[b]Are cars doing more harm than good?[/b] [b]Arguments [/b][b]1. Cars are evils resulting from modernization, for they make people suffer rather than enjoy life. [b]2. Traffic accidents caused by cars not only bring death and injury, but also make people suffer mentally and psychologically. [b]3. Every year car owners have to pay vast sums to the exchequer: road tax, purchase tax, oil tax, etc. This is a big drain on their resources. [b]4. Since China has such a large population, the popularisation of private cars will only bring about 123ious social problems. [b]5. Cars should be done away with. We should try to find a safer means of transport which will bring joy and comfort rather than injury and death. [b]6. The roads are so often jammed with cars that ambulances and fire engines find it difficult to fulfil their duties. [b]7. People's hidden frustrations and disappointments are brought to the surface when they drive. [b]8. Road networks for cars have not only made cities uninhabitable, but also desecrated the countryside. [b]9. Cars often produce air pollution and fill the cities with unbearable noise. [b]10. Cars are the cause of traffic accidents. All over the world thousands upon thousands of people are killed or injured every year. [b][b]Counter-arguments[/b] 1. Motor cars are highly desirable for obvious reasons. We should recognize this and adapt ourselves. [b]2. Motor cars enable people to become more mobile. Without cars, the world would still consist of isolated communities. [b]3. If there are more cars in China's rural areas, people can get to cities more easily. The gap between town and country will become smaller. [b]4. Possessing a car gives one a much greater degree of mobility, enabling him to move around freely. [b]>5. The owner of a car is not forced to rely on public transport and is, therefore, not compelled to work locally. [b]6. Long distances can be covered rapidly and pleasantly. [b]7. Buses are often crowded and slow, especially during rush-hour. If there are more cars, people can get around more easily. [b]8. With the popularisation of cars, the suburbs will become more developed, and the downtown area will be less crowded. [b]9. Cars and motorists are not to blame for road accidents. Problems like too many road signs, faulty traffic lights, sudden narrowing of a street and congested parking are the real cause of traffic accidents. [b]10. There must be universal adoption of multi-storey and underground car parks so that car-parks won’t become a problem. [b]