Bicycles outsell cars in most EU countries

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

The BBC says people in 26 European countries bought more bicycles than cars in 2012. One reason for this is the recession in many countries after the global financial crisis. Austerity measures left consumers with less money. They bought bicycles instead of cars. Fuel prices also made motorists buy bicycles. Another reason is that cycling is becoming more popular. The BBC said it is spreading "beyond the traditional 'cycling capitals' of northern Europe".

Europeans bought 12 million cars in 2012 and 19.2 million bicycles. The Italian car giant FIAT said this was bad news. He called it "carmageddon". Car sales in Italy fell to their lowest levels for five decades. The Italian cycling federation believes this is because of a cycling "revolution". The Italian bicycle maker said customers now want bikes they can get to work on. They will invest in expensive, top-of-the-range bikes.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25209551
http://www.france24.com/en/20131203-southern-europe-joins-north-bike-revolution

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	One reason for this	a.	'cycling capitals'
2.	after the global financial	b.	measures
3.	Austerity	c.	Europe
4.	Fuel	d.	is the recession
5.	spreading "beyond the traditional	e.	prices
6.	northern	f.	crisis

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	The Italian car	a.	"carmageddon"
2.	bad	b.	-range bikes
3.	He called it	c.	for five decades
4.	fell to their lowest levels	d.	giant FIAT
5.	customers now want bikes they can	e.	news
6.	top-of-the	f.	get to work on

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The BBC says people in 26 European (1) ___________________ bicycles than cars in 2012. One reason for (2) ___________________ in many countries after the (3) ___________________. Austerity measures left consumers with less money. They bought bicycles instead of cars. Fuel prices (4) ___________________ buy bicycles. Another reason is that cycling is becoming more popular. The BBC (5) ___________________ "beyond the traditional (6) ___________________ northern Europe".

Europeans (7) ___________________ cars in 2012 and 19.2 million bicycles. The Italian car giant FIAT said (8) ___________________. He called it "carmageddon". Car sales in Italy (9) ___________________ levels for five decades. The Italian (10) ___________________ believes this is because of a cycling "revolution". The Italian bicycle (11) ___________________ now want bikes they can get to work on. They will (12) ___________________, top-of-the-range bikes.

BICYCLES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about bicycles 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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