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People want drivers to park cars on roads (1st April, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Many people in England are angry that drivers park their cars on the pavements. Cars that are on the pavement block people from walking safely down the street. They have to walk into the road to get around the cars. The charity for the blind, Guide Dogs, said blocking the pavement is "inconsiderate and dangerous". It said it's a lot more difficult for blind people to walk around the town if cars are in their way. A spokesman for the charity told the BBC: "It can be frightening for anyone who is forced to step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other badly parked vehicle. Imagine you have to step into a road where you can't see oncoming traffic."

A survey on parking in Britain found that 70 per cent of people want a ban on parking on pavements. A town south of London has already started a system to get drivers to park on the road or in a proper car park. Any motorist who parks on the pavement gets a $115 fine. However, many people say the fines do not work. Local people say car owners ignore the fine and park where they want. People pushing their children in baby cars and people in wheelchairs are afraid to walk on busy roads where there is heavy traffic. One woman said there would soon be a very serious accident because of a car parked on the pavement. She wants her town to be like London, which has strict rules against pavement parking.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.courier.co.uk/cars-pavement/story-20877627-detail/story.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26806722

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. PARKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about parking. 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.

angry / pavement / street / charity / dangerous / blind people / frightening / traffic / survey / system / motorist / local people / wheelchairs / serious accident / strict rules

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

3. CARS: How can we reduce these car problems? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Ideas to reduce problems	Will these happen?	Why (not)?
Parking
Speeding
Pollution
Accidents
Traffic jams
Road rage

4. CAR-FREE: Students A strongly believe all towns should be car-free; Students B strongly believe this is silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

5. DRIVERS' BAD HABITS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst drivers' habits at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• speeding

• illegal parking

• tailgating

• ignoring red lights

• idling

• non-stop hooting (honking)

• using phone while driving

• queue-jumping

6. ANGRY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "angry". 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.	People in England are angry about drivers parking on pavements.	T / F
b.	A charity for the blind complained about bad parking.	T / F
c.	A spokesman for the charity spoke to reporters from CNN.	T / F
d.	The spokesman asked us to imagine not being able to park anywhere.	T / F
e.	Just 17 per cent of British people support a ban on pavement parking.	T / F
f.	Drivers in central London get a $115 fine for illegal parking.	T / F
g.	Many drivers don't care about parking fines and park illegally.	T / F
h.	London has strict rules about parking.	T / F

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

1.	angry	a.	scary
2.	pavements	b.	take no notice of
3.	inconsiderate	c.	driver
4.	frightening	d.	study
5.	badly	e.	mad
6.	survey	f.	thoughtless
7.	started	g.	bad
8.	motorist	h.	poorly
9.	ignore	i.	sidewalks
10.	serious	j.	begun

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

1.	drivers park their cars	a.	step into a road
2.	inconsiderate and	b.	traffic
3.	cars are in their	c.	traffic
4.	frightening for anyone who is forced to	d.	on busy roads
5.	oncoming	e.	rules
6.	car owners	f.	accident
7.	afraid to walk	g.	on the pavements
8.	heavy	h.	ignore the fine
9.	serious	i.	way
10.	strict	j.	dangerous

GAP FILL

Many people in England are (1) ___________ that drivers park their cars on the pavements. Cars that are on the pavement block people from walking (2) ___________ down the street. They have to walk into the road to get around the cars. The charity for the blind, Guide Dogs, said (3) ___________ the pavement is "inconsiderate and (4) ___________". It said it's a lot more difficult for blind people to walk around the town if cars are in their way. A spokesman for the charity told the BBC: "It can be frightening for anyone who is (5) ___________ to step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other (6) ___________ parked vehicle. Imagine you have to (7) ___________ into a road where you can't see (8) ___________ traffic."

badly
blocking
forced
angry
oncoming
safely
step
dangerous

A (9) ___________ on parking in Britain found that 70 per cent of people want a (10) ___________ on parking on pavements. A town south of London has already started a system to get drivers to park on the road or in a (11) ___________ car park. Any motorist who parks on the pavement gets a $115 fine. However, many people say the (12) ___________ do not work. Local people say car owners (13) ___________ the fine and park where they want. People pushing their children in baby cars and people in (14) ___________ are afraid to walk on busy roads where there is heavy traffic. One woman said there would soon be a very serious (15) ___________ because of a car parked on the pavement. She wants her town to be like London, which has strict (16) ___________ against pavement parking.

accident
ignore
ban
fines
survey
rules
wheelchairs
proper

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	people in England are angry that drivers park their cars ______
	a. on the pavement b. in the pavements c. on the pavements d. in the pavement
2)	block people from walking ______ street
	a. safety down the b. safely along the c. safety along the d. safely down the
3)	blocking the pavement is inconsiderate ______
	a. and dangerously b. and dangerous c. and danger as d. and dangerous as
4)	the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other ______
	a. badly parked vehicle b. badly parking vehicle c. badly parked vehicles d. bad parked vehicle
5)	step into a road where you can't see ______
	a. outgoing traffic b. oncoming traffic c. incoming traffic d. off-putting traffic
6)	A survey on parking in Britain found that 70 per cent of people want ______
	a. a bin on parking b. a bun on parking c. a ban on parking d. a bon on parking
7)	get drivers to park on the road or in a ______
	a. prosper car park b. proper car park c. properly car park d. prop a car park
8)	Any motorist who parks on the pavement ______
	a. gets a $115 fine b. gets a $115 fines c. gets a $115 fined d. gets a $115 finely
9)	People pushing their children in baby cars and ______
	a. people on wheelchairs b. people in wheelchairs c. people and wheelchairs d. people un-wheel chairs
10)	She wants her town to be like London, which ______
	a. has strict rules b. has strictly rules c. has stricter rules d. has strictness rules

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Many people in England (1) ___________________ park their cars on the pavements. Cars (2) ___________________ pavement block people from walking safely down the street. They have to walk into the road to get around the cars. The (3) ___________________, Guide Dogs, said blocking the pavement is "inconsiderate and dangerous". It said it's a lot more difficult for blind people to walk around the town if (4) ___________________. A spokesman for the charity told the BBC: "It can be frightening for anyone (5) ___________________ step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other badly parked vehicle. Imagine you have to step into (6) ___________________ see oncoming traffic."

A (7) ___________________ Britain found that 70 per cent of people want a ban on parking on pavements. (8) ___________________ London has already started a system to get drivers to park on the road or in a proper car park. Any motorist who parks on the pavement gets a $115 fine. However, many people say (9) ___________________ work. Local people say car owners ignore the fine and (10) ___________________. People pushing their children in baby cars and people in wheelchairs are afraid to walk on busy roads where there is heavy traffic. One woman said there would soon be a very (11) ___________________ of a car parked on the pavement. She wants her town to be like London, which (12) ___________________ pavement parking.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Where do drivers park that makes people angry?
2.	What is the name of the charity mentioned in the article?
3.	Who did the charity say had difficulty walking around town?
4.	What news agency did the charity's spokesman talk to?
5.	What kind of traffic did the spokesman ask us to imagine?
6.	What proportion of British people want a ban on pavement parking?
7.	Where is the British town that has already started a fines system?
8.	How much do people get fined in this town for illegal parking?
9.	What did a woman say would happen soon?
10.	Which place did a woman say had strict rules on parking?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Where do drivers park that makes people angry?	6.	What proportion of British people want a ban on pavement parking?
	a) in their garden b) in McDonald's car parks c) on pavements (sidewalks) d) at traffic lights (signals)		a) 17% b) 70% c) 77% d) 7%
2.	What is the name of the charity mentioned in the article?	7.	Where is the British town that has already started a fines system?
	a) Guide Dogs b) Motorist Support c) WWF d) Save The Drivers		a) south of London b) London c) in south London d) on the London Road
3.	Who did the charity say had difficulty walking around town?	8.	How much do people get fined in this town for illegal parking?
	a) blind people b) motorists c) spokesmen d) dog owners		a) $150 b) $115.99 c) $115 d) $149.95
4.	What news agency did the charity's spokesman talk to?	9.	What did a woman say would happen soon?
	a) CNN b) BBC c) JKZ d) ITN		a) a big fight b) a new law c) a care-free town d) a serious accident
5.	What kind of traffic did the spokesman ask us to imagine?	10.	Which place did a woman say had strict rules on parking?
	a) rush-hour traffic b) light traffic c) stuck in traffic d) oncoming traffic		a) London b) her house c) downtown d) highways

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Speeding

You think speeding is the worst thing drivers do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so bad about their bad habits. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): idling, illegal parking or queue-jumping.

Role B – Idling

You think idling is the worst thing drivers do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so bad about their bad habits. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): speeding, illegal parking or queue-jumping.

Role C – Queue-jumping

You think queue-jumping is the worst thing drivers do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so bad about their bad habits. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): idling, speeding or illegal parking.

Role D – Illegal parking

You think illegal parking is the worst thing drivers do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so bad about their bad habits. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): idling, queue-jumping or speeding.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

car

driver

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:

angry
safely
blind
way
frightening
imagine

70
south
115
baby
soon
rules

PARKING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about parking 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.

PARKING 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 'parking'?
c)	Do you think car owners think carefully about where to park?
d)	Is parking a problem in your town?
e)	Is it easy to walk along the street in your town?
f)	What do you think of people who park on the pavement?
g)	Do you prefer the British English word "pavement" or the American English word "sidewalk"?
h)	Should drivers be more considerate when they park their car?
i)	Are there enough car parks in your town?
j)	How can towns help drivers park and keep pavements clear?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Should the centre of towns be for people only – no cars?
c)	Is it OK to park on the pavement in front of your house?
d)	Should the fines for pavement parking be bigger?
e)	Do you think the police taking away cars is a good idea?
f)	If someone is injured because a car is parked on the pavement, should the car owner get in trouble?
g)	What would it be like to live in a town with no cars?
h)	What can people do to stop others parking on the pavement?
i)	Where is the best place to park a car in the city?
j)	What would you like to ask a town planner about parking?

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.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Many people in England are (1) ____ that drivers park their cars on the pavements. Cars that are on the pavement block people from walking (2) ____ down the street. They have to walk into the road to get around the cars. The charity for the blind, Guide Dogs, said blocking the pavement is "(3) ____ and dangerous". It said it's a lot more difficult for blind people to walk around the town if cars are (4) ____ their way. A spokesman for the charity told the BBC: "It can be frightening for anyone who is (5) ____ to step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other badly parked vehicle. Imagine you have to step into a road where you can't see (6) ____ traffic."

A survey on parking in Britain found that 70 per cent of people want a (7) ____ on parking on pavements. A town south of London has already started a system to get drivers to park on the road or in a (8) ____ car park. Any motorist who parks on the pavement gets a $115 fine. However, many people say the (9) ____ do not work. Local people say car owners ignore the fine and park where they want. People pushing their children in baby cars and people (10) ____ wheelchairs are afraid to walk on busy roads where there is heavy traffic. One woman said there would soon be a very (11) ____ accident because of a car parked on the pavement. She wants her town to be like London, which has strict rules (12) ____ pavement parking.

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

1.	(a)	angers	(b)	anger	(c)	angry	(d)	angrily
2.	(a)	safely	(b)	safety	(c)	safest	(d)	safe
3.	(a)	considerable	(b)	considerate	(c)	consideration	(d)	inconsiderate
4.	(a)	on	(b)	in	(c)	at	(d)	by
5.	(a)	turned	(b)	swerved	(c)	forced	(d)	fined
6.	(a)	never-ending	(b)	incoming	(c)	outgoing	(d)	oncoming
7.	(a)	bin	(b)	ban	(c)	bun	(d)	bon
8.	(a)	prosper	(b)	property	(c)	properly	(d)	proper
9.	(a)	fines	(b)	Oks	(c)	punishments	(d)	fees
10.	(a)	by	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	in
11.	(a)	serious	(b)	seriously	(c)	series	(d)	seriousness
12.	(a)	up	(b)	from	(c)	against	(d)	to

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	drivers park their cars on the steapmnve
2.	block people from walking elyasf down the street
3.	inconsiderate and drgnseuoa
4.	A spokesman for the tiryhac
5.	badly parked elicevh
6.	you can't see oncoming faifrct
Paragraph 2
7.	yvurse on parking
8.	started a yemsts to get drivers to park on the road
9.	car owners gireon the fine
10.	people in ilcesrhwahe
11.	a very serious idtnccea
12.	iscrtt rules

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	are on the pavement block people from walking safely down the street. They have to walk into the road to get
( )	around the cars. The charity for the blind, Guide Dogs, said blocking the pavement is "inconsiderate
( )	to step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other badly
( )	and dangerous". It said it's a lot more difficult for blind people to walk around the town if cars are in their
( )	parked vehicle. Imagine you have to step into a road where you can't see oncoming traffic."
( )	proper car park. Any motorist who parks on the pavement gets a $115 fine. However, many people say the fines do not
( )	cars and people in wheelchairs are afraid to walk on busy roads where there is heavy
( )	A survey on parking in Britain found that 70 per cent of people want a ban on parking on pavements. A town south
( )	way. A spokesman for the charity told the BBC: "It can be frightening for anyone who is forced
( )	work. Local people say car owners ignore the fine and park where they want. People pushing their children in baby
( )	of London has already started a system to get drivers to park on the road or in a
( )	her town to be like London, which has strict rules against pavement parking.
( 1 )	Many people in England are angry that drivers park their cars on the pavements. Cars that
( )	traffic. One woman said there would soon be a very serious accident because of a car parked on the pavement. She wants

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	pavements the on cars their park Drivers.
2.	from the people down Block safely walking street.
3.	difficult for blind people to walk It's a lot more.
4.	is step road who to a Anyone forced into.
5.	you can't A see road oncoming where traffic.
6.	pavements ban on People parking want on a.
7.	system drivers on A get park road to to the.
8.	where they want Car owners ignore the fine and park.
9.	on where heavy Walk roads is busy there traffic.
10.	accident be a There very would serious soon.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Many people in England are angrily / angry that drivers park their cars on the pavements. Cars that are on the pavement block people for / from walking safely down the street. They have to walk into / out the road to get around / about the cars. The charity for the blind, Guide Dogs, said blocking the pavement is "considerate / inconsiderate and dangerous". It said it's a lot more difficult for / of blind people to walk around the town if cars are in their / this way. A spokesman for the charity told the BBC: "It can be frightening for anyone who is forcing / forced to step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other badly / bad parked vehicle. Imagine you have to step into a road where you can't see outgoing / oncoming traffic."

A survey on / in parking in Britain found that 70 per cent of people want a bin / ban on parking on pavements. A town south of London has still / already started a system to get drivers to park on the road or in a prosper / proper car park. Any motorist who parks on the pavement bets / gets a $115 fine. However, many people say the fines do not work. Local people say car owners ignoring / ignore the fine and park where they want. People pushing their children in baby cars and people on / in wheelchairs are afraid to walk on busy roads where there is heavy / light traffic. One woman said there would soon be a very seriously / serious accident because of a car parked on the pavement. She wants her town to be like London, which has strict rules / ruled against pavement parking.

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)

M_ny p__pl_ _n _ngl_nd _r_ _ngry th_t dr_v_rs p_rk th__r c_rs _n th_ p_v_m_nts. C_rs th_t _r_ _n th_ p_v_m_nt bl_ck p__pl_ fr_m w_lk_ng s_f_ly d_wn th_ str__t. Th_y h_v_ t_ w_lk _nt_ th_ r__d t_ g_t _r__nd th_ c_rs. Th_ ch_r_ty f_r th_ bl_nd, G__d_ D_gs, s__d bl_ck_ng th_ p_v_m_nt _s "_nc_ns_d_r_t_ _nd d_ng_r__s". _t s__d _t's _ l_t m_r_ d_ff_c_lt f_r bl_nd p__pl_ t_ w_lk _r__nd th_ t_wn _f c_rs _r_ _n th__r w_y. _ sp_k_sm_n f_r th_ ch_r_ty t_ld th_ BBC: "_t c_n b_ fr_ght_n_ng f_r _ny_n_ wh_ _s f_rc_d t_ st_p _nt_ _ r__d b_c__s_ th_ p_v_m_nt _s bl_ck_d by _ v_n, c_r _r _th_r b_dly p_rk_d v_h_cl_. _m_g_n_ y__ h_v_ t_ st_p _nt_ _ r__d wh_r_ y__ c_n't s__ _nc_m_ng tr_ff_c."

_ s_rv_y _n p_rk_ng _n Br_t__n f__nd th_t 70 p_r c_nt _f p__pl_ w_nt _ b_n _n p_rk_ng _n p_v_m_nts. _ t_wn s__th _f L_nd_n h_s _lr__dy st_rt_d _ syst_m t_ g_t dr_v_rs t_ p_rk _n th_ r__d _r _n _ pr_p_r c_r p_rk. _ny m_t_r_st wh_ p_rks _n th_ p_v_m_nt g_ts _ $115 f_n_. H_w_v_r, m_ny p__pl_ s_y th_ f_n_s d_ n_t w_rk. L_c_l p__pl_ s_y c_r _wn_rs _gn_r_ th_ f_n_ _nd p_rk wh_r_ th_y w_nt. P__pl_ p_sh_ng th__r ch_ldr_n _n b_by c_rs _nd p__pl_ _n wh__lch__rs _r_ _fr__d t_ w_lk _n b_sy r__ds wh_r_ th_r_ _s h__vy tr_ff_c. _n_ w_m_n s__d th_r_ w__ld s__n b_ _ v_ry s_r___s _cc_d_nt b_c__s_ _f _ c_r p_rk_d _n th_ p_v_m_nt. Sh_ w_nts h_r t_wn t_ b_ l_k_ L_nd_n, wh_ch h_s str_ct r_l_s _g__nst p_v_m_nt p_rk_ng.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

many people in england are angry that drivers park their cars on the pavements cars that are on the pavement block people from walking safely down the street they have to walk into the road to get around the cars the charity for the blind guide dogs said blocking the pavement is "inconsiderate and dangerous" it said it's a lot more difficult for blind people to walk around the town if cars are in their way a spokesman for the charity told the bbc "it can be frightening for anyone who is forced to step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van car or other badly parked vehicle imagine you have to step into a road where you can't see oncoming traffic"

a survey on parking in britain found that 70 per cent of people want a ban on parking on pavements a town south of london has already started a system to get drivers to park on the road or in a proper car park any motorist who parks on the pavement gets a $115 fine however many people say the fines do not work local people say car owners ignore the fine and park where they want people pushing their children in baby cars and people in wheelchairs are afraid to walk on busy roads where there is heavy traffic one woman said there would soon be a very serious accident because of a car parked on the pavement she wants her town to be like london which has strict rules against pavement parking

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ManypeopleinEnglandareangrythatdriversparktheircarsonthepa
vements.Carsthatareonthepavementblockpeoplefromwalkingsa
felydownthestreet.Theyhavetowalkintotheroadtogetaroundthec
ars.Thecharityfortheblind,GuideDogs,saidblockingthepavementi
s"inconsiderateanddangerous".Itsaidit'salotmoredifficultforblin
dpeopletowalkaroundthetownifcarsareintheirway.Aspokesmanf
orthecharitytoldtheBBC:"Itcanbefrighteningforanyonewhoisforc
edtostepintoaroadbecausethepavementisblockedbyavan,caroro
therbadlyparkedvehicle.Imagineyouhavetostepintoaroadwhere
youcan'tseeoncomingtraffic."AsurveyonparkinginBritainfoundth
at70percentofpeoplewantabanonparkingonpavements.Atownso
uthofLondonhasalreadystartedasystemtogetdriverstoparkonthe
roadorinapropercarpark.Anymotoristwhoparksonthepavementg
etsa$115fine.However,manypeoplesaythefinesdonotwork.Local
peoplesaycarownersignorethefineandparkwheretheywant.Peopl
epushingtheirchildreninbabycarsandpeopleinwheelchairsareafra
idtowalkonbusyroadswherethereisheavytraffic.Onewomansaidt
herewouldsoonbeaveryseriousaccidentbecauseofacarparkedont
hepavement.ShewantshertowntobelikeLondon,whichhasstrictru
lesagainstpavementparking.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Drivers should park their cars in car parks only. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 parking rules. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. PAVEMENT PARKING: Write a magazine article about parking on pavements (sidewalks). Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

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 an expert on parking. Ask him/her three questions about parking. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make life easier for car drivers. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	angry	a.	mad
2.	pavements	b.	sidewalks
3.	inconsiderate	c.	thoughtless
4.	frightening	d.	scary
5.	badly	e.	poorly
6.	survey	f.	study
7.	started	g.	begun
8.	motorist	h.	driver
9.	ignore	i.	take no notice of
10.	serious	j.	bad

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	On pavements (sidewalks)
2.	Guide Dogs
3.	Blind people
4.	The BBC
5.	Oncoming traffic
6.	70%
7.	South of London
8.	$115
9.	A serious accident
10.	London

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

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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People want drivers to park cars on roads (1st April, 2014)

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