The Reading / Listening - Level 4

There may soon be no more potholes and cracks in roads. Scientists have thought of an innovative solution to fixing holes in roads and highways. They have created a bacteria-filled concrete to stop cracks getting bigger. The concrete has bacteria that open when water gets into a crack. The bacteria inject limestone into the crack to repair it. This avoids more serious damage. The discovery could make roads last longer and cut costs by up to 50 per cent.

The new concrete is good for the environment. Over seven per cent of CO2 emissions come from cement production. Less cement to repair roads means less pollution. The new cement will also reduce injuries and deaths that result from potholes. Thousands of people die because drivers swerve to avoid holes in roads. There is also good news for governments. They will save money in damages to cars because of bad roads.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 5 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11268310/The-end-of-potholes-UK-scientists-invent-self-healing-concrete.html
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2858316/Potholes-fix-Engineers-say-self-healing-concrete-use-bacteria-stop-cracks-gaps-getting-bigger-used-future.html#ixzz3Kula2kCB
  • http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2014/dec/future-highways-arup.cfm


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.

no more potholes and cracks

a.

into the crack

2.

thought of an innovative

b.

and highways

3.

fixing holes in roads

c.

damage

4.

stop cracks getting

d.

into a crack

5.

open when water gets

e.

in roads

6.

The bacteria inject limestone

f.

solution

7.

This avoids more serious

g.

to 50 per cent

8.

cut costs by up

h.

bigger



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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

good for the

a.

avoid holes in roads

2.

CO2

b.

production

3.

cement

c.

for governments

4.

Less cement to repair roads means

d.

result from potholes

5.

injuries and deaths that

e.

environment

6.

drivers swerve to

f.

of bad roads

7.

good news

g.

less pollution

8.

damages to cars because

h.

emissions

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

There may (1) ___________________ potholes and cracks in roads. Scientists have thought of an innovative (2) ___________________ in roads and highways. (3) ___________________ a bacteria-filled concrete to stop cracks getting bigger. The concrete has bacteria (4) ___________________ water gets into a crack. The bacteria inject limestone into the crack to repair it. This (5) ___________________ damage. The discovery could make roads last longer and cut (6) ___________________ 50 per cent.

The new concrete (7) ___________________ environment. Over seven per cent of (8) ___________________ come from cement production. (9) ___________________ roads means less pollution. The new cement will also reduce (10) ___________________ that result from potholes. Thousands of people die because drivers (11) ___________________ holes in roads. There is also good news for governments. They (12) ___________________ in damages to cars because of bad roads.

ROADS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about roads 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.

 

 

 

 

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 roads for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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