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Parte Terza
Abilità linguistiche
Testi di livello B1/B2 del QCER
1) Driving in Different Countries
Although people drive in all countries, the rules can be quite different between nations
and areas. For this reason, you should always learn the laws before you decide to drive in
a foreign country. If you are not careful, you can get into trouble, since the rules might be
very different from what you are used to. For example, you can find some big differences in
laws related to the minimum driving age, the appropriate side of the road to drive on, and
mobile phone use while driving. In the United States of America, people who live in Alaska
may obtain a learner’s permit (legal permission to drive while being supervised) at the age
of fourteen. This is quite different from the driving laws of Niger, where a person must be
at least twenty-three years old to drive. If you are curious to know the minimum driving age
in most countries, the answer is eighteen. It may also surprise you to learn that not every
country allows its citizens to drive, although most of them do. For example, women are not
allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia no matter how old they are. Instead, they must have a male
family member or hired male driver to travel by car. Driving on the right or left side of the
road also varies. For instance, in Great Britain, Cyprus, Australia, India, and Malaysia peo-
ple drive on the left. However, in the U.S., Mexico, France, and Canada people are required
to drive on the right. As a matter of fact, one country can have different driving rules for
different areas. For example, people in Hong Kong drive on the left, while drivers in other
parts of China use the right side of the road. Other driving laws that are different between
countries include those related to using mobile phones. In Japan, using any kind of mobile
phone device is illegal, even if you do not need to hold the phone with your hands. However,
in Argentina and Australia, drivers are allowed to talk on their mobile phones as long as
they do not use their hands. You might also find it interesting to learn that some countries
have very strange or unusual laws. For example, in the country of Cyprus, it is against the law
to eat or drink anything while driving. Even more interesting is that in Germany, there is a
famous road called the Autobahn, where certain parts have no speed limit at all!
www.moon.vnPossible questions
1) According to the passage, what is it illegal doing while driving in Cyprus?
2) In what countries do you have to drive on the left side of the road?
3) Why should you learn the laws before driving in a foreign country?
4) What is a learner’s permit?
5) According to the article, in what countries is it illegal to talk on your cell phones? In what
countries is it legal?
Possible answers
1) In Cyprus it is forbidden to drink while driving.
2) The countries where you must drive on the left side of the road are: Great Britain, Cyprus,
Australia, India, Malaysia and also some places in China.
3) Because the laws may differ from one place to another, and by not knowing its local laws,
you might end up into trouble.
4) It’s a legal permission to drive while supervised.
5) In Japan you are not allowed to use your cell phone while driving, not even if you’re not
using your hands, whereas it is possible to do so in countries such as Australia and Argen-
tina, just as long as you don’t use your hands.