Breaking News English

Drivers the world over may soon have [despite / respite] from potholes and cracks in the road. Scientists from the universities of Bath, Cambridge and Cardiff have come [down / up] with a novel and [innovative / innovation] solution to [plugging / plugged] gaps and holes in roads and highways. They have created a bacteria-filled concrete [for / to] prevent cracks in a road from becoming larger. The concrete is full of bacteria that open [which / when] water seeps into a crack. The bacteria burst open and [injection / inject] limestone into the crack, [thus / these] filling and repairing it to avert more [serious / seriously] damage. The scientists believe their discovery could considerably increase the lifespan of roads, [reduce / reduction] repairs, and lower roadwork costs by up to 50 per cent.

The new concrete could be [well / good] news for the environment. Scientists estimate that over seven per cent [for / of] the world's CO2 emissions come from the production [of / by] cement. If less cement is needed to repair roads, there will be [fewer / less] pollutants entering the atmosphere. Another benefit of the new cement is a reduction [in / on] accidents, injuries and deaths that [result / results] from potholes. Thousands of motorists and pedestrians worldwide are [killed / died] because drivers swerve to avoid holes in roads. There is also good news for [locally / local] governments. In Britain alone, at least 40,000 drivers a year [claim / clam] compensation for damages to their car caused by potholes. The concrete could be put to [useful / use] in the next 20 years.