V. Working on the text

Task 1. Read and translate the text using the active vocabulary. Find in the text simple present, past, and future passives.

The Year 1938: Need of a National Transportation Policy

The end of the year 1938 finds the United States of America still without a comprehensive national transportation policy. Such a policy was strongly recommended in a report submitted to the President in December 23, by the committee appointed by him in September to look into the difficulties of the railroads and to recommend how these difficulties can be reduced or eliminated. The committee found the transportation problems complicated by wasteful competition, unequal regulation, and inequitable subsidies; wherefore the Committee advocated the adoption of a definite national policy providing for fair regulation of all modes of transportation to preserve the advantages of each.

Of course, the greatest stumbling block to such action will be the opposition of those who are receiving favored treatment and subsidies the principal beneficiaries being the Federal airports, airlines, and the merchant marine. To determine what is fair among all these conflicting interests is a tremendous task, and studies have been made by the Federal Coordinator of Transportation[4] and by various organizations. The basis must be efficiency, that is, the lowest total cost of providing the service must be sought, though the matter may be complicated by other factors, such as the public benefits.

There is little new in highway transport. The Federal and state governments have continued to pour funds into new construction, and the tendency is toward construction of a larger mileage of low-cost roads. There is also much talk of super-highways, but it is rumored that the Federal Bureau of Public Roads[5] will not indorse transcontinental super-highways. It is believed that much greater benefit will be obtained by making present roads safe for present traffic.

Highway safety has tremendously improved, and it now looks as if the year would show about a 20 per cent reduction in traffic fatalities as compared with 1937, during which 39,500 persons were killed. An encouraging sign is that some states and communities are waking up to the fact that the safe speed varies with the locality and circumstances and are posting speed zones with varying speed limits. Bus travel continues to develop under the Motor Carrier Act[6], and diesel-power and air-conditioned buses are becoming more and more common.

Interstate trucking, though also under the Motor Carrier Act, is in a somewhat chaotic condition due to the varying state regulations, which have been upheld by the United States Supreme Court[7] during the past year. There is, however, a strong movement toward uniform regulations throughout the nation.

Task 2. Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions using the active vocabulary and the information in the text above.

1. What was the main task of the committee appointed by the US president in September 1938?

2. What was recommended in the report submitted by the committee to the US President in December 23?

3. What complicated the transportation problem in the USA in 1938?

4. What was the greatest stumbling block to solving the US transportation problems in 1938?

5. What conclusion did the Federal Coordinator of Transportation arrive at in 1938 after having studied the US transportation problems?

6. What were the tendencies in US highway transportation in 1938?

7. What success did the US transport achieve in highway safety bus services in 1938 as compared with 1937?

8. What problems did interstate trucking face in 1938?

Task 3. Fill in the gaps with appropriate prepositions and translate the sentences into your mother tongue. Consult the text above.

1. A new national transportation policy was recommended ___ a report submitted ___ the US President in December.

2. In 1938, the US transportation problems were complicated ___ wasteful competition, unequal regulation, and inequitable subsidies.

3. The government continues to pour funds ____ new highways construction.

4. The tendency was toward construction ___ a larger mileage ___ low-cost roads.

5. The year 1938 showed about a 20 per cent reduction ___ traffic fatalities as compared ____ 1937.

6. Bus travel continued to develop _____ the Motor Carrier Act.

7. Interstate trucking was ____ a somewhat chaotic condition due to the varying state regulations.

8. There was a strong movement toward uniform regulations ____ the nation.

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