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Toyota shows video of driverless car (8th January, 2013)

Toyota has released a video of its new driverless car. The real car will be on show at an electronics show in Las Vegas, USA. The car is full of special "intelligent" safety features to make sure it does not crash. It uses radars and video cameras to understand where other cars are. It can also "see" people and slow down to avoid hitting them. The car can also communicate with other cars that have the same technology. A Toyota spokesperson said: "We're looking at a car that would eliminate crashes. Zero-collisions is our ultimate aim." He added that the car should be used with a driver, but that it can also drive itself. This would be useful if the driver wants to use his or her laptop, or falls asleep.


 

Toyota is not the first car maker to showcase self-driving cars. In May 2012, the Swedish company Volvo tested a self-drive convoy of cars on a Spanish highway. The search engine Google has also invested a lot of money in the technology for these cars. The German auto manufacturers Audi and Mercedes are also developing similar cars. The chairman of the Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford Jr., said these cars will reduce traffic jams in the future. He said the cars will receive information from computers that monitor traffic and then the cars will take a different route around any gridlock. Toyota's video says: "Lexus advanced active safety research vehicle is leading the industry into a new automated era."

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20910769
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323374504578220081249592640.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413841,00.asp


 
 

WARM-UPS

1. CARS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about cars. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

driverless car / electronics show / safety features / radars / video cameras / crashes / showcase / highway / manufacturers / traffic jams / research / automated era

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. TECHNOLOGY: What do you think of these technologies? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good points

Bad points

Driverless cars

 

 

Speech-to-text

 

 

Robot teachers

 

 

Jet packs to fly

 

 

space travel

 

 

everlasting food

 

 

4. NO HANDS: Students A strongly believe driverless cars are great technology; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.



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5. DRIVERLESS: What would be the best thing about driverless cars? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • no car crashes
  • no traffic jams
  • the driver can sleep
  • you never get lost
  • fewer deaths on the road
  • four seats facing each other
  • more space in the car
  • get from A to B faster

6. INTELLIGENT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'intelligent'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

Toyota has shown a video of a car that needs no driver.

T / F

b.

No one will be able to see the car until 2015.

T / F

c.

The car has technology that means it can "talk" to any other car.

T / F

d.

Toyota's aim is to cut the number of car crashes by 50 per cent.

T / F

e.

Toyota isn't the first car maker to make cars that do not need a driver.

T / F

f.

The boss of the car company Ford said the cars could cut traffic jams.

T / F

g.

The new driverless cars will add to gridlock problems on the roads.

T / F

h.

Toyota believes its new car is the leader in safety vehicles.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

released

a.

make contact

2.

special

b.

highlight

3.

communicate

c.

keep an eye on

4.

eliminate

d.

launched

5.

ultimate

e.

group

6.

showcase

f.

put an end to

7.

convoy

g.

purpose-built

8.

manufacturer

h.

automobile

9.

monitor

i.

basic

10.

vehicle

j.

producer

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

The real car will be on show at

a.

aim

2.

safety

b.

avoid hitting them

3.

make sure it

c.

traffic

4.

slow down to

d.

features

5.

Zero-collisions is our ultimate

e.

automated era

6.

invested

f.

a different route

7.

these cars will reduce traffic

g.

an electronics show

8.

computers that monitor

h.

a lot of money

9.

the cars will take

i.

does not crash

10.

leading the industry into a new

j.

jams

 

GAP FILL

Toyota has released a video of its new driverless car. The real car will be on (1) ____________ at an electronics show in Las Vegas, USA. The car is full of special "intelligent" safety (2)____________ to make sure it does not crash. It uses (3)____________ and video cameras to understand where other cars are. It can also "see" people and slow down to (4)____________ hitting them. The car can also (5)____________ with other cars that have the same technology. A Toyota spokesperson said: "We're looking at a car that would (6)____________ crashes. Zero-collisions is our ultimate (7)____________." He added that the car should be used with a driver, but that it can also drive itself. This would be useful if the driver wants to use his or her laptop, or (8)____________ asleep.

 

 

 

avoid
aim
features
eliminate
radars
show
falls
communicate

Toyota is not the first car maker to (9)____________ self-driving cars. In May 2012, the Swedish company Volvo tested a self-drive convoy of cars on a Spanish (10)____________. The search engine Google has also invested a lot of money in the technology for these cars. The German auto manufacturers Audi and Mercedes are also (11)____________ similar cars. The chairman of the Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford Jr., said these cars will (12)____________ traffic jams in the future. He said the cars will (13)____________ information from computers that (14)____________ traffic and then the cars will take a different route around any (15)____________. Toyota's video says: "Lexus advanced active safety research vehicle is leading the industry into a new automated (16)____________."

 

 

receive
era
highway
developing
monitor
showcase
gridlock
reduce

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

Toyota has released a video of its ______

 

a.  new driverless cars
b.  driverless new car
c.  new driverless car
d.  new less driver car

2)

The car is full of special "intelligent" safety features to make ______

 

a.  sure it does not crush
b.  sure it does not crash
c.  sure it does not crashed
d.  sure it does not crashed

3)

It can also "see" people and slow down ______

 

a.  to avoid hit in them
b.  to avoid hitting there
c.  to avoid hitting them
d.  two a void hitting them

4)

We're looking at a car that ______.

 

a.  would illuminate crashes
b.  wouldn't eliminate crashes
c.  would eliminate crashes
d.  would eliminate crushes

5)

if the driver wants to use his or her laptop, ______

 

a.  or fails a sleep
b.  or falls to sleep
c.  and falls asleep
d.  or falls asleep

6)

Toyota is not the first car maker to showcase ______.

 

a.  self-drivingless cars
b.  self-driving cars
c.  safe-driving cars
d.  self-driven cars

7)

invested a lot of money in the technology ______.

 

a.  for these cars
b.  for them cars
c.  four of these cars
d.  for four of these cars

8)

these cars will reduce traffic ______

 

a.  jams in a future
b.  jams in the future
c.  jams in the futures
d.  jams at the future

9)

the cars will take a different route around any gridlock

 

a.  around some gridlock
b.  a round den knee gridlock
c.  around any padlock
d.  around any gridlock

10)

leading the industry into a new automated era

 

a.  anew auto mated ear
b.  a new automated hearer
c.  a new automated era
d.  a new automatic era

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Toyota has released a video of its new driverless car. The real car will be on show (1) ___________________ in Las Vegas, USA. The car is full of special "intelligent" safety features to make (2) ___________________. It uses radars and video cameras to understand where other cars are. It can also "see" people and (3) ___________________ hitting them. The car can also communicate with other cars that have the same technology. A Toyota spokesperson said: "We're looking at a car (4) ___________________ crashes. Zero-collisions (5) ___________________." He added that the car should be used with a driver, but that it can also drive itself. This would be useful if the driver (6) ___________________ laptop, or falls asleep.

Toyota is not the first car (7) ___________________ self-driving cars. In May 2012, the Swedish company Volvo tested (8) ___________________ cars on a Spanish highway. The search engine Google has also invested a lot of money in the technology for these cars. The German auto manufacturers Audi and Mercedes are (9) ___________________ cars. The chairman of the Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford Jr., (10) ___________________ reduce traffic jams in the future. He said the cars will receive information from (11) ___________________ traffic and then the cars will take a different route around any gridlock. Toyota's video says: "Lexus advanced active safety research vehicle is leading the industry (12) ___________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

Where will Toyota show its driverless car?

2.

What do the intelligent safety features stop the car from doing?

3.

What kind of cars can the driverless car communicate with?

4.

What is Toyota's aim for the number of car crashes?

5.

What could the driver do instead of driving the driverless car?

6.

Which car maker tested driverless cars in 2012?

7.

From which country are the two other car makers mentioned?

8.

Who is Bill Ford Jr.?

9.

What will the cars get from computers that monitor traffic?

10.

What kind of era does the video say Toyota is leading the industry in?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Where can people see Toyota's real driverless car?

6.

From which country was the company that tested self-driving cars in 2012?

 

a) at an electronics show
b) at a car show
c) at a safety show
d) at a video show

 

a) Germany
b) Spain
c) Japan
d) Sweden

2.

What kind of safety features is the car full of?

7.

Who is Bill Ford Jr.?

 

a) indifferent ones
b) filling ones
c) intelligent ones
d) integrated ones

 

a) chairman of the Bill Ford Company
b) chairman of the Ford Motor
    Company
c) a test driver for the driverless cars
d) a salesman for Toyota

3.

What does the car use to make sure it doesn't crash?

8.

What did Bill Ford Jr. say the driverless cars would cut?

 

a) fast and powerful brakes
b) video cameras and radars
c) special wheels
d) a really loud horn

 

a) jam and marmalade
b) the future
c) traffic accidents
d) traffic jams

4.

What does Toyota hope the car eliminates?

9.

Where will the driverless cars get information from?

 

a) crushes
b) crunches
c) clashes
d) crashes

 

a) other driverless cars
b) police officers
c) computers that monitor traffic
d) drivers

5.

What could the driver do if the car drives itself?

10.

How will cars in the future avoid gridlocks?

 

a) write an e-mail and take a nap
b) stay at home
c) clean the windscreen (UK) / windshield (USA)
d) learn to drive

 

a) there won't be any gridlocks
b) they will take a different route around them
c) they will wait for them to disappear
d) they will smash through them

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Toyota boss

You are very excited about the driverless cars. Tell the others three reasons why. You think the others do not know what they are talking about. The safety expert has no background in cars. The driver needs to accept new technology. The environmentalist needs to be realistic – we need cars.

Role  B – Safety expert

You are very worried about driverless cars. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell Toyota's boss (s)he is more interested in selling more cars and making money than car safety. You think driverless cars will increase the number of accidents. Tell the others three reasons why.

Role  C – Driver

You think the idea of driverless cars is stupid. Tell the others three reasons why. You love driving and think self-driving cars will take all the fun away. There will be more accidents many drivers will be driving normal cars. You think everything the safety expert says is wrong.

Role  D – Environmentalist

You think there should be no cars. Tell the others three reasons why. You don't care if cars are driverless or not, all cars make pollution; all cars crash and kill or injure people. You want everyone to stop driving cars and ride bicycles instead to help save the planet.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'car' and 'crash'.

car

crash

 

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • released
  • full
  • hitting
  • aim
  • added
  • asleep
  • first
  • invested
  • similar
  • monitor
  • route
  • era

CARS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about cars in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

CARS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'car'?

c)

What do you think of the idea of driverless cars?

d)

Do you like driving?

e)

What is the best and worst thing about driving?

f)

Would you feel safe in a self-driving car?

g)

Do you think these cars will one day lead to "zero collisions"?

h)

How would you feel if the driver of a self-driving car fell asleep?

i)

What new technology would you like to see in cars of the future?

j)

Will we still need cars in the future?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Would you buy a self-driving car or a normal car?

c)

What would you do in a self-driving car if you didn't have to drive?

d)

What's your dream car, and why?

e)

What's the best way to reduce traffic accidents?

f)

What's the best way to reduce traffic jams?

g)

How bad is the traffic where you live?

h)

What will cars be like in 100 years from now?

i)

What do you think of Toyota?

j)

What questions would you like to ask the boss of Toyota?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

Toyota has (1) ____ a video of its new driverless car. The real car will be on show at an electronics show in Las Vegas, USA. The car is full of special "intelligent" safety (2) ____ to make sure it does not crash. It uses radars and video cameras to understand where other cars are. It can also "see" people and slow (3) ____ to avoid hitting them. The car can also communicate with other cars that have the same technology. A Toyota spokesperson said: "We're looking at a car that would eliminate (4) ____. Zero-collisions is our ultimate (5) ____." He added that the car should be used with a driver, but that it can also drive itself. This would be useful if the driver wants to use his or her laptop, or (6) ____ asleep.

Toyota is not the first car maker to (7) ____ self-driving cars. In May 2012, the Swedish company Volvo tested a self-drive convoy of cars on a Spanish highway. The search engine Google has also invested a lot of money (8) ____ the technology for these cars. The German auto manufacturers Audi and Mercedes are also developing (9) ____ cars. The chairman of the Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford Jr., said these cars will (10) ____ traffic jams in the future. He said the cars will receive information from computers that monitor traffic and then the cars will take a different (11) ____ around any gridlock. Toyota's video says: "Lexus advanced active safety research vehicle is leading the industry into a new automated        (12) ____."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

release

(b)

released

(c)

releasing

(d)

releases

2.

(a)

fronts

(b)

futures

(c)

feats

(d)

features

3.

(a)

away

(b)

down

(c)

up

(d)

on

4.

(a)

cruises

(b)

clashes

(c)

crashes

(d)

crushes

5.

(a)

aim

(b)

time

(c)

view

(d)

opinion

6.

(a)

falls

(b)

fells

(c)

fills

(d)

fails

7.

(a)

in case

(b)

bookcase

(c)

uncase

(d)

showcase

8.

(a)

in

(b)

on

(c)

at

(d)

of

9.

(a)

smile

(b)

similar

(c)

slime

(d)

similarity

10.

(a)

increase

(b)

level

(c)

reduce

(d)

average

11.

(a)

rate

(b)

root

(c)

route

(d)

loot

12.

(a)

century

(b)

era

(c)

machine

(d)

show

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

an lrsienteocc show in Las Vegas

2.

safety usfeaert

3.

vioda hitting them

4.

ilitemean crashes

5.

our iuetalmt aim

6.

use his or her atpplo

Paragraph 2

7.

cyovno of cars

8.

The amrcnaih of the Ford Motor Company

9.

computers that oritnom traffic

10.

take a different route around any lirocgdk

11.

safety ecsarrhe

12.

leading the yrundits

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

crash. It uses radars and video cameras to understand where other cars are. It can also "see" people and slow

(    )

show in Las Vegas, USA. The car is full of special "intelligent" safety features to make sure it does not

(    )

collisions is our ultimate aim." He added that the car should be used with a driver, but that it can

(    )

route around any gridlock. Toyota's video says: "Lexus advanced active

(    )

drive convoy of cars on a Spanish highway. The search engine Google has also invested a lot of money

(    )

safety research vehicle is leading the industry into a new automated era."

1  )

Toyota has released a video of its new driverless car. The real car will be on show at an electronics

(    )

technology. A Toyota spokesperson said: "We're looking at a car that would eliminate crashes. Zero

(    )

similar cars. The chairman of the Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford Jr., said these cars will reduce traffic jams

(    )

Toyota is not the first car maker to showcase self-driving cars. In May 2012, the Swedish company Volvo tested a self-

(    )

in the future. He said the cars will receive information from computers that monitor traffic and then the cars will take a different

(    )

in the technology for these cars. The German auto manufacturers Audi and Mercedes are also developing

(    )

down to avoid hitting them. The car can also communicate with other cars that have the same

(    )

also drive itself. This would be useful if the driver wants to use his or her laptop, or falls asleep.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

released    a    video    of    its    new   driverless    car    Toyota     has.

2.

car     of     safety     The     full     intelligent     is     special    features.

3.

and     It     people     down     also     slow     can     "see"

4.

driver    a    with    used    be    should    car   the    that    added    He.

5.

his    use    to    wants    driver    the     if    Useful    laptop    her     or.    

6.

self     -     driving     cars    The    first    car    maker    to    showcase.    

7.

money     Invested     in     a     the     lot     technology     of.    

8.

in     will     jams     future     cars     traffic     the     These     reduce.    

9.

from     that     traffic     Information     computers     monitor.    

10.

any     Cars     a     around     take    route    gridlock     will    different.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Toyota has released / releasing a video of its new driverless car. The real car will be on show at an electronics show in Las Vegas, USA. The car is fill / full of special "intelligent" safety features to make sure it does not crush / crash. It uses radars and video cameras to understand where other cars are. It can also "see" people and slow down at / to avoid hitting them. The car can also communicate with other cars that have the same technological / technology. A Toyota spokesperson said: "We're looking at a car that would illuminate / eliminate crashes. Zero-collisions is our ultimatum / ultimate aim." He added that the car should be used with a driver, but that it can also driven / drive itself. This would be useful / useless if the driver wants to use his or her laptop, or falls / fells asleep.

Toyota is not the first car maker to showcase / bookcase self-driving cars. In May 2012, the Swedish companion / company Volvo tested a self-drive convoy of cars on a Spanish highway. The search engine Google has also invested / investment a lot of money in / of the technology for these cars. The German auto manufacturers Audi and Mercedes are also develops / developing similar cars. The chairman of the Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford Jr., said these cars will reduce / increase traffic jams in the feature / future. He said the cars will receive information from computers that monitor / mention traffic and then the cars will take a different route / root around any gridlock. Toyota's video says: "Lexus advanced active safety research vehicle is leading the industry into a new automated ear / era."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

T_y_t_ h_s r_l__s_d _ v_d__ _f _ts n_w dr_v_rl_ss c_r. Th_ r__l c_r w_ll b_ _n sh_w _t _n _l_ctr_n_cs sh_w _n L_s V_g_s, _S_. Th_ c_r _s f_ll _f sp_c__l "_nt_ll_g_nt" s_f_ty f__t_r_s t_ m_k_ s_r_ _t d__s n_t cr_sh. _t _s_s r_d_rs _nd v_d__ c_m_r_s t_ _nd_rst_nd wh_r_ _th_r c_rs _r_. _t c_n _ls_ "s__" p__pl_ _nd sl_w d_wn t_ _v__d h_tt_ng th_m. Th_ c_r c_n _ls_ c_mm_n_c_t_ w_th _th_r c_rs th_t h_v_ th_ s_m_ t_chn_l_gy. _ T_y_t_ sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d: "W_'r_ l__k_ng _t _ c_r th_t w__ld _l_m_n_t_ cr_sh_s. Z_r_-c_ll_s__ns _s __r _lt_m_t_ __m." H_ _dd_d th_t th_ c_r sh__ld b_ _s_d w_th _ dr_v_r, b_t th_t _t c_n _ls_ dr_v_ _ts_lf. Th_s w__ld b_ _s_f_l _f th_ dr_v_r w_nts t_ _s_ h_s _r h_r l_pt_p, _r f_lls _sl__p.

T_y_t_ _s n_t th_ f_rst c_r m_k_r t_ sh_wc_s_ s_lf-dr_v_ng c_rs. _n M_y 2012, th_ Sw_d_sh c_mp_ny V_lv_ t_st_d _ s_lf-dr_v_ c_nv_y _f c_rs _n _ Sp_n_sh h_ghw_y. Th_ s__rch _ng_n_ G__gl_ h_s _ls_ _nv_st_d _ l_t _f m_n_y _n th_ t_chn_l_gy f_r th_s_ c_rs. Th_ G_rm_n __t_ m_n_f_ct_r_rs __d_ _nd M_rc_d_s _r_ _ls_ d_v_l_p_ng s_m_l_r c_rs. Th_ ch__rm_n _f th_ F_rd M_t_r C_mp_ny, B_ll F_rd Jr., s__d th_s_ c_rs w_ll r_d_c_ tr_ff_c j_ms _n th_ f_t_r_. H_ s__d th_ c_rs w_ll r_c__v_ _nf_rm_t__n fr_m c_mp_t_rs th_t m_n_t_r tr_ff_c _nd th_n th_ c_rs w_ll t_k_ _ d_ff_r_nt r__t_ _r__nd _ny gr_dl_ck. T_y_t_'s v_d__ s_ys: "L_x_s _dv_nc_d _ct_v_ s_f_ty r_s__rch v_h_cl_ _s l__d_ng th_ _nd_stry _nt_ _ n_w __t_m_t_d _r_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

toyota has released a video of its new driverless car the real car will be on show at an electronics show in las vegas usa the car is full of special "intelligent" safety features to make sure it does not crash it uses radars and video cameras to understand where other cars are it can also "see" people and slow down to avoid hitting them the car can also communicate with other cars that have the same technology a toyota spokesperson said "we're looking at a car that would eliminate crashes zero-collisions is our ultimate aim" he added that the car should be used with a driver but that it can also drive itself this would be useful if the driver wants to use his or her laptop or falls asleep

toyota is not the first car maker to showcase self-driving cars in may 2012 the swedish company volvo tested a self-drive convoy of cars on a spanish highway the search engine google has also invested a lot of money in the technology for these cars the german auto manufacturers audi and mercedes are also developing similar cars the chairman of the ford motor company bill ford jr said these cars will reduce traffic jams in the future he said the cars will receive information from computers that monitor traffic and then the cars will take a different route around any gridlock toyota's video says "lexus advanced active safety research vehicle is leading the industry into a new automated era"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Toyotahasreleasedavideoofitsnewdriverlesscar.Therealcarwillbeonshowatan
electronicsshowinLasVegas,USA.Thecarisfullofspecial"intelligent"safetyfeatures
tomakesureitdoesnotcrash.Itusesradarsandvideocamerastounderstandwhere
othercarsare.Itcanalso"see"peopleandslowdowntoavoidhittingthem.Thecarcan
alsocommunicatewithothercarsthathavethesametechnology.AToyota
spokespersonsaid:"We'relookingatacarthatwouldeliminatecrashes.Zero
collisionsisourultimateaim."Headdedthatthecarshouldbeusedwithadriver,but
thatitcanalsodriveitself.Thiswouldbeusefulifthedriverwantstousehisorherlaptop,
orfallsasleep.Toyotaisnotthefirstcarmakertoshowcaseself-drivingcars.InMay
2012,theSwedishcompanyVolvotestedaself-driveconvoyofcarsonaSpanish
highway.ThesearchengineGooglehasalsoinvestedalotofmoneyinthetechnology
forthesecars.TheGermanautomanufacturersAudiandMercedesarealsodeveloping
similarcars.ThechairmanoftheFordMotorCompany,BillFordJr.,saidthesecarswill
reducetrafficjamsinthefuture.Hesaidthecarswillreceiveinformationfromcomputers
thatmonitortrafficandthenthecarswilltakeadifferentroutearoundanygridlock.
Toyota'svideosays:"Lexusadvancedactivesafetyresearchvehicleisleadingthe
industryintoanewautomatedera."

FREE WRITING

Write about cars for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

All cars should always drive themselves if it is safer.   Discuss.

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about cars. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CARS: Make a poster about cars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. DRIVERLESS: Write a magazine article about driverless cars. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a car expert. Ask him/her three questions about driverless cars. Give him/her three of your ideas on them. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

released

a.

launched

2.

special

b.

purpose-built

3.

communicate

c.

make contact

4.

eliminate

d.

put an end to

5.

ultimate

e.

basic

6.

showcase

f.

highlight

7.

convoy

g.

group

8.

manufacturer

h.

producer

9.

monitor

i.

keep an eye on

10.

vehicle

j.

automobile

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

At an electronics show in Las Vegas

2.

They stop it from crashing

3.

Cars with the same technology

4.

Zero crashes

5.

Use his or her laptop, or falls asleep

6.

Volvo

7.

Germany

8.

The chairman of Ford Motor Company

9.

Information

10.

An automated era

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

b

4.

d

5.

a

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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