The Reading / Listening - Karaoke - Level 3

A taxi driver in Taiwan is offering free rides in exchange for singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big fan of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become famous for the disco lights in his taxi and his offer of free rides. It is easy to spot his yellow taxi. It has a pink neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" option if they use a taxi-locating app in the capital city of Taiwan. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi arrives, he will give you a microphone and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and select the song you want to sing. He says people have more bravery to sing at night.

Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one is as lucky as me, walking out the door every day rushing to go to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money as rewards for singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've filmed over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get a discount or a free ride. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have been viewed over two million times. He has become a celebrity, saying: "I was on TV shows from 10 different countries. I'm an international influencer." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran as a passenger.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Karaoke - Level 0,  Karaoke - Level 1   or  Karaoke - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/04/training-their-courage-taiwan-taxi-driver-offers-free-rides-for-karaoke
  • https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/here-is-why-a-taxi-driver-in-taiwan-is-offering-free-rides-7133680/
  • https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/taxi-driver-in-taiwan-gives-free-rides-to-people-who-can-sing-karaoke/703045


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. KARAOKE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about karaoke. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       taxi driver / karaoke / driving / famous / disco lights / capital city / smartphone / sing
       lucky / money / rewards / newspaper / discount / celebrity / international / influencer
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SINGING: Students A strongly believe governments should create programmes to get us to sing more every day; Students B strongly believe this is silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FREE: What could you get for free with these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Free Things

How Happy Would You Be?

Singing a song

 

 

Painting a picture

 

 

Cooking

 

 

Teaching English

 

 

DIY

 

 

Telling a story

 

 
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. TAXI: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "drive". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MUSIC: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Rock 'n' roll
  • Rap
  • Classical
  • Folk
  • Country
  • Disco
  • Pop
  • Heavy metal

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. in exchange for a. Behaviour that shows strength and courage.
      2. fan b. A specially reduced price for something.
      3. offer c. Fluorescent lighting or signs containing a gas.
      4. spot d. To swap one thing for another.
      5. neon e. A thing that is or may be chosen.
      6. option f. A person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing.
      7. bravery g. See or notice.

    Paragraph 2

      8. rushing h. Looked at.
      9. reward i. A famous person.
      10. discount j. A traveller on a public or private vehicle, but not the driver, pilot, or crew.
      11. viewed k. A thing given for someone's service, effort, or achievement.
      12. celebrity l. A person on social media who uses their popularity to change people's minds.
      13. influencer m. A deduction from the usual cost of something, typically given for prompt or advance payment or to a special category of buyers.
      14. passenger n. Moving quickly and in a hurry to get somewhere.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A taxi driver loves singing but hates listening to people sing.     T / F
  2. The article says the taxi driver is famous for going to discos.     T / F
  3. The taxi driver has a pink taxi with a yellow neon star on top.     T / F
  4. The taxi driver said people were braver to sing at night.     T / F
  5. The driver said he was lucky to have his job and make no money.     T / F
  6. The taxi driver says he has been giving free rides for 27 years.     T / F
  7. The driver's YouTube videos have been viewed over 2,000,000 times.   T / F
  8. The driver's dream is to have a singer as a passenger.     T / F

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

  1. offering
  2. fan
  3. famous
  4. spot
  5. bravery
  6. lucky
  7. rushing
  8. rewards
  9. discount
  10. dream
  1. fortunate
  2. see
  3. bonuses
  4. enthusiast
  5. wish
  6. courage
  7. providing
  8. price cut
  9. well known
  10. hurrying

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

  1. offering free rides in
  2. Ching Liang, 57, is a big
  3. It is easy to spot
  4. People can select a "karaoke"
  5. people have more bravery
  6. walking out the door every day rushing
  7. giving money as
  8. if people do not sing, they do
  9. Some have been viewed over
  10. I'm an international
  1. his yellow taxi
  2. to sing at night
  3. influencer
  4. to go to work
  5. not get a discount
  6. exchange for singing
  7. option
  8. two million times
  9. fan of driving
  10. rewards

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
fan
select
option
bravery
famous
offering
appear
spot

A taxi driver in Taiwan is (1) _____________________ free rides in exchange for singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big (2) _____________________ of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become (3) _____________________ for the disco lights in his taxi and his offer of free rides. It is easy to (4) _____________________ his yellow taxi. It has a pink neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" (5) _____________________ if they use a taxi-locating app in the capital city of Taiwan. Mr Tu will (6) _____________________ on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi arrives, he will give you a microphone and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and (7) _____________________ the song you want to sing. He says people have more (8) _____________________ to sing at night.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
viewed
rewards
lucky
discount
celebrity
rushing
passenger
filmed

Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one is as (9) ____________________ as me, walking out the door every day (10) _____________________ to go to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money as (11) ___________________ for singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've (12) _____________________ over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get a (13) _____________________ or a free ride. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have been (14) _____________________ over two million times. He has become a (15) _____________________, saying: "I was on TV shows from 10 different countries. I'm an international influencer." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran as a (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A taxi driver in Taiwan is offering free rides in ______
     a.  exchange four singing
     b.  exchange of singing
     c.  exchange from singing
     d.  exchange for singing
2)  Mr Tu has become famous for the disco ______ taxi
     a.  lights in this
     b.  lights in his
     c.  lights in him
     d.  lights in whizz
3)  It has a pink neon star on the dashboard and colourful ______
     a.  flashing light sin side
     b.  flashing lights inside
     c.  flashing lights sin side
     d.  flashing light inside
4)  People can select a "karaoke" option if they use a ______
     a.  taxi-locating gap
     b.  taxi-locating app
     c.  taxi-locating nap
     d.  taxi-locate tin app
5)  select the song you want to sing. He says people ______
     a.  have mere bravery
     b.  have mare bravery
     c.  have more bravery
     d.  have mort bravery

6)  No one is as lucky as me, walking out the door every day ______ to work
     a.  rush in to go
     b.  rush into go
     c.  rushing in to go
     d.  rushing to go
7)  I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving ______
     a.  money as rewards
     b.  money was reward
     c.  money has rewards
     d.  money is reward
8)  if people do not sing, they do not ______
     a.  bet a discount
     b.  let a discount
     c.  get a discount
     d.  set a discount
9)  I was on TV shows from 10 different countries. I'm ______
     a.  an internationally influencer
     b.  an international influencer
     c.  an international influential
     d.  an intern rational influencer
10)  His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran ______
     a.  as a passengers
     b.  was a passenger
     c.  has the passenger
     d.  as a passenger

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A taxi driver in Taiwan is offering free rides (1) ____________________ singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big fan of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become famous for the disco lights in his taxi and (2) ____________________ free rides. It is easy to spot his yellow taxi. It has a pink neon star (3) ____________________ and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" option if they use a taxi-locating app in (4) ____________________ Taiwan. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi arrives, he will give (5) ____________________ and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and select the song you want to sing. He says people have more (6) ____________________ at night.

Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one (7) ____________________ as me, walking out the door every day (8) ____________________ to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money (9) ____________________ singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've filmed over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get a discount or (10) ____________________. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have (11) ____________________ two million times. He has become a celebrity, saying: "I was on TV shows from 10 different countries. I'm an international influencer." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. How old is the taxi driver?
  2. What kinds of lights are there in the taxi driver's taxi?
  3. What option can people in Taiwan's capital choose on an app?
  4. What does the taxi driver give to passengers besides an iPad?
  5. What are people braver to do at night?
  6. How much money does the taxi driver say he makes?
  7. For how long has the man worked as a taxi driver?
  8. How many videos has the taxi driver filmed?
  9. In how many countries has the taxi driver been on TV?
  10. Who does the taxi driver want as a passenger?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How old is the taxi driver?
a) 56
b) 59
c) 57
d) 55
2) What kinds of lights are there in the taxi driver's taxi?
a) disco lights
b) blue lights
c) bright lights
d) soft lights
3) What option can people in Taiwan's capital choose on an app?
a) an instrument option
b) a karaoke option
c) a song option
d) a ride option
4) What does the taxi driver give to passengers besides an iPad?
a) a song list
b) a song sheet
c) a video camera
d) a microphone
5) What are people braver to do at night?
a) take a taxi
b) go to karaoke
c) sing
d) drive

6) How much money does the taxi driver say he makes?
a) $10 an hour
b) nothing
c) $1 a ride
d) $1,000 a week
7) For how long has the man worked as a taxi driver?
a) 25 years
b) 28 years
c) 29 years
d) 27 years
8) How many videos has the taxi driver filmed?
a) exatly 10,000
b) over 10,000
c) around 10,000
d) under 10,000
9) In how many countries has the taxi driver been on TV?
a) 12
b) 10
c) 8
d) 5
10) Who does the taxi driver want as a passenger?
a) Ed Sheeran
b) Beyonce
c) Jay Z
d) BTS

Role play

Role  A – Rock 'n' Roll
You think rock 'n' roll is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, pop or folk.

Role  B – Classical
You think classical is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): rock 'n' roll, pop or folk.

Role  C – Pop
You think pop is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, rock 'n' roll or folk.

Role  D – Folk
You think folk is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, pop or rock 'n' roll.

After reading / listening

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

'taxi'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and '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:

    • exchange
    • fan
    • spot
    • option
    • screen
    • bravery
    • lucky
    • 27
    • 10,000
    • discount
    • 10
    • dream

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Karaoke

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'taxi'?
    3. What do you think of karaoke?
    4. Would you be a good taxi driver?
    5. Why is karaoke so popular?
    6. Would you like to ride in Mr Tu's taxi?
    7. What song would you sing in a taxi?
    8. Why are people braver to sing at night?
    9. What is the best thing about taxis?
    10. How much do you like singing?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'karaoke'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of taxi drivers?
    5. Why do you think Mr Tu gives people free rides?
    6. Do you prefer taxis or trains?
    7. Would you like to be a celebrity?
    8. How important are social media influencers?
    9. Which singer would you like to meet?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Tu?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A taxi driver in Taiwan is offering free rides in (1) ____ for singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big (2) ____ of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become famous for the disco lights in his taxi and his (3) ____ of free rides. It is easy to spot his yellow taxi. It has a pink neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" (4) ____ if they use a taxi-locating app in the capital city Taiwan. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi (5) ____, he will give you a microphone and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and select the song you want to sing. He says people have more (6) ____ to sing at night.

    Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one is as lucky as me, walking out the door every day (7) ____ to go to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money as (8) ____ for singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've filmed over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get a (9) ____ or a free ride. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have been (10) ____ over two million times. He has become a celebrity, saying: "I was on TV shows from 10 different countries. I'm an international (11) ____." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran as a (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     exchange     (b)     changer     (c)     changing     (d)     exchanger    
    2. (a)     fun     (b)     fin     (c)     fan     (d)     fen    
    3. (a)     defer     (b)     safer     (c)     offer     (d)     effort    
    4. (a)     portion     (b)     shipment     (c)     ramble     (d)     option    
    5. (a)     arrival     (b)     arrived     (c)     arrives     (d)     arriving    
    6. (a)     braves     (b)     bravery     (c)     braved     (d)     brave    
    7. (a)     gushing     (b)     rushing     (c)     hushing     (d)     pushing    
    8. (a)     forwards     (b)     rewards     (c)     onwards     (d)     backwards    
    9. (a)     counter     (b)     viscount     (c)     discount     (d)     ascent    
    10. (a)     wielded     (b)     wed     (c)     vowed     (d)     viewed    
    11. (a)     religion     (b)     people     (c)     belief     (d)     influencer    
    12. (a)     agent     (b)     discount     (c)     song     (d)     passenger

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. offering free rides in gheaxcne for singing
    2. a pink neon star on the ahdrbdsoa
    3. a taxi-locating app in the claipat city of Taiwan
    4. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone ernecs
    5. go to YouTube and csleet the song
    6. people have more rrayevb to sing at night

    Paragraph 2

    1. rnhsgui to go to work
    2. giving money as dserrwa for singing
    3. they do not get a udntiosc
    4. He has become a eicerytbl
    5. I'm an international flnnceieur
    6. have singer Ed Sheeran as a esgensarp

    Put the text back together

    (...)  go to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money as
    (...)  arrives, he will give you a microphone and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and select
    (...)  neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" option if they use a taxi-locating
    (...)  Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one is as lucky as me, walking out the door every day rushing to
    (...)  the song you want to sing. He says people have more bravery to sing at night.
    (...)  lights in his taxi and his offer of free rides. It is easy to spot his yellow taxi. It has a pink
    (...)  over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get
    (...)  over two million times. He has become a celebrity, saying: "I was on TV shows from 10 different
    (  1  ) A taxi driver in Taiwan is offering free rides in exchange for singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big
    (...)  rewards for singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've filmed
    (...)  a discount or a free ride. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have been viewed
    (...)  fan of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become famous for the disco
    (...)  countries. I'm an international influencer." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran as a passenger.
    (...)  app in the capital city of Taiwan. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi

    Put the words in the right order

    1. rides   .   driver   A   in   is   free   Taiwan   offering   taxi
    2. lights   .   the   disco   become   Tu   for   famous   has
    3. taxi   .   is   easy   his   yellow   spot   to   It
    4. on   dashboard   .   neon   star   There's   pink   the   a
    5. have   at   more   to   night   .   sing   bravery   People
    6. one   am   .   I   lucky   No   is   as   as
    7. taxi   been   years   .   driving   I've   for   27   a
    8. over   been   two   million   Some   times   .   viewed   have
    9. discount   free   don't   ride   .   a   or   They   get
    10. from   was   TV   on   I   10   countries   .   shows

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A taxi driver in Taiwan is offered / offering free rides in exchange for singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big fun / fan of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become famous / famously for the disco lights in his taxi and his coffer / offer of free rides. It is easy to spit / spot his yellow taxi. It has a pink none / neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" option if they use a taxi-locating pup / app in the capital city of Taiwan. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi arrival / arrives, he will give you a microphone and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and selection / select the song you want to sing. He says people have more brave / bravery to sing at night.

    Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one is as luck / lucky as me, walking out the door every day rush / rushing to go to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money as reward / rewards for singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've filmed / filming over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get a viscount / discount or a free ride. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have been views / viewed over two million times. He has become a celebrity / celery, saying: "I was on TV show / shows from 10 different countries. I'm an international influential / influencer." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran as a passerby / passenger.

    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_x_  dr_v_r  _n  T__w_n  _s  _ff_r_ng  fr__  r_d_s  _n  _xch_ng_  f_r  s_ng_ng  _  k_r__k_  s_ng.  Mr  T_  Ch_ng  L__ng,  57,  _s  _  b_g  f_n  _f  dr_v_ng,  k_r__k_  _nd  _f  l_st_n_ng  t_  p__pl_  s_ng.  Mr  T_  h_s  b_c_m_  f_m__s  f_r  th_  d_sc_  l_ghts  _n  h_s  t_x_  _nd  h_s  _ff_r  _f  fr__  r_d_s.  _t  _s  __sy  t_  sp_t  h_s  y_ll_w  t_x_.  _t  h_s  _  p_nk  n__n  st_r  _n  th_  d_shb__rd  _nd  c_l__rf_l  fl_sh_ng  l_ghts  _ns_d_.  P__pl_  c_n  s_l_ct  _  "k_r__k_"  _pt__n  _f  th_y  _s_  _  t_x_-l_c_t_ng  _pp  _n  th_  c_p_t_l  c_ty  T__w_n.  Mr  T_  w_ll  _pp__r  _n  y__r  sm_rtph_n_  scr__n.  Wh_n  Mr  T_'s  t_x_  _rr_v_s,  h_  w_ll  g_v_  y__  _  m_cr_ph_n_  _nd  _n  _P_d  _n  wh_ch  y__  c_n  g_  t_  Y__T_b_  _nd  s_l_ct  th_  s_ng  y__  w_nt  t_  s_ng.  H_  s_ys  p__pl_  h_v_  m_r_  br_v_ry  t_  s_ng  _t  n_ght.

    Mr  T_  l_v_s  h_s  j_b.  H_  j_k_d:  "N_  _n_  _s  _s  l_cky  _s  m_,  w_lk_ng  __t  th_  d__r  _v_ry  d_y  r_sh_ng  t_  g_  t_  w_rk  _nd  n_t  m_k_  _ny  m_n_y."  H_  _dd_d:  "_'v_  b__n  dr_v_ng  _  t_x_  f_r  27  y__rs,  g_v_ng  m_n_y  _s  r_w_rds  f_r  s_ng_ng  k_r__k_  f_r  __ght  y__rs,  _nd  f_lm_ng  v_d__s  f_r  s_x  y__rs.  _'v_  f_lm_d  _v_r  10,000  v_d__s."  H_  t_ld  _  r_p_rt_r  fr_m  th_  _K's  "G__rd__n"  n_wsp_p_r  th_t  _f  p__pl_  d_  n_t  s_ng,  th_y  d_  n_t  g_t  _  d_sc__nt  _r  _  fr__  r_d_.  Mr  T_  _pl__ds  h_s  v_d__s  _n  Y__T_b_.  S_m_  h_v_  b__n  v__w_d  _v_r  tw_  m_ll__n  t_m_s.  H_  h_s  b_c_m_  _  c_l_br_ty,  s_y_ng:  "_  w_s  _n  TV  sh_ws  fr_m  10  d_ff_r_nt  c__ntr__s.  _'m  _n  _nt_rn_t__n_l  _nfl__nc_r."  H_s  dr__m  _s  t_  h_v_  s_ng_r  _d  Sh__r_n  _s  _  p_ss_ng_r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a taxi driver in taiwan is offering free rides in exchange for singing a karaoke song mr tu ching liang 57 is a big fan of driving karaoke and of listening to people sing mr tu has become famous for the disco lights in his taxi and his offer of free rides it is easy to spot his yellow taxi it has a pink neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside people can select a karaoke option if they use a taxilocating app in the capital city of Taiwan mr tu will appear on your smartphone screen when mr tus taxi arrives he will give you a microphone and an ipad on which you can go to youtube and select the song you want to sing he says people have more bravery to sing at night

    mr tu loves his job he joked no one is as lucky as me walking out the door every day rushing to go to work and not make any money he added ive been driving a taxi for 27 years giving money as rewards for singing karaoke for eight years and filming videos for six years ive filmed over 10000 videos he told a reporter from the uks guardian newspaper that if people do not sing they do not get a discount or a free ride mr tu uploads his videos on youtube some have been viewed over two million times he has become a celebrity saying i was on tv shows from 10 different countries im an international influencer his dream is to have singer ed sheeran as a passenger

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AtaxidriverinTaiwanisofferingfreeridesinexchangeforsingingakarao
    kesong.MrTuChingLiang,57,isabigfanofdriving,karaokeandoflisteni
    ngtopeoplesing.MrTuhasbecomefamousforthediscolightsinhistaxia
    ndhisofferoffreerides.Itiseasytospothisyellowtaxi.Ithasapinkneonst
    aronthedashboardandcolourfulflashinglightsinside.Peoplecanselect
    a"karaoke"optioniftheyuseataxi-locatingappinthecapitalcityofTaiwa
    n.MrTuwillappearonyoursmartphonescreen.WhenMrTu'staxiarrives
    ,hewillgiveyouamicrophoneandaniPadonwhichyoucangotoYouTube
    andselectthesongyouwanttosing.Hesayspeoplehavemorebraveryto
    singatnight.MrTuloveshisjob.Hejoked:"Nooneisasluckyasme,walki
    ngoutthedooreverydayrushingtogotoworkandnotmakeanymoney."
    Headded:"I'vebeendrivingataxifor27years,givingmoneyasrewardsf
    orsingingkaraokeforeightyears,andfilmingvideosforsixyears.I'vefil
    medover10,000videos."HetoldareporterfromtheUK's"Guardian"ne
    wspaperthatifpeopledonotsing,theydonotgetadiscountorafreeride.
    MrTuuploadshisvideosonYouTube.Somehavebeenviewedovertwom
    illiontimes.Hehasbecomeacelebrity,saying:"IwasonTVshowsfrom1
    0differentcountries.I'maninternationalinfluencer."Hisdreamistohav
    esingerEdSheeranasapassenger.

    Free writing

    Write about karaoke for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Karaoke should be a bigger part of everyday life. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. KARAOKE: Make a poster about karaoke. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. DAILY SONGS: Write a magazine article about making karaoke and daily singing a part of everyday life. 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 karaoke. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on why karaoke is good for us. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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