The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Drivers in New York now have to drive more slowly. There is a new speed limit of 25 mph (40 kph). The old limit was 30 mph (about 48 kph). The new law is for 90 per cent of the city's streets. The Department of Transportation hopes people will drive more carefully and reduce traffic accidents and deaths. The city's mayor said he wanted to improve traffic safety and end pedestrian deaths. He said that many people in New York agreed that people must drive more safely and slower to protect children and seniors. Other people say the limit will make drivers angry and increase accidents.

Most countries limit the maximum speed for cars, trucks, buses, etc. They can also limit the minimum speed. The first speed limit was the 10 mph (16 kph) limit introduced in the UK in 1861. The world's highest speed limit is 140 kph (87 mph) in Poland and Bulgaria. Some of the world's roads have no speed limit. The most famous ones are the Autobahns in Germany. In 2006, the average speed on part of the Autobahn was 142 kph (88 mph). The World Health Organisation said 1.24 million people die each year in traffic accidents. This number could fall if people drove more slowly.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   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.

There is a new speed limit

a.

deaths

2.

The old limit

b.

and seniors

3.

The new law is for 90 per cent

c.

traffic safety

4.

he wanted to improve

d.

of the city's streets

5.

end pedestrian

e.

increase accidents

6.

drive more

f.

of 25 mph

7.

protect children

g.

safely and slower

8.

make drivers angry and

h.

was 30 mph



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 maximum speed

a.

have no speed limit

2.

They can also limit

b.

die each year

3.

introduced in the UK

c.

the minimum speed

4.

Some of the world's roads

d.

speed

5.

The most famous ones

e.

in 1861

6.

the average

f.

for cars

7.

1.24 million people

g.

drove more slowly

8.

This number could fall if people

h.

are the Autobahns

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Drivers in New York now (1) ___________________ slowly. There is a new speed limit of 25 mph (40 kph). (2) ___________________ 30 mph (about 48 kph). The new law is for 90 per cent of the city's streets. The Department of Transportation hopes people will drive more carefully (3) ___________________ accidents and deaths. The city's mayor said he (4) ___________________ traffic safety and end pedestrian deaths. He said that many people in New York agreed that (5) ___________________ more safely and slower to protect children and seniors. Other people say the limit will make drivers (6) ___________________ accidents.

Most countries (7) ___________________ speed for cars, trucks, buses, etc. They can also limit the minimum speed. The first speed (8) ___________________ (16 kmh) limit introduced in the UK in 1861. The world's (9) ___________________ is 140 kmh (87 mph) in Poland and Bulgaria. Some of the world's roads have no speed limit. The (10) ___________________ are the Autobahns in Germany. In 2006, the average speed on part of the Autobahn was 142 kmh (88 mph). The World (11) ___________________ said 1.24 million people die each year in traffic accidents. This number could fall if people (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

DriversinNewYorknowhavetodrivemoreslowly.Thereisanewspeedli
mitof25mph(40kph).Theoldlimitwas30mph(about48kph).Thenewl
awisfor90percentofthecity'sstreets.TheDepartmentofTransportatio
nhopespeoplewilldrivemorecarefullyandreducetrafficaccidentsandd
eaths.Thecity'smayorsaidhewantedtoimprovetrafficsafetyandendp
edestriandeaths.HesaidthatmanypeopleinNewYorkagreedthatpeopl
emustdrivemoresafelyandslowertoprotectchildrenandseniors.Othe
rpeoplesaythelimitwillmakedriversangryandincreaseaccidents.Mos
tcountrieslimitthemaximumspeedforcars,trucks,buses,etc.Theycan
alsolimittheminimumspeed.Thefirstspeedlimitwasthe10mph(16kp
h)limitintroducedintheUKin1861.Theworld'shighestspeedlimitis140
kph(87mph)inPolandandBulgaria.Someoftheworld'sroadshavenosp
eedlimit.ThemostfamousonesaretheAutobahnsinGermany.In2006,
theaveragespeedonpartoftheAutobahnwas142kph(88mph).TheWo
rldHealthOrganisationsaid1.24millionpeopledieeachyearintrafficacc
idents.Thisnumbercouldfallifpeopledrovemoreslowly.

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)

________________________________________________________

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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.

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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