5 (and change The dryer to the dryer)?

(A) Indeed,

(B) However,

(C) For example,

(D) In addition,

15. Sentence 6: Your installer immediately called the store and was told the necessary vent was out of stock and wouldn’t be available for ten days.

Which change should be made to Sentence 6?

(A) change was told to told

(B) add a comma between store and was.

(C) change for to during

(D) no change is necessary; the sentence is correct as is

16. Sentence 7: While I waited ten days for your installer to call me with a new date for installation.

Which change should be made to Sentence 7?

(A) delete While

(B) change to call me to to be calling me

(C) change I waited to I am waiting

(D) no change is necessary; the sentence is correct as is

17. Sentence 9: I was told that a manager wasn’t their but would call me back before the end of the day; I never received that phone call.

Which change should be made to Sentence 9?

(A) change wasn’t to weren’t

(B) change their to there

(C) change their to they’re

(D) change the semicolon after day to a comma.

18. Sentence 10: I originally patronized your store because of its’ reputation for speedy and reliable service.

Which change should be made to Sentence 10?

(A) change patronized to patronaged

(B) add and after store

(C) change its’ to its

(D) change its’ reputation to it is reputed to be known for having

19. Sentence 11: I don’t think that I should continue to be inconvenienced, I have three small children and, needless to say, a lot of laundry.

Which change should be made to Sentence 11?

(A) change inconvenienced to an inconvenience

(B) change the comma after inconvenienced to a period

(C) delete the commas before and after needless to say

(D) no change is necessary; the sentence is correct as is

20. Sentence 12: I have been taking the laundry to a local laundromat and recurring an unnecessary expense because of your poor service.

Which change should be made to Sentence 12?

(A) change have been taking to has been taking

(B) add at my own expense after laundromat

(C) add a comma after laundromat

(D) change recurring to incurring

Questions 21–26 refer to the following excerpt from Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” (1819).

21. How would you set out to find the Kaatskill Mountains?

(A) Turn left at the Mississippi River.

(B) Journey up the Hudson.

(C) Look for a dismembered branch.

(D) Notice fresh green.

22. According to Lines 5 and 6, wives tell the weather

(A) with perfect barometers

(B) by the clear evening sky

(C) through gray vapors

(D) with magical hues and shapes

23. What is the first sign that you are close to the village?

(A) fairy mountains

(B) shingle-roofs

(C) light smoke curling

(D) blue tints

24. Who originally founded the village?

25. Why is the phrase “may he rest in peace!” (Line 16) used after Peter Stuyvesant?

(A) He has since died.

(B) He was an original settler.

(C) He was a soldier.

(D) He was the governor.

26. What materials came from Holland?

Questions 27–32 refer to the following excerpt from Seventeen written by Booth Tarkington (1916). At the time the novel takes place, many drugstores had counters that served soft drinks and ice cream.

27. According to the story, the internal question William had to settle was

(A) whether or not to enter the drugstore

(B) whether to be rude or polite to the young women inside

(C) what flavor ice cream soda to order

(D) how he should address the young man working at the soda fountain

28. William found intolerable.

29. Which of the following statements can be supported by the evidence in the story?

(A) William’s favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate.

(B) William is considering taking a job at the drugstore.

(C) William is a good friend of the young man who works at the soda fountain.

(D) William spends all the money he was with him on ice cream sodas.

30. The alluring image refers to

(A) a young woman walking by the drugstore

(B) William’s reflection in the glass window of the drugstore

(C) the ice cream flavors lines up in the display case

(D) the glittering glasses for ice cream and soda lined up on the shelves

31. Which of the following best describe William?

(A) quiet and shy

(B) self-impressed and smug

(C) polite and energetic

(D) hard-working and ambitious

32. Choose the answer that arranges the events in the order in which they occur in the story.

1. William lingers outside the drugstore, watching the people pass by.
2. William says, “Fill ’er up again.”
3. William decides on a chocolate and strawberry ice cream soda.
4. William ponders an internal question.
5. William approaches the soda-fountain.

(A) 1, 3, 2, 5, 4

(B) 4, 3, 5, 2, 1

(C) 3, 5, 1, 2, 4

(D) 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,

Questions 33–42 refer to the following excerpt, which is adapted from Customer Service For Dummies, by Karen Leland and Keith Bailey (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.).

(1) This step requires you to listen to each customers assessment of the problem. (2) Your job when she explains the situation from her perspective is to fully absorb what she is saying about her unique set of circumstances. (3) After you identify the customer’s problem, the next step, obviously, is to fix it. (4) Sometimes, you can easily remedy the situation by changing an invoice, redoing an order, waving or refunding charges, or replacing a defective product. (5) At other times fixing the problem is more complex because the damage or mistake cannot be repaired simply. (6) In these instances, mutually exceptable compromises need to be reached.

(7) Whatever the problem, this step begins to remedy the situation and gives the customer what she needs to resolve the source of the conflict. (8) Don’t waste time and effort by putting the horse before the cart and trying to fix the wrong problem. (9) Its easy to jump the gun and think that you know what the customer is about to say because you’ve heard it all a hundred times before. (10) Doing so loses you ground on the recovery front and farther annoys the customer. (11) More often than not, what you think the problem is at first glance, is different from what it becomes upon closer examination.

33. Sentence 1: This step requires you to listen to each customers assessment of the problem.

Which correction should be made to the underlined portion in Sentence 1?

(A) you to listen each customers assessment

(B) you to listen to each customers’ assessment

(C) you to listen to each customers asessment

(D) you to listen to each customer’s assessment

34. Sentence 2: Your job when she explains the situation from her perspective is to fully absorb what she is saying about her unique set of circumstances.

Which group of words could you move to the beginning of Sentence 2 in order to make this sentence more effective?

(A) when she explains the situation from her perspective

(B) her unique set of circumstances

(C) what she is saying about

(D) no correction required

35. Sentence 4: Sometimes, you can easily remedy the situation by changing an invoice, redoing an order, waving or refunding charges, or replacing a defective product.

Which correction should be made to Sentence 4?

(A) change redoing to re-doing

(B) change invoice to invoise

(C) change waving to waiving

(D) change defective to defected

36. Sentence 5: At other times fixing the problem is more complex because the damage or mistake cannot be repaired simply.

After which word would it be most appropriate to place a comma?

37. Sentence 6: In these instances, mutually exceptable compromises need to be reached.

What one word is misspelled or misused in Sentence 6?

38. Sentence 7: Whatever the problem, this step begins to remedy the situation and gives the customer what she needs to resolve the source of the conflict.

Which is the best way to begin Sentence 7? If the original is the best way, choose Choice (A).

(A) Whatever the problem,

(B) This step begins to remedy,

(C) What she needs to resolve,

(D) To remedy the situation,

39. Sentence 8: Don’t waste time and effort by putting the horse before the cart and trying to fix the wrong problem.

Which change should be made to Sentence 8?

(A) change waste to waist

(B) revise to read the cart before the horse

(C) change trying to try

(D) change Don’t to Doesn’t

40. Sentence 9: Its easy to jump the gun and think that you know what the customer is about to say because you’ve heard it all a hundred times before.

What word(s) is used incorrectly in Sentence 9?

41. Sentence 10: Doing so loses you ground on the recovery front and farther annoys the customer.

Which change should be made to the underlined portion in Sentence 10?

(A) with the recovery front and farther

(B) on the recover front and farther

(C) on the recovery front and further

(D) on the recovery, and farther

42. Sentence 11: More often than not, what you think the problem is, at first glance, is different from what it becomes, upon closer examination.

The comma after which word is used correctly in Sentence 11?

Questions 43–49 refer to the following business letter.

GED Enterprises LLC1655 Elizabeth Drive Ajax, England 51221

To Whom It May Concern:

(1) We are delighted to provide a refference for Michael Jaxon. (2) He was employed by the training division of our company for six years, he provided excellent services, both recruiting and training clients to participate in our coffee vending machine repair division for the period of June 2010 to October 2014.

(3) As part of that programme, he

• prepared PowerPoint presentations for new recruits
• reviewed, revised, and upgraded training procedures
• prepared a repair manual for the graduating technicians
• organizes communications with other companies in the industry

(4) Mr. Jaxon has always been an excellent representative for our company, which has trained some 45 new repair personnel in the past year. (5) Mr. Jaxon’s concerted efforts to network with others in the coffee industry contributed greatly to his success. (6) He has showed a high level of commitment to his job; and he will pursue his work with both competence and efficiency.

(7) I have developed a great respect for Mr. Jaxons’ personal communications skills, and dedication to his work and our program. I wish him all the best for the future.

Jules Klaus, PhD

President

43. Sentence 1: We are delighted to provide a refference for Michael Jaxon.

What revision should be made to Sentence 1?

(A) change provide to provided

(B) change refference to reference

(C) change are delighted to to are delighted by

(D) none of the above

44. Sentence 2: He was employed by the training division of our company for six years, he provided excellent services, both recruiting and training clients to participate in our coffee vending machine repair division for the period of June 2010 to October 2014.

What revisions should be made to Sentence 2?

(A) break this into two sentences after the word services by replacing the comma with a period and capitalizing both

(B) replace was employed with had been employed

(C) break the sentence into two after the word years, replacing the comma with a period and capitalizing the word he

(D) capitalize Coffee Vending Machine Repair Division

45. Sentence 3: As part of that programme, he

• prepared PowerPoint presentations for new recruits
• reviewed, revised, and upgraded training procedures
• prepared a repair manual for the graduating technicians
• organizes communications with other companies in the industry

What change should be made to Sentence 3?

(A) change programme to program

(B) change organizes to organized

(C) remove the comma after revised

(D) change procedures to proceedures

46. Mr. Jaxon has always been an excellent representative for our company, which has trained some 45 new repair personnel in the past year.

What is the best rewording for the underlined portion of this sentence?

(A) had always been

(B) always had been

(C) always was

(D) no change required

47. He has showed a high level of commitment to his job; and he will pursue his work with both competence and efficiency.

What change should be made to the underlined portion of this sentence?

(A) change showed to shown

(B) change commitment to comitment

(C) change has to had

(D) no change required

48. He has showed a high level of commitment to his job; and he will pursue his work with both competence and efficiency.

What change should be made to the underlined portion of the sentence?

(A) change will pursue to will have pursued

(B) replace the semicolon with a comma

(C) change will pursue to will have pursued

(D) no change required

49. I have developed a great respect for Mr. Jaxons’ personal communications skills, and dedication to his work and our program.

What correction does this sentence require?

(A) move the apostrophe from Jaxons’ to Jaxon’s

(B) change program to programme

(C) change personal to personnel

(D) no change required

Questions 50–55 refer to the following excerpt from Saul Bellow’s “Something to Remember Me By” (1990).

It began like any other winter school day in Chicago — grimly ordinary. The temperature a few degrees above zero, botanical frost shapes on the windowpane, the snow swept up in heaps, the ice gritty and the streets, block after block, bound together by the iron of the sky. A breakfast of porridge, toast, and tea. Late as usual, I stopped for a moment to look into my mother’s sickroom. I bent near and said, “It’s Louie, going to school.” She seemed to nod. Her eyelids were brown, her face was much lighter. I hurried off with my books on a strap over my shoulder.

When I came to the boulevard on the edge of the park, two small men rushed out of a doorway with rifles, wheeled around aiming upward, and fired at pigeons near the rooftop. Several birds fell straight down, and the men scooped up the soft bodies and ran indoors, dark little guys in fluttering white shirts. Depression hunters and their city game. Moments before, the police car had loafed by at ten miles an hour. The men had waited it out.

This had nothing to do with me. I mention it merely because it happened. I stepped around the blood spots and crossed into the park.

50. What words from this passage best describe the appearance of a winter school day in Chicago?

51. What do you find out about the state of Louie’s home life in Lines 5 and 6?

(A) He ate porridge, toast, and tea.

(B) He carried books on a strap.

(C) His face was much lighter.

(D) His mother was sick.

52. Who is described by the phrase dark little men in fluttering white shirts??

(A) the men who shoot the pigeons

(B) the boys on their way to school

(C) the pigeons on the rooftop

(D) the police driving by in the squad car

53. What is the importance of the term depression hunters in this passage?

(A) It tells you the state of mind of the men.

(B) A lot of people hunted in the Depression.

(C) They were reacting to the grim weather.

(D) It reinforces the image of great hardship, that people had to hunt pigeons for food in the cities.

54. What word from the passage identifies the time in which this story is set?

55. Why didn’t Louie tell the police about what he saw?

(A) He was in a hurry to get to school.

(B) His mother was sick.

(C) It had nothing to do with him.

(D) The guys were his friends.

Questions 56–60 refer to the following excerpt from Russell Hart’s Photography For Dummies, 2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.).

If you’ve ever had to figure out where to stick batteries in your child’s latest electronic acquisition, then loading batteries in your point-and-shoot shouldn’t be a challenge. Turn off your camera when you install them; the camera may go crazy opening and closing its lens. (Some cameras turn themselves off after you install new batteries, so you have to turn them back on to shoot.)

With big point-and-shoot models, you typically open a latched cover on the bottom to install batteries. More compact models have a battery compartment under a door or flap that is incorporated into the side or grip of the camera. You may have to pry open such doors with a coin.

More annoying are covers on the bottom that you open by loosening a screw. (You need a coin for this type, too.) And most annoying are battery covers that aren’t hinged and come off completely when you unscrew them. If you have one of these, don’t change batteries while standing over a sewer grate, in a field of tall grass, or on a pier.

Whether loading four AAs or a single lithium, make sure that the batteries are correctly oriented as you insert them. You’ll find a diagram and/or plus and minus markings, usually within the compartment or on the inside of the door.

If your camera doesn’t turn on and the batteries are correctly installed, the batteries may have lost their punch from sitting on a shelf too long. Which is where the battery icon comes in.

If your camera has an LCD panel, an icon tells you when battery power is low.

56. In what will you be installing the batteries?

(A) an electronic acquisition

(B) a children’s toy

(C) a big point-and-shoot

(D) a camera

57. What is the easiest model in which to replace the batteries?

(A) compact models

(B) big point-and-shoots

(C) screw bottoms

(D) covers not hinged

58. Why should locations such as sewer grates and tall grass be avoided when changing batteries?

(A) Water can get in the camera.

(B) Your lens may get dirty.

(C) Your card might be ruined.

(D) The battery cover may be lost.

59. How do you ensure that the batteries are correctly oriented?

(A) Use four AAs.

(B) Use a single lithium.

(C) Empty the compartment.

(D) Find a diagram.

60. What tells you whether the batteries are low?

(A) the diagram

(B) the battery icon

(C) the battery compartment

(D) a single lithium battery

At this point, you may take a 10-minute break before beginning the Extended Response.

Extended Response

TIME: 45 minutes

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: The following articles present arguments both for and against banning cars from city centers. In your response, analyze the positions presented in each article and explain which you think is best supported. You must use specific and appropriate evidence to support your arguments. Use the following sheets of lined paper for your response. You should expect to spend up to 45 minutes in planning, drafting, and editing your response.

Article 1 Pro: Let’s Ban Cars

The proliferation of cars in every major city is an inevitable product of modern society. Increased salaries, more disposable income, and lower vehicle prices mean that almost everyone can own a car. This translates into more cars, more traffic, more pollution, and more space taken up for parking lots. There are some very pressing reasons to ban cars from metropolitan areas.

The number of cars in the world today exceeds 1 billion and is estimated to exceed 2 billion by the year 2035. Considering how congested cities are now, this paints a staggering picture of clogged streets and gridlocked intersections. In addition, automobile congestion creates a health hazard to city dwellers. The constant stop and go of city driving burns more gas and spews more dangerous pollutants into the air. While the Environmental Protection Agency has set limits on exhaust emissions, these limit only a small percentage of chemicals that are emitted. Unregulated particulates in the air cause widespread harm. High levels of nitrogen oxide are toxic to humans; carbon dioxide contributes to global warming; and ozone can exacerbate asthma. It is little wonder that the number of asthma sufferers in cities is steadily increasing.

Furthermore, cars use up valuable resources, both economic and natural. Cars are expensive to run because the price of gas is so high. Cars also burn precious fossil fuels, and the processes required to extract the raw petroleum necessary are costly and dangerous. Think of the explosions of oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and the catastrophic oil spills that have destroyed sea plants and wildlife. Maybe it’s time to admit that the impact of too many cars goes beyond the city and affects us globally.

Along with the environmental and health dangers caused by traffic comes the quality of city life issues. So much space is required to provide parking spaces and lots to house the thousands of cars, limousines, and taxis. Think of how much better it would be to use that space to benefit human beings rather than machines. Pedestrian walks, small parks, and gardens could be enjoyed by so many people. And, how much more attractive is a garden than a four story concrete parking garage!

It is true that everybody needs to get to work, and that city centers are the hubs of commercial activity. But, there are so many better options than driving a car into the city. Public transportation is widely available and is often far more economical than owning a gas-guzzling vehicle. With a ban on private cars, more people will ride buses and trains, freeing up traffic congestion and decreasing health hazards. Some may even find that they can accomplish some work on the bus and train, thus using their time more efficiently. Pedestrians will be also able to navigate the city streets without fear of being run over by a car trying to beat a red light. And perhaps, some people will sit in a garden on the site of a former parking lot and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.

Article 2 Against: Cars are Necessary

Banishing the private automobile from urban areas may seem like an easy solution to traffic jams and air pollution, but the actual dynamics are far more complex. The simple fact is that people need to get to work, and city centers are often epicenters of finance, shopping, and banking. Without cars, how will people get to work everyday? The economy will suffer as workers and consumers struggle to find their way to business and retail centers.

Those who support a ban on private cars in city centers point to public transportation as the solution to all the problems associated with urban traffic. What they fail to consider is the most public transportation systems rely on buses and trains that aren’t used efficiently. During peak hours, they become so crowded that they create uncomfortable and even unsafe conditions for users as the system copes with the temporary surge in demand. Moreover, because people are reluctant to travel on unsanitary, overcrowded, and seedy public transport, low ridership makes many services financially unsustainable, particularly in suburban areas. In spite of significant subsidies and cross-financing, almost every public transit system cannot generate sufficient income to cover the costs of operating. While in the past deficits were considered acceptable because of the essential service public transit was providing for urban mobility, its financial burden is increasingly controversial. Moreover, as people struggling to find affordable housing move farther and farther out into suburbs, access to public transportation dwindles, and driving to work is the only option.

Proponents of banning automobiles also cite statistics on the dangerous emissions of car exhausts, but this is becoming less of a valid argument everyday. Increased technology has reduced emissions significantly—the goal is to build cars that emit no pollution—and alternative fuel, hybrid development, and electrical technology have reduced reliance on fossil fuels. And, self-driving cars, which add a measure of safety, are on the horizon. The addition of high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOVs) has encouraged car-pooling to further reduce traffic. In addition, urban planners are designing new roadways and reworking existing ones to decrease inner city traffic congestion, which will result in lower exhaust emissions.

It is also important to note that owing a car is a cultural symbol of status and personal freedom. In the U.S., where only eight percent of the population does not own a car, most people see car ownership as a necessity rather than a convenience. Indeed, 88 percent of all commuting in this country is done by car. Most people reject the need to rely on schedules and inconvenient transport systems that may not be suitable for their lifestyles. With your own car, you can come and go when and where you please. This privilege is one that most people value highly.