Record airbag recall

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

The USA is recalling a record 34 million cars because of faulty airbags. It is the biggest recall in US history. Takata, the maker of the airbags, said the bags are defective and should be replaced. Takata said the airbags open too quickly and this can make broken glass or bits of metal to fly into the faces of drivers or passengers. Eleven models of car have the bags. The faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths and over 100 injuries.

A US government spokesman said: "Today is a major step forward for public safety. [We are] taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective [airbags] are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible." Takata's CEO said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement…which represents a clear path forward." The recall will cost Takata and its customers up to $5 billion. The company will still make a profit this year.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/19/us-autos-takata-recall-idUSKBN0O428E20150519
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/20/business/takata-airbag-recall.html?_r=0
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32806056

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.	It is the biggest recall	a.	of car
2.	the bags are defective and	b.	bits of metal
3.	the airbags open	c.	and over 100 injuries
4.	broken glass or	d.	should be replaced
5.	the faces of drivers	e.	in US history
6.	Eleven models	f.	airbags
7.	faulty	g.	too quickly
8.	linked to six deaths	h.	or passengers

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

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	A US government	a.	forward
2.	a major step	b.	safety
3.	public	c.	steps necessary
4.	taking the proactive	d.	this agreement
5.	as quickly	e.	spokesman
6.	We are pleased to have reached	f.	a profit
7.	a clear path	g.	forward
8.	The company will still make	h.	as possible

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The USA is (1) ___________________ 34 million cars because of faulty airbags. It is the (2) ___________________ US history. Takata, the maker of the airbags, said the bags (3) ___________________ should be replaced. Takata said the airbags (4) ___________________ and this can make broken glass or bits of metal (5) ___________________ faces of drivers or passengers. Eleven models of car have the bags. The faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths (6) ___________________.

A US government spokesman said: "Today (7) ___________________ forward for public safety. [We are] taking (8) ___________________ necessary to ensure (9) ___________________ [airbags] are replaced with safe ones as (10) ___________________." Takata's CEO said: "We are pleased to have reached (11) ___________________ represents a clear path forward." The recall will cost Takata and its customers up to $5 billion. The company will (12) ___________________ this year.

AIRBAGS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about airbags 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.

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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