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Overtaking a big risk on the road (28th May, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A new survey in Britain shows that one in seven drivers has had to take evasive action because of their own risky overtaking. The road safety charity Brake carried out the survey on 1,000 motorists. It also revealed that 80 per cent of drivers have felt threatened by other people overtaking, while 94 per cent of drivers said they have witnessed dangerous overtaking. It said the biggest perpetrators of dangerous overtaking are young men aged 17-24. In comparison, women drivers are far safer. The poll revealed that while 39 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not sure the road ahead was clear, the figure for female drivers doing so was just 15 per cent.

The charity also found that the most dangerous place to overtake was on single-lane country roads. Drivers are twice as likely to die on rural roads than they are in urban areas. Many of these deaths are preventable. A spokeswoman from Brake said: "We're urging all drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads unless absolutely essential and 100 per cent safe." She added: "Why risk it and rush? You could cause a devastating, high-speed, head-on crash that ends lives and ruins others. In spite of this, a significant minority are still taking the risk and performing this aggressive and selfish manoeuvre…In those situations, cool-headed and responsible drivers hang back and relax."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/579849/Dangerous-drivers-aggressive-overtaking-lives-at-risk
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dangerous-overtaking-risks-lives-230505243.html#GkUZZlf
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Country-lanes-dangerous-UK/story-26568803-detail/story.html

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. OVERTAKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about overtaking. 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?

survey / drivers / overtaking / threatened / comparison / poll / young men / figure / charity / country roads / urban areas / preventable deaths / high speed / minority

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. DRIVING: How can we make it safer? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Problems now	Solutions
Seatbelts
Seats
Cars
Roads
Technology
Traffic rules

4. BAN OVERTAKING: Students A strongly believe there should be a ban on overtaking; Students B strongly believe this is silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. RISKY: Rank these with your partner. Put the risking things about driving at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• overtaking

• fog

• mobile phones

• speeding

• icy roads

• jumping red lights

• other drivers

• country roads

6. DRIVER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "driver". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Most British drivers have taken evasive action while driving.	T / F
b.	A road safety charity interviewed 10,000 motorists.	T / F
c.	All of the drivers in the survey had seen dangerous overtaking.	T / F
d.	Men were a lot more dangerous at overtaking than women.	T / F
e.	Country roads were the most dangerous place to overtake.	T / F
f.	A charity said many road deaths could be avoided.	T / F
g.	The charity said a significant minority of drivers are still dangerous.	T / F
h.	The charity said cool-headed drivers panic when overtaking.	T / F

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

1.	survey	a.	empty
2.	risky	b.	conducted
3.	carried out	c.	totally
4.	far	d.	hazardous
5.	clear	e.	rural
6.	country	f.	wrecks
7.	urging	g.	study
8.	absolutely	h.	encouraging
9.	ruins	i.	forceful
10.	aggressive	j.	much

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

1.	one in	a.	of dangerous overtaking
2.	drivers have felt	b.	as likely
3.	the biggest perpetrators	c.	doing so
4.	they were not sure the road	d.	place to overtake
5.	the figure for female drivers	e.	headed
6.	the most dangerous	f.	seven drivers
7.	twice	g.	threatened
8.	absolutely	h.	head-on crash
9.	cause a devastating, high-speed,	i.	ahead was clear
10.	cool-	j.	essential

GAP FILL

A new (1) ____________ in Britain shows that one in seven drivers has had to take evasive action because of their own (2) ____________ overtaking. The road safety charity Brake carried out the survey on 1,000 (3) ____________. It revealed that 80 per cent of drivers have felt (4) ____________ by other people overtaking, while 94 per cent of drivers said they have (5) ____________ dangerous overtaking. It said the biggest perpetrators of dangerous overtaking are young men aged 17-24. In (6) ____________, women drivers are (7) ____________ safer. The poll revealed that while 39 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not (8) ____________ the road ahead was clear, the figure for female drivers doing so was just 15 per cent.

risky
witnessed
far
threatened
survey
sure
motorists
comparison

The charity also found that the most (9) ____________ place to overtake was on (10) ____________ -lane country roads. Drivers are twice as likely to die on rural roads than they are in (11) ____________ areas. Many of these deaths are preventable. A spokeswoman from Brake said: "We're urging all drivers to (12) ____________ overtaking on country roads unless absolutely (13) ____________ and 100 per cent safe." She added: "Why risk it and rush? You could cause a devastating, high-speed, (14) ____________ -on crash that ends lives and ruins others. In spite of this, a significant minority are still taking the risk and performing this aggressive and (15) ____________ manoeuvre…In those situations, cool-headed and responsible drivers hang back and (16) ____________."

urban
head
single
relax
dangerous
selfish
essential
avoid

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A new survey in Britain shows that one in seven drivers has had to ______
	a. take invasive action b. take evading action c. take persuasive action d. take evasive action
2)	It revealed that 80 per cent of drivers have felt threatened by ______
	a. other people overtaking b. another people overtaking c. others people overtaking d. other peoples overtaking
3)	It said the biggest perpetrators of dangerous overtaking are young ______
	a. men age 17-24 b. men aged 17-24 c. men aged 18-24 d. men aged 17-25
4)	male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not sure the road ______
	a. ahead was cleared b. ahead was clearly c. ahead was clarity d. ahead was clear
5)	the figure for female drivers doing so was ______
	a. justly 15 per cent b. adjust 15 per cent c. a just 15 per cent d. just 15 per cent
6)	the most dangerous place to overtake was on ______ roads
	a. singular-lane country b. single-lanes country c. single-lane country d. single-line country
7)	Drivers are twice as likely to die on rural roads than they ______
	a. are in urbane areas b. are in urban areas c. are inner ban areas d. are in a ban areas
8)	We're urging all drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads unless ______
	a. absolutely essential b. absolute essential c. absolute tea essential d. absolutely he sent shall
9)	You could cause a devastating, high-speed, head-on crash that ends lives ______
	a. and ruin others b. and runes others c. and loo-ins others d. and ruins others
10)	In those situations, cool-headed and responsible drivers ______ relax
	a. hung back and b. hang back and c. bang back and d. fang back and

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new survey in Britain shows (1) ___________________ drivers has had to take evasive action because (2) ___________________ overtaking. The road safety charity Brake carried out the survey on 1,000 motorists. It revealed that 80 per cent of drivers (3) ___________________ by other people overtaking, while 94 per cent of drivers said they have witnessed dangerous overtaking. It said the (4) ___________________ of dangerous overtaking are young men aged 17-24. In comparison, women drivers are far safer. The (5) ___________________ while 39 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not sure the road ahead was clear, the figure for female drivers (6) ___________________ 15 per cent.

The charity (7) ___________________ most dangerous place to overtake was on single-lane country roads. Drivers (8) ___________________ to die on rural roads than they are in urban areas. Many of these deaths are preventable. A spokeswoman from Brake said: "(9) ___________________ drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads unless (10) ___________________ and 100 per cent safe." She added: "Why risk it and rush? You could cause a devastating, high-speed, head-on crash that ends lives and ruins others. In spite of this, (11) ___________________ are still taking the risk and performing this aggressive and selfish manoeuvre…In those situations, (12) ___________________ responsible drivers hang back and relax."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What proportion of overtaking drivers has taken evasive action?
2.	How many motorists took part in the survey?
3.	What percentage of drivers had seen dangerous overtaking?
4.	Which age and gender group are the biggest danger?
5.	What was not clear for many young male drivers?
6.	Where was the most dangerous place to overtake?
7.	How much more likely to die are drivers on country roads?
8.	When did a charity spokeswoman say it was OK to overtake?
9.	Who is still taking a risk and driving aggressively?
10.	What do cool-headed and responsible drivers do?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What proportion of overtaking drivers has taken evasive action?	6.	Where was the most dangerous place to overtake?
	a) a fraction b) two-thirds c) 20% d) one in seven		a) Route 1 b) Kuwait c) country roads d) in your own town
2.	How many motorists took part in the survey?	7.	How much more likely to die are drivers on country roads?
	a) 100 b) 1,000 c) 10,000 d) 100,000		a) twice as likely b) 3 times more c) much more d) 100 times more likely
3.	What percentage of drivers had seen dangerous overtaking?	8.	When did a charity spokeswoman say it was OK to overtake?
	a) 100 b) 39 c) 80 d) 94		a) if others are urging you to b) if you are cool-headed c) if it was absolutely essential d) when risking and rushing it
4.	Which age and gender group are the biggest danger?	9.	Who is still taking a risk and driving aggressively?
	a) 70-94-year-old men b) 17-24-year-old women c) 17-24-year-old men d) 70-94-year-old women		a) people in sports cars b) a small minority c) new drivers d) John
5.	What was not clear for many young male drivers?	10.	What do cool-headed and responsible drivers do?
	a) windscreens (UK) /windshields (USA) b) insurance policies c) traffic rules d) the road ahead		a) relax b) drive slowly c) complain d) hoot / honk more

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Overtaking

You think overtaking is the riskiest thing about driving. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): fog, speeding or driving while texting.

Role B – Fog

You think fog is the riskiest thing about driving. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): overtaking, speeding or driving while texting.

Role C – Speeding

You think speeding is the riskiest thing about driving. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): fog, overtaking or driving while texting.

Role D – Driving while texting

You think driving while texting is the riskiest thing about driving. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): fog, speeding or overtaking.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

over

take

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:

new
carried
felt
biggest
comparison
15

single
likely
avoid
safe
spite
hang

OVERTAKING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about overtaking 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.

OVERTAKING DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'overtaking'?
3)	What do you think of overtaking?
4)	Have you ever felt worried by someone overtaking?
5)	Should overtaking be banned?
6)	How dangerous are drivers in your country?
7)	How can technology keep the roads safer?
8)	Why do people want to overtake so much?
9)	Why are young men so dangerous on the roads?
10)	Why are men more dangerous drivers than women?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How safe a driver are you (or would you be)?
13)	Who is the most dangerous driver you know?
14)	Should all cars have cameras to record the driver's actions?
15)	Are dangerous drivers criminals?
16)	How would life be different if overtaking was banned?
17)	Should there be more speed cameras or speed bumps on country roads?
18)	Should the power and speed of cars be limited?
19)	What advice do you have for dangerous drivers?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A new survey in Britain shows that one (1) ____ seven drivers has had to take evasive action because of their own (2) ____ overtaking. The road safety charity Brake carried out the survey on 1,000 motorists. It revealed that 80 per cent of drivers have (3) ____ threatened by other people overtaking, while 94 per cent of drivers said they have witnessed dangerous overtaking. It said the biggest perpetrators of dangerous overtaking are young men (4) ____ 17-24. In comparison, women drivers are (5) ____ safer. The poll revealed that while 39 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not sure the road (6) ____ was clear, the figure for female drivers doing so was just 15 per cent.

The charity also found that the most dangerous place to overtake was on single-(7) ____ country roads. Drivers are twice (8) ____ likely to die on rural roads than they are in urban areas. Many of these deaths are preventable. A spokeswoman from Brake said: "We're (9) ____ all drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads (10) ____ absolutely essential and 100 per cent safe." She added: "Why risk it and rush? You could cause a devastating, high-speed, head-(11) ____ crash that ends lives and ruins others. In spite of this, a significant minority are still taking the risk and performing this aggressive and selfish manoeuvre…In those situations, cool-headed and responsible drivers hang (12) ____ and relax."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	at	(b)	by	(c)	on	(d)	in
2.	(a)	risqué	(b)	risked	(c)	riskless	(d)	risky
3.	(a)	done	(b)	felt	(c)	had	(d)	taken
4.	(a)	age	(b)	ages	(c)	aged	(d)	aging
5.	(a)	far	(b)	more	(c)	many	(d)	long
6.	(a)	ahead	(b)	forward	(c)	front	(d)	before
7.	(a)	lined	(b)	linear	(c)	lone	(d)	lane
8.	(a)	as	(b)	by	(c)	at	(d)	for
9.	(a)	ageing	(b)	urging	(c)	agreeing	(d)	egging
10.	(a)	though	(b)	while	(c)	unless	(d)	however
11.	(a)	in	(b)	to	(c)	on	(d)	of
12.	(a)	on	(b)	back	(c)	in	(d)	over

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	take ievavse action
2.	road safety rciatyh
3.	felt hneaettdre
4.	etsdsniew dangerous overtaking
5.	In oriscapomn, women drivers are far safer
6.	the ifeugr for female drivers
Paragraph 2
7.	twice as kleiyl
8.	these deaths are eevnbpetarl
9.	absolutely sileantse
10.	a taivgsendat, high-speed, head-on crash
11.	a significant imniryto
12.	epleibsnosr drivers

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	39 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not sure the road
( )	avoid overtaking on country roads unless absolutely essential and 100 per cent safe." She added:
( )	The charity also found that the most dangerous place to overtake was on single-lane
( )	others. In spite of this, a significant minority are still taking the risk and performing this aggressive and
( )	country roads. Drivers are twice as likely to die on rural roads than they are in urban areas. Many of
( )	"Why risk it and rush? You could cause a devastating, high-speed, head-on crash that ends lives and ruins
( )	men aged 17-24. In comparison, women drivers are far safer. The poll revealed that while
( )	overtaking. The road safety charity Brake carried out the survey on 1,000 motorists. It revealed that 80 per cent of
( )	witnessed dangerous overtaking. It said the biggest perpetrators of dangerous overtaking are young
( )	these deaths are preventable. A spokeswoman from Brake said: "We're urging all drivers to
( )	drivers have felt threatened by other people overtaking, while 94 per cent of drivers said they have
( )	ahead was clear, the figure for female drivers doing so was just 15 per cent.
( 1 )	A new survey in Britain shows that one in seven drivers has had to take evasive action because of their own risky
( )	selfish manoeuvre…In those situations, cool-headed and responsible drivers hang back and relax."

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	had has drivers seven in One action evasive take to .
2.	The charity out safety carried survey road Brake the .
3.	felt overtaking threatened by Drivers other have people .
4.	biggest of overtaking The perpetrators dangerous .
5.	just 15% . The figure for female drivers doing so was
6.	die roads twice to rural are likely on Drivers as .
7.	these are of deaths preventable Many .
8.	drivers urging overtaking to all We're avoid .
9.	it ?" : risk rush added "Why and She
10.	minority risk are still A taking significant the .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new survey in Britain shows that one / once in seven drivers has had to take evasive action because of their own risked / risky overtaking. The road safety charity Brake carried / carrying out the survey on 1,000 motorists. It revealed / revelled that 80 per cent of drivers have felt / done threatened by other people overtaking, while 94 per cent of drivers said they have witnessed dangerous overtaking. It said the biggest protractors / perpetrators of dangerous overtaking are young men ageing / aged 17-24. In comparison, women drivers are more / far safer. The poll revealed that while 39 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not surely / sure the road ahead was clear / clarity, the figure for female drivers doing so was just 15 per cent.

The charity also found that the most dangerous place to overtake was on single-lane / singular-lane country roads. Drivers are twice by / as likely to die on rural roads than they are in urbane / urban areas. Many of these deaths are preventable. A spokeswoman from Brake said: "We're urging all drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads while / unless absolutely essential and 100 per cent safe / safety." She added: "Why risk them / it and rush? You could cause / causal a devastating, high-speed, head-on crash that ends lives / living and ruins others. In spite of this, a significant minority are still taking / doing the risk and performing this aggressive and selfish manoeuvre…In those situations, cool-headed and responsible drivers hang / hanging back and relax."

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)

_ n_w s_rv_y _n Br_t__n sh_ws th_t _n_ _n s_v_n dr_v_rs h_s h_d t_ t_k_ _v_s_v_ _ct__n b_c__s_ _f th__r _wn r_sky _v_rt_k_ng. Th_ r__d s_f_ty ch_r_ty Br_k_ c_rr__d __t th_ s_rv_y _n 1,000 m_t_r_sts. _t r_v__l_d th_t 80 p_r c_nt _f dr_v_rs h_v_ f_lt thr__t_n_d by _th_r p__pl_ _v_rt_k_ng, wh_l_ 94 p_r c_nt _f dr_v_rs s__d th_y h_v_ w_tn_ss_d d_ng_r__s _v_rt_k_ng. _t s__d th_ b_gg_st p_rp_tr_t_rs _f d_ng_r__s _v_rt_k_ng _r_ y__ng m_n _g_d 17-24. _n c_mp_r_s_n, w_m_n dr_v_rs _r_ f_r s_f_r. Th_ p_ll r_v__l_d th_t wh_l_ 39 p_r c_nt _f 17-24-y__r-_ld m_l_ dr_v_rs _dm_tt_d _v_rt_k_ng wh_n th_y w_r_ n_t s_r_ th_ r__d _h__d w_s cl__r, th_ f_g_r_ f_r f_m_l_ dr_v_rs d__ng s_ w_s j_st 15 p_r c_nt.

Th_ ch_r_ty _ls_ f__nd th_t th_ m_st d_ng_r__s pl_c_ t_ _v_rt_k_ w_s _n s_ngl_-l_n_ c__ntry r__ds. Dr_v_rs _r_ tw_c_ _s l_k_ly t_ d__ _n r_r_l r__ds th_n th_y _r_ _n _rb_n _r__s. M_ny _f th_s_ d__ths _r_ pr_v_nt_bl_. _ sp_k_sw_m_n fr_m Br_k_ s__d: "W_'r_ _rg_ng _ll dr_v_rs t_ _v__d _v_rt_k_ng _n c__ntry r__ds _nl_ss _bs_l_t_ly _ss_nt__l _nd 100 p_r c_nt s_f_." Sh_ _dd_d: "Why r_sk _t _nd r_sh? Y__ c__ld c__s_ _ d_v_st_t_ng, h_gh-sp__d, h__d-_n cr_sh th_t _nds l_v_s _nd r__ns _th_rs. _n sp_t_ _f th_s, _ s_gn_f_c_nt m_n_r_ty _r_ st_ll t_k_ng th_ r_sk _nd p_rf_rm_ng th_s _ggr_ss_v_ _nd s_lf_sh m_n___vr_…_n th_s_ s_t__t__ns, c__l-h__d_d _nd r_sp_ns_bl_ dr_v_rs h_ng b_ck _nd r_l_x."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new survey in britain shows that one in seven drivers has had to take evasive action because of their own risky overtaking the road safety charity brake carried out the survey on 1000 motorists it revealed that 80 per cent of drivers have felt threatened by other people overtaking while 94 per cent of drivers said they have witnessed dangerous overtaking it said the biggest perpetrators of dangerous overtaking are young men aged 17-24 in comparison women drivers are far safer the poll revealed that while 39 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not sure the road ahead was clear the figure for female drivers doing so was just 15 per cent

the charity also found that the most dangerous place to overtake was on single-lane country roads drivers are twice as likely to die on rural roads than they are in urban areas many of these deaths are preventable a spokeswoman from brake said "we're urging all drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads unless absolutely essential and 100 per cent safe" she added "why risk it and rush you could cause a devastating high-speed head-on crash that ends lives and ruins others in spite of this a significant minority are still taking the risk and performing this aggressive and selfish manoeuvre…in those situations cool-headed and responsible drivers hang back and relax"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewsurveyinBritainshowsthatoneinsevendrivershashadtotakeeva
siveactionbecauseoftheirownriskyovertaking.Theroadsafetycharity
Brakecarriedoutthesurveyon1,000motorists.Itrevealedthat80perce
ntofdrivershavefeltthreatenedbyotherpeopleovertaking,while94per
centofdriverssaidtheyhavewitnesseddangerousovertaking.Itsaidth
ebiggestperpetratorsofdangerousovertakingareyoungmenaged17-
24.Incomparison,womendriversarefarsafer.Thepollrevealedthatwh
ile39percentof17-24-year-oldmaledriversadmittedovertakingwh
entheywerenotsuretheroadaheadwasclear,thefigureforfemaledrive
rsdoingsowasjust15percent.Thecharityalsofoundthatthemostdang
erousplacetoovertakewasonsingle-lanecountryroads.Driversaretwi
ceaslikelytodieonruralroadsthantheyareinurbanareas.Manyofthese
deathsarepreventable.AspokeswomanfromBrakesaid:"We'reurging
alldriverstoavoidovertakingoncountryroadsunlessabsolutelyessenti
aland100percentsafe."Sheadded:"Whyriskitandrush?Youcouldcaus
eadevastating,high-speed,head-oncrashthatendslivesandruinsot
hers.Inspiteofthis,asignificantminorityarestilltakingtheriskandperfo
rmingthisaggressiveandselfishmanoeuvre…Inthosesituations,cool-
headedandresponsibledrivershangbackandrelax."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Overtaking on the roads should be banned. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the dangers of overtaking. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SAFE DRIVING: Make a poster about overtaking. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BAN: Write a magazine article about having a ban on overtaking. 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 a road safety expert. Ask him/her three questions about overtaking. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to reduce accidents on the roads. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	survey	a.	study
2	risky	b.	hazardous
3.	carried out	c.	conducted
4.	far	d.	much
5.	clear	e.	empty
6.	country	f.	rural
7.	urging	g.	encouraging
8.	absolutely	h.	totally
9.	ruins	i.	wrecks
10.	aggressive	j.	forceful

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	One in seven
2.	1,000
3.	94%
4.	Males aged 17-24
5.	The road ahead
6.	Single-lane country roads
7.	Twice as likely
8.	When it is absolutely essential and 100% safe
9.	A significant minority
10.	Hang back and relax

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Overtaking a big risk on the road (28th May, 2015)

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