Read the text. For questions 7.1.–7.5., choose the word or phrase which fits best in each gap. Circle the appropriate letter (A, B, C or D).

REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN LOS ANGELES

L.A. traffic congestion is the worst in the nation. It takes its 7.1. on the quality of life, economic competitiveness and driving safety. And it is more than certain that it will continue to worsen unless policymakers intervene. But what steps should be taken? To answer this question, a group of researchers conducted a study to identify strategies that could be 7.2. and might produce significant effects within five years. The scientists concluded that tackling the problem of congestion should mean 7.3. increasing the supply of road space or reducing the demand for peak-hour automotive travel.
However, the prospects for building the way out of congestion are grim. Most residents fear 7.4. by fast-flowing traffic day and night and oppose the construction of new roads or the expansion of existing ones in their neighborhoods. And even if people 7.5. to new highways, there is very little space to add road capacity in the areas where congestion is most intense. Therefore, the most realistic option is to find ways to manage the weight of the traffic during peak hours.

adapted from www.rand.org