The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Drivers in New York have to drive more slowly. There is a new speed limit of 25 mph (40 kph). This is for 90 per cent of the city's streets. The Department of Transportation wants people to drive more carefully and reduce accidents and deaths. The city's mayor wants to improve traffic safety. He said many people in New York think people must drive more safely to protect children and old people. Other people say the limit will increase accidents.

Most countries have a maximum speed for cars, trucks, buses, etc. Some have a minimum speed. The world's first speed limit was 10 mph (16 kph). This was in the UK in 1861. The world's highest limit is 140 kph (87 mph) in Poland and Bulgaria. Some of the world's roads have no speed limit, like the Autobahns in Germany. The WHO said 1.24 million people die each year in traffic accidents. This number could fall if people drove slowly.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://online.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-lowers-speed-limit-to-25-mph-1415329929
  • http://7online.com/traffic/25-mile-an-hour-speed-limit-takes-effect-friday-in-nyc/384244/
  • http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/New-25-MPH-Speed-Limit-Goes-Into-Effect-Friday-281872231.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limit


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.

drive more

a.

safety

2.

There is a new speed

b.

drive more carefully

3.

This is for 90 per cent

c.

protect children

4.

wants people to

d.

slowly

5.

reduce

e.

of the city's streets

6.

improve traffic

f.

increase accidents

7.

drive more safely to

g.

limit of 25 mph

8.

the limit will

h.

accidents



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.

Most countries have

a.

have no speed limit

2.

Some have a minimum

b.

was 10 mph

3.

The world's first speed limit

c.

a maximum speed

4.

This was in the

d.

die each year

5.

The world's highest

e.

speed

6.

Some of the world's roads

f.

accidents

7.

1.24 million people

g.

UK in 1861

8.

traffic

h.

limit is 140 kph

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Drivers in New York have to (1) ___________________. There is a new speed limit of 25 mph (40 kph). This is for 90 per cent of (2) ___________________. The Department of Transportation wants people to (3) ___________________ and reduce accidents and deaths. The city's mayor wants to (4) ___________________. He said many people in New York think people must drive more safely (5) ___________________ and old people. Other people say the limit will (6) ___________________.

Most countries have (7) ___________________ for cars, trucks, buses, etc. Some have a minimum speed. The world's first speed (8) ___________________ (16 kmh). This was in the UK in 1861. The world's (9) ___________________ 140 kmh (87 mph) in Poland and Bulgaria. (10) ___________________ roads have no speed limit, like the Autobahns in Germany. The WHO said 1.24 million (11) ___________________ year in traffic accidents. This number (12) ___________________ drove slowly.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

DriversinNewYorkhavetodrivemoreslowly.Thereisanewspeedlimitof
25mph(40kph).Thisisfor90percentofthecity'sstreets.TheDepartme
ntofTransportationwantspeopletodrivemorecarefullyandreduceacci
dentsanddeaths.Thecity'smayorwantstoimprovetrafficsafety.Hesai
dmanypeopleinNewYorkthinkpeoplemustdrivemoresafelytoprotect
childrenandoldpeople.Otherpeoplesaythelimitwillincreaseaccidents
.Mostcountrieshaveamaximumspeedforcars,trucks,buses,etc.Som
ehaveaminimumspeed.Theworld'sfirstspeedlimitwas10mph(16kph
).ThiswasintheUKin1861.Theworld'shighestlimitis140kph(87mph)i
nPolandandBulgaria.Someoftheworld'sroadshavenospeedlimit,liket
heAutobahnsinGermany.TheWHOsaid1.24millionpeopledieeachyea
rintrafficaccidents.Thisnumbercouldfallifpeopledroveslowly.

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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You