Impact Issues - Teacher's Notes

Impact Issues Teacher's Notes
Lesson 6 – Traffic Jam

Comprehension questions:

1. What problem do many countries have? (traffic jams)
2. What environmental problem does driving a car cause? (air pollution)
3. Does Singapore have a traffic problem? (No.)
4. What is the air like in Singapore? (It’s clean.)
5. How long does it take to drive to the airport in Singapore? (15 minutes)
6. How has Singapore managed to control the air pollution and traffic? (they made it expensive to own and drive a car/require a permit)
7. How much does it cost to buy a 10-year permit to drive a car? ($75,000)
8. How much are import taxes on cars? (195%)
9. How much might a car cost in Singapore? (over $250,000)
10. If drivers want to go downtown, what must they do? (pay)
11. Is gasoline cheap or expensive? (expensive) Why? (it’s taxed greatly)
12. Do you think Singapore’s solution would work in Tokyo? Why? Why not?
13. What is necessary in cities where owning a car is very expensive? (very good public transportation)
    

Opinion questions (all followed by why/why not?):

• Do you think other cities should do as Singapore has done? Why? Why not?
• Do you think it is necessary to own a car in Tokyo? If not, why not? Is so, why?
• What kind of people really need cars?
• What kind of people don’t need cars?
  

Homework:

Write an essay about your ideas for reducing air pollution caused by cars.

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