Module2 Traffic Jam Background readingsPart Two Teaching Resources Section 1 Background readings Sao Paolo Sao Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy.Sao Paulo is the richest state in Brazil. It has the second highest “per-capita”, despite of the poverty in some areas of the greatest cities. 2. Lagos Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria. Lagos is built on the mainland and the series of islands surrounding Lagos Lagoon. Although Lagos isn't the capital, the city is the commercial center of Nigeria. 3. Nigeria The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It is the most populous country in Africa. The country's name is unrelated to its African heritage; it was proposed by a Times article in 1897. 4. Los Angeles The City of Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States in terms of population, as well as one of the world's most important economic, cultural, and entertainment centers. The city is one of the largest entry points for immigrants to the United States, making it one of world's most culturally rich places. People are attracted to the city for its warm weather, its vibrant lifestyle, its unique energy, and the opportunity to realize the “American Dream.”5. European Cities Do Away with Traffic SignsAre streets without traffic signs conceivable? Seven cities and regions in Europe are giving it a try -- with good results. Drachten in the Netherlands(荷兰), has gotten rid of 16 of its traffic light crossings and converted(更换) the other two to roundabouts(道路交叉处的环形路).European traffic planners are dreaming of streets free of rules and directives(指示). They want drivers and pedestrians to interact in a free and humane way, as brethren(弟兄) -- by means of friendly gestures, nods of the head and eye contact, without the harassment of prohibitions, restrictions and warning signs.Stop signs and direction signs are nowhere to be seen. There are neither parking meters nor stopping restrictions. There aren't even any lines painted on the streets."The many rules strip us of the most important thing: the ability to be considerate. We're losing our capacity for socially responsible behavior," says Dutch traffic guru(领袖, 头头) Hans Monderman, one of the project's co-founders. "The greater the number of prescriptions(规定), the more people's sense of personal responsibility dwindles(缩小)."Strange as it may seem, the number of accidents has declined dramatically(戏剧用心 爱心 专心 125 号编辑 1 地). Experts from Argentina and the United States have visited Drachten. Even London has expressed an interest in this new example of automobile anarchy(无政府状态). And the model is being tested in the British capital's Kensington neighborhood.用心 爱心 专心 125 号编辑 2
