Engineer Hans Monderman (1945-2008) became well-known for

Engineer Hans Monderman (1945-2008) became well-known for his 2001 project in the Dutch city of Drachten. At the town center, in a crowded four-way intersection, Monderman removed not only the traffic lights but almost every other traffic control. Instead of a space cluttered with poles, lights, “traffic islands,” and restrictive arrows, he installed a radical type of roundabout—vaguely resembling a town square—marked only by a central, raised circle of grass, several fountains, and discreet traffic indicators required by law. A year later, not only had congestion decreased—buses spent less time waiting to get through, for example—but there were half as many accidents, even though total car traffic was up by a third. Instead of a mechanistic stop-and-go process, the movement of traffic and pedestrians in the circle was more cooperative and smooth, and studies showed that both drivers and cyclists were signaling more often.

While Monderman conceded that such systems could only be installed after careful study of traffic volume, intersection geometry, and the mix of pedestrians, cyclists, and cars, he believed the best way to change people's driving behavior was to change their conception of time, and the best way to do that was to change context. In the mid-1980s, he was
dispatched to the Dutch town of Oudehaske to check traffic speed through the small town's center, which had become extremely dangerous. Rather than installing traffic lights or traffic calming devices such as speed bumps, warning signs, or other highly visible interventions, Monderman suggested that Oudehaske center simply be made more villagelike.

The interventions were subtle. Signs were removed, curbs were torn out, and asphalt was replaced with red paving brick and gray gutters on either side that were slightly concave but usable by cars. The plan worked; drivers slowed. Rather than clarity and segregation, Monderman had created confusion and ambiguity Unsure what space belonged to them, drivers became more accommodating. Rather than give drivers a simple behavioral mandate, he had, through the new road design, subtly suggested the proper course of action. The main road now looked like a narrow lane in a village, not a trafficway through some anonymous town.

Difficulty Level: 650

Q1:By stating that Monderman created “confusion and ambiguity” (see highlighted text), the author primarily seeks to

A. acknowledge a popular criticism of Monderman's design for the town
B. contrast the means by which Monderman accomplished his goals in Drachten and Oudehaske
C. sum up a major aspect of Monderman's approach in his roadway design for the town
D. identify a tendency of drivers that Monderman sought to overcome in his design for the town
E. explain why Monderman thought that changing people's “conception of time” was the best way to change people's driving behavior

Difficulty Level: 600



Q2:The passage is primarily concerned with

A. arguing for particular changes to long-standing practices in traffic planning
B. examining the approach of a particular person to particular problems in traffic planning
C. illustrating how recent findings have influenced practices in traffic planning
D. describing how the work of a particular person radically changed the way traffic planning is conducted
E. acknowledging the shortcomings of current practices in traffic planning

Difficulty Level: 650



Q3:The passage mentions that, while car traffic had increased significantly a year after Monderman redesigned the intersection in Drachten

A. drivers perceived the area surrounding the intersection to be more villagelike
B. fewer cyclists and pedestrians found the need to use the intersection
C. most people felt safer while negotiating the intersection
D. buses were able to get through the intersection more quickly
E. motorists drove more slowly while negotiating the intersection

Difficulty Level: 550


Q4:The passage most strongly suggests that Monderman did which of the following?

A. Worked to have certain traffic laws changed to accommodate some of his projects
B. Tried to reduce the amount of total traffic at the sites of his projects
C. Carefully studied on-site traffic-flow dynamics prior to proceeding with any of his projects
D. Placed more emphasis on the concerns of cyclists and pedestrians than on motorists in the design of his projects
E. Took into account the stated preferences of users of the roads involved in his projects