Roads and traffic · B2. Distinguish these meanings in context: junction = a place where roads meet; roundabout = a circular road junction with traffic moving around a central island; bypass = a road that carries traffic around a town; crossroads = a place where two roads cross each other.
Learn twelve useful words in this topic. Study independent examples, then practise them in new situations. The level is an editorial guide, not a certification.
Turn left at the next junction.
Turn left at the next junction.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “a T-junction” as a word partnership. In this unit “junction” means a place where roads meet.
Distinguish these meanings in context: junction = a place where roads meet; roundabout = a circular road junction with traffic moving around a central island; bypass = a road that carries traffic around a town; crossroads = a place where two roads cross each other.
Turn left at the next junction.
Distinguish these meanings in context: congestion = a condition in which traffic is blocked by too many vehicles; diversion = a temporary alternative route when the usual road is closed; collision = an accident in which vehicles hit something; breakdown = a failure of a vehicle’s engine or machinery.
Traffic congestion makes the journey longer.
Distinguish these meanings in context: pedestrian = a person travelling on foot; cyclist = a person riding a bicycle; motorist = a person driving a car; commuter = a person who regularly travels between home and work.
The pedestrian waited for the green light.
The side road ends where it meets the main road, forming a T-___.
Distinguish these meanings in context: junction = a place where roads meet; roundabout = a circular road junction with traffic moving around a central island; bypass = a road that carries traffic around a town; crossroads = a place where two roads cross each other.
Turn left at the next junction.Distinguish these meanings in context: congestion = a condition in which traffic is blocked by too many vehicles; diversion = a temporary alternative route when the usual road is closed; collision = an accident in which vehicles hit something; breakdown = a failure of a vehicle’s engine or machinery.
Traffic congestion makes the journey longer.Distinguish these meanings in context: pedestrian = a person travelling on foot; cyclist = a person riding a bicycle; motorist = a person driving a car; commuter = a person who regularly travels between home and work.
The pedestrian waited for the green light.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
a place where roads meet
a circular road junction with traffic moving around a central island
a road that carries traffic around a town
a place where two roads cross each other
a condition in which traffic is blocked by too many vehicles
a temporary alternative route when the usual road is closed
an accident in which vehicles hit something
a failure of a vehicle’s engine or machinery
a person travelling on foot
a person riding a bicycle
a person driving a car
a person who regularly travels between home and work
Opening an answer records help for that question.
The side road ends where it meets the main road, forming a T-___.
The deciding cue is “T-”: it identifies the meaning “a place where roads meet”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “junction” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The side road ends where it meets the main road, forming a T-junction.”.
Too many cars trying to use the same road caused severe ___.
The deciding cue is “Too many cars”: it identifies the meaning “a condition in which traffic is blocked by too many vehicles”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “congestion” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Too many cars trying to use the same road caused severe congestion.”.
A ___ travels on foot, rather than on a bicycle or in a vehicle.
The deciding cue is “on foot”: it identifies the meaning “a person travelling on foot”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “pedestrian” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “A pedestrian travels on foot, rather than on a bicycle or in a vehicle.”.
What is the specific name for a circular road junction where traffic moves around a central island? ___
The deciding cue is “circular road junction”: it identifies the meaning “a circular road junction with traffic moving around a central island”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “roundabout” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “What is the specific name for a circular road junction where traffic moves around a central island? roundabout”.
Use the ___ to travel around the town instead of through its centre.
The deciding cue is “around the town”: it identifies the meaning “a road that carries traffic around a town”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “bypass” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Use the bypass to travel around the town instead of through its centre.”.
The most specific name for a junction where two straight roads cross at right angles is a ___.
The deciding cue is “most specific name”: it identifies the meaning “a place where two roads cross each other”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “crossroads” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The most specific name for a junction where two straight roads cross at right angles is a crossroads.”.
The bridge is closed for repairs, so follow the temporary ___.
The deciding cue is “temporary”: it identifies the meaning “a temporary alternative route when the usual road is closed”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “diversion” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The bridge is closed for repairs, so follow the temporary diversion.”.
Two cars hit each other at the crossing in a head-on ___.
The deciding cue is “hit each other”: it identifies the meaning “an accident in which vehicles hit something”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “collision” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Two cars hit each other at the crossing in a head-on collision.”.
The engine stopped working, so we called for ___ assistance.
The deciding cue is “engine stopped working”: it identifies the meaning “a failure of a vehicle’s engine or machinery”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “breakdown” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The engine stopped working, so we called for breakdown assistance.”.
The ___ pedalled up the hill in the cycle lane.
The deciding cue is “pedalled”: it identifies the meaning “a person riding a bicycle”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “cyclist” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The cyclist pedalled up the hill in the cycle lane.”.
A ___ is specifically a person driving a car, not someone walking or cycling.
The deciding cue is “person driving a car”: it identifies the meaning “a person driving a car”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “motorist” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “A motorist is specifically a person driving a car, not someone walking or cycling.”.
Someone who regularly travels from home to a workplace is a ___.
The deciding cue is “regularly travels”: it identifies the meaning “a person who regularly travels between home and work”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “commuter” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Someone who regularly travels from home to a workplace is a commuter.”.
A road ___ is the general term for a point where roads meet, including T-shaped layouts.
The deciding cue is “general term”: it identifies the meaning “a place where roads meet”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “junction” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “A road junction is the general term for a point where roads meet, including T-shaped layouts.”.
Drivers follow circular arrows around a central island and choose an exit. What is the specific name of this type of junction? ___
The deciding cue is “central island”: it identifies the meaning “a circular road junction with traffic moving around a central island”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “roundabout” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Drivers follow circular arrows around a central island and choose an exit. What is the specific name of this type of junction? roundabout”.
Rush-hour ___ eased when fewer vehicles entered the city centre.
The deciding cue is “fewer vehicles”: it identifies the meaning “a condition in which traffic is blocked by too many vehicles”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “congestion” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Rush-hour congestion eased when fewer vehicles entered the city centre.”.
Yellow signs mark a ___ that takes drivers around the roadworks.
The deciding cue is “roadworks”: it identifies the meaning “a temporary alternative route when the usual road is closed”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “diversion” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Yellow signs mark a diversion that takes drivers around the roadworks.”.
What term classifies a person’s current mode of travel when they use the pavement and cross the road on foot, regardless of their usual driving habits? ___
The deciding cue is “current mode of travel”: it identifies the meaning “a person travelling on foot”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “pedestrian” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “What term classifies a person’s current mode of travel when they use the pavement and cross the road on foot, regardless of their usual driving habits? pedestrian”.
A ___ on a bicycle rang her bell to warn people ahead.
The deciding cue is “on a bicycle”: it identifies the meaning “a person riding a bicycle”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “cyclist” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “A cyclist on a bicycle rang her bell to warn people ahead.”.
The council built a permanent ___ so lorries could avoid the town’s narrow streets.
The deciding cue is “permanent”: it identifies the meaning “a road that carries traffic around a town”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “bypass” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The council built a permanent bypass so lorries could avoid the town’s narrow streets.”.
The most specific name for the four-armed shape where two straight roads cross is a ___.
The deciding cue is “four-armed shape”: it identifies the meaning “a place where two roads cross each other”. Check the general category of meeting roads, a specific junction shape, or a road avoiding the town centre; “crossroads” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The most specific name for the four-armed shape where two straight roads cross is a crossroads.”.
The driver avoided a ___ by braking before hitting the vehicle ahead.
The deciding cue is “hitting the vehicle ahead”: it identifies the meaning “an accident in which vehicles hit something”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “collision” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The driver avoided a collision by braking before hitting the vehicle ahead.”.
There was no crash; a mechanical ___ simply prevented the car from moving.
The deciding cue is “mechanical”: it identifies the meaning “a failure of a vehicle’s engine or machinery”. Check the road layout, cause of the problem or stated way of travelling; “breakdown” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “There was no crash; a mechanical breakdown simply prevented the car from moving.”.
The word ___ means a car driver, whether that person is travelling to work, shopping or on holiday.
The deciding cue is “whether that person is travelling”: it identifies the meaning “a person driving a car”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “motorist” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The word motorist means a car driver, whether that person is travelling to work, shopping or on holiday.”.
She regularly travels from home to her city office every weekday. Which term classifies her by that repeated home-to-work journey, rather than by whether she walks, cycles or drives? ___
The deciding cue is “repeated home-to-work journey”: it identifies the meaning “a person who regularly travels between home and work”. Check the purpose and repeated pattern of a journey versus the mode of travel at the moment; “commuter” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “She regularly travels from home to her city office every weekday. Which term classifies her by that repeated home-to-work journey, rather than by whether she walks, cycles or drives? commuter”.