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Electric car does 0 to 100kph in 2.8 seconds (21st July, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A new, upgraded version of an electric car from Tesla Motors is capable of going from 0 to 100kph in just 2.8 seconds. The original 691 horsepower Tesla Model S P85D was already incredibly fast. It even had a function called Insane Mode, which meant the car could get from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds. The upgrade is called Ludicrous Mode and will take the horsepower up to 762, thus providing the extra power to get to 100kph in less than three seconds. This is close to the acceleration of a Porsche 911 Turbo S supercar. That kind of horsepower means the car can accelerate at a force of 1.1G. This means the acceleration will make the driver feel that he or she is going faster than the speed of falling out of an airplane.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained that the new improvement in acceleration came from research into an advanced battery. Engineers were working on a new power train for its cars. A power train is the system that delivers the power from the engine to the wheels. The engineers managed to increase the battery power by ten per cent, resulting in the extra acceleration. Tesla said: "Unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine with hundreds of moving parts, Tesla electric motors have only one moving piece: the rotor. As a result, Model S acceleration is instantaneous, silent and smooth." The Tesla S P85D car is priced at $87,500 as a basic model; the "ludicrous" upgrade will be an extra $13,000.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/69899/20150718/tesla-model-s-ludicrous-mode-will-convert-electric-car-non-believers-to-radical-believers-why-because-vrooom.htm
http://mashable.com/2015/07/17/tesla-ludicrous-mode/
http://www.teslamotors.com/models

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. ELECTRIC CARS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about electric cars. 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?

upgraded / capable / original / horsepower / function / insane / accelerate / driver / improvement / advanced / battery / power / gasoline / instantaneous / ludicrous

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

3. CARS: How can they be improved? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Improvements	Why these will (not) happen
Speed
Safety
Comfort
Functions
Interior
Environment

4. SPEED: Students A strongly believe there is no need for fast cars; Students B strongly believe there is. 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. MY CAR: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things your car must have at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• speed

• fuel efficiency

• central locking

• space

• airbags

• GPS navigation

• sports wheels

• bluetooth connectivity

6. ELECTRIC: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "electric". 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.	The Tesla car is a brand new prototype of an electric car.	T / F
b.	The latest upgrade to the Tesla is called "Insane Mode".	T / F
c.	The acceleration of the Tesla is almost that of a Porsche 911 supercar.	T / F
d.	The Tesla's acceleration is faster than that of falling from an airplane.	T / F
e.	The increased speed is as a result of research into a new battery.	T / F
f.	A power train delivers power from the wheels to the engine.	T / F
g.	A gasoline internal combustion engine has hundreds of moving parts.	T / F
h.	The car with the upgrade costs less than $100,000.	T / F

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

1.	upgraded	a.	additional
2.	incredibly	b.	supplying
3.	providing	c.	immediate
4.	extra	d.	amazingly
5.	feel	e.	because of this
6.	improvement	f.	ridiculous
7.	resulting in	g.	improved
8.	as a result	h.	leading to
9.	instantaneous	i.	advance
10.	ludicrous	j.	sense

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

1.	A new, upgraded version	a.	get to 100kph
2.	incredibly	b.	to the wheels
3.	providing the extra power to	c.	falling out of an airplane
4.	the car can accelerate	d.	combustion engine
5.	faster than the speed of	e.	fast
6.	the new improvement in	f.	battery
7.	research into an advanced	g.	acceleration
8.	delivers the power from the engine	h.	of an electric car
9.	a gasoline internal	i.	silent and smooth
10.	acceleration is instantaneous,	j.	at a force of 1.1G

GAP FILL

A new, upgraded (1) ____________ of an electric car from Tesla Motors is capable of going from 0 to 100kph in just 2.8 seconds. The (2) ____________ 691 horsepower Tesla Model S P85D was already incredibly fast. It even had a (3) ____________ called Insane Mode, which meant the car could (4) ____________ from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds. The upgrade is called Ludicrous Mode and will take the horsepower up to 762, thus (5) ____________ the extra power to get to 100kph in less than three seconds. This is (6) ____________ to the acceleration of a Porsche 911 Turbo S supercar. That kind of horsepower means the car can accelerate at a (7) ____________ of 1.1G. This means the acceleration will make the driver (8) ____________ that he or she is going faster than the speed of falling out of an airplane.

function
version
providing
force
original
feel
get
close

Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained that the new improvement in acceleration came from (9) ____________ into an advanced battery. Engineers were (10) ____________ on a new power train for its cars. A power train is the system that (11) ____________ the power from the engine to the wheels. The engineers managed to increase the battery power by ten per cent, resulting in the (12) ____________ acceleration. Tesla said: "Unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine with hundreds of moving (13) ____________, Tesla electric motors have only one moving piece: the rotor. As a (14) ____________, Model S acceleration is instantaneous, silent and (15) ____________." The Tesla S P85D car is priced at $87,500 as a (16) ____________ model; the "ludicrous" upgrade will be an extra $13,000.

delivers
working
smooth
extra
basic
research
result
parts

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	an electric car from Tesla Motors is capable of going from 0 to 100kph ______
	a. in just 2.8 seconds b. adjust 2.8 seconds c. unjust 2.8 seconds d. on just 2.8 seconds
2)	The original 691 horsepower Tesla Model S P85D was already ______
	a. incredible fast b. incredibly fast c. incredibly faster d. incredible faster
3)	This is close to the acceleration of a Porsche 911 ______
	a. Turbo S supercars b. Turbo S superb car c. Turbo S super cart d. Turbo S supercar
4)	That kind of horsepower means the car can accelerate ______
	a. at a fierce of 1.1G b. at a force of 1.1G c. at a farce of 1.1G d. at a fours of 1.1G
5)	she is going faster than the speed of falling ______
	a. out of an airplane b. out of an aeroplane c. out of the airplane d. out of the aeroplane
6)	the new improvement in acceleration came from research into ______
	a. an advances battery b. an advanced battery c. an enhanced battery d. an enhance battery
7)	A power train is the system that delivers the power from the engine ______
	a. to the wheel b. to all wheels c. to them wheels d. to the wheels
8)	increase the battery power by ten per cent, resulting ______ acceleration
	a. in the extra b. on the extra c. to the extra d. at the extra
9)	Unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine with hundreds ______
	a. by moving parts b. of moving parts c. for moving parts d. from moving parts
10)	The Tesla S P85D car is priced at $87,500 ______
	a. as a basics model b. as a basically model c. as a basic model d. as a bay sick model

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new, (1) ___________________ an electric car from Tesla Motors is capable of going from 0 to 100kph in just 2.8 seconds. The original 691 horsepower Tesla Model S P85D (2) ___________________ fast. It even had a function called Insane Mode, which meant the car could get from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds. The upgrade is called Ludicrous Mode and will take the (3) ___________________ 762, thus providing the extra power to get to 100kph in less than three seconds. (4) ___________________ the acceleration of a Porsche 911 Turbo S supercar. That kind of horsepower means the car (5) ___________________ a force of 1.1G. This means the acceleration will make the driver feel that he or she is going faster than the speed (6) ___________________ an airplane.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained that the (7) ___________________ acceleration came from research into an advanced battery. Engineers (8) ___________________ new power train for its cars. A power train is the system that (9) ___________________ from the engine to the wheels. The engineers managed to increase the battery power by ten per cent, (10) ___________________ extra acceleration. Tesla said: "Unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine with hundreds of moving parts, Tesla electric motors have (11) ___________________ piece: the rotor. As a result, Model S acceleration is instantaneous, silent and smooth." The Tesla S P85D car is priced at $87,500 as a basic model; (12) _________________ will be an extra $13,000.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is the name of the company that made the car?
2.	What was the horsepower of the original model?
3.	What is the name of the new upgrade?
4.	What kind of force does the car accelerate at?
5.	What did the article say the speed was faster than?
6.	What were the engineers working on to get the improved acceleration?
7.	How many moving parts are there in an internal combustion engine?
8.	What is the moving part in a Tesla electric car engine?
9.	What did the article say the car was besides instantaneous and smooth?
10.	How much does the upgrade cost?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is the name of the company that made the car?	6.	What were the engineers working on to get the improved acceleration?
	a) Toyota b) Tesla c) Porsche d) Ferrari		a) a battery b) a turbocharger c) wheels d) aerodynamics
2.	What was the horsepower of the original model?	7.	How many moving parts are there in an internal combustion engine?
	a) 672 b) 762 c) 691 d) 961		a) tens of thousands b) dozens c) 782 d) hundreds
3.	What is the name of the new upgrade?	8.	What is the moving part in a Tesla electric car engine?
	a) Airplane Mode b) Insane Mode c) Horsepower Mode d) Ludicrous Mode		a) a spinning wheel b) an axle c) a rotor d) a turbocharger
4.	What kind of force does the car accelerate at?	9.	What did the article say the car was besides instantaneous and smooth?
	a) 1.1F b) 1.1G c) 1.1H d) 1.1K		a) comfortable b) polished c) scary d) silent
5.	What did the article say the speed was faster than?	10.	How much does the upgrade cost?
	a) falling from a plane b) the fastest rollercoaster c) light d) sound		a) $14,000 b) $13,000 c) $17,000 d) $12,000

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Speed

You think speed is the most important thing for a car to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): fuel efficiency, airbags or space.

Role B – Fuel efficiency

You think fuel efficiency is the most important thing for a car to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): speed, airbags or space.

Role C – Airbags

You think airbags are the most important things for a car to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): fuel efficiency, speed or space.

Role D – Space

You think space is the most important thing for a car to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): fuel efficiency, airbags or speed.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

electric

car

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:

just
already
take
less
force
feel

research
advanced
managed
unlike
silent
basic

ELECTRIC CARS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about electric cars 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.

ELECTRIC CARS 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 'car'?
3)	What did you think about what you read?
4)	How much would you like a Tesla Model S P85D?
5)	What are the benefits of electric cars?
6)	What are the downsides to electric cars?
7)	What do you think of the names 'Insane' and 'Ludicrous' mode?
8)	Do cars need to accelerate so fast?
9)	Why are people into fast cars?
10)	Will there ever be too fast for a car?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How much do you like speed?
13)	What is your favourite car, and why?
14)	What will cars of the future be like?
15)	Would you prefer a Tesla Model S P85D or a Porsche 911 Turbo S?
16)	Are electric cars or conventional cars best?
17)	What do you know about the name Tesla?
18)	Is the Tesla Model S P85D good value for money?
19)	How will electric cars affect traffic accidents and road safety?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Tesla CEO Elon Musk?

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, upgraded version of an electric car from Tesla Motors is (1) ____ of going from 0 to 100kph in just 2.8 seconds. The (2) ____ 691 horsepower Tesla Model S P85D was already (3) ____ fast. It even had a function called Insane Mode, which meant the car could get from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds. The upgrade is called Ludicrous Mode and will take the horsepower up to 762, (4) ____ providing the extra power to get to 100kph in less than three seconds. (5) ____ is close to the acceleration of a Porsche 911 Turbo S supercar. That kind of horsepower means the car can accelerate at a force of 1.1G. This means the acceleration will make the driver feel that he or she is going faster than the speed of falling (6) ____ of an airplane.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained that the new improvement (7) ____ acceleration came from research into an advanced battery. Engineers were working (8) ____ a new power train for its cars. A power train is the system that delivers the power from the engine to the wheels. The engineers managed (9) ____ increase the battery power by ten per cent, (10) ____ in the extra acceleration. Tesla said: "Unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine with hundreds of moving parts, Tesla electric motors have only one moving piece: the rotor. (11) ____ a result, Model S acceleration is instantaneous, silent and smooth." The Tesla S P85D car is (12) ___ at $87,500 as a basic model; the "ludicrous" upgrade will be an extra $13,000.

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

1.	(a)	capable	(b)	capacity	(c)	capricious	(d)	captivating
2.	(a)	originally	(b)	originals	(c)	original	(d)	origins
3.	(a)	indelibly	(b)	incrementally	(c)	incredibly	(d)	inclemently
4.	(a)	those	(b)	these	(c)	this	(d)	thus
5.	(a)	This	(b)	These	(c)	Those	(d)	Thus
6.	(a)	from	(b)	out	(c)	end	(d)	fast
7.	(a)	to	(b)	at	(c)	of	(d)	in
8.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	at	(d)	to
9.	(a)	by	(b)	of	(c)	to	(d)	in
10.	(a)	results	(b)	resulting	(c)	resulted	(d)	result
11.	(a)	Was	(b)	Has	(c)	Is	(d)	As
12.	(a)	pricing	(b)	priced	(c)	price	(d)	priceless

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	A new, upgraded nirsvoe of an electric car
2.	lpabeac of going from 0 to 100kph
3.	eibydnlric fast
4.	take the whropreoes up to 762
5.	the rlnetaceiaoc of a Porsche 911
6.	a ofrce of 1.1G
Paragraph 2
7.	the new vetrimnpmoe
8.	reseingne were working on a new power train
9.	increase the yaebtrt power
10.	a gasoline internal itmobouncs engine
11.	sintatunansoe, silent and smooth
12.	the lcusiuord upgrade

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	engine with hundreds of moving parts, Tesla electric motors have only one moving piece: the rotor. As a
( )	feel that he or she is going faster than the speed of falling out of an airplane.
( )	than three seconds. This is close to the acceleration of a Porsche 911 Turbo S supercar. That kind of horsepower
( )	called Insane Mode, which meant the car could get from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds. The upgrade is called
( )	means the car can accelerate at a force of 1.1G. This means the acceleration will make the driver
( )	Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained that the new improvement in acceleration came from research into an advanced
( )	Ludicrous Mode and will take the horsepower up to 762, thus providing the extra power to get to 100kph in less
( )	at $87,500 as a basic model; the "ludicrous" upgrade will be an extra $13,000.
( )	2.8 seconds. The original 691 horsepower Tesla Model S P85D was already incredibly fast. It even had a function
( )	battery. Engineers were working on a new power train for its cars. A power train is the system that delivers
( 1 )	A new, upgraded version of an electric car from Tesla Motors is capable of going from 0 to 100kph in just
( )	the power from the engine to the wheels. The engineers managed to increase the battery power by ten per cent,
( )	resulting in the extra acceleration. Tesla said: "Unlike a gasoline internal combustion
( )	result, Model S acceleration is instantaneous, silent and smooth." The Tesla S P85D car is priced

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	, new A Tesla from car electric an of version upgraded .
2.	of to Capable 2.8 just from seconds in going 100kph .
3.	Porsche is the a This to of 911 close acceleration .
4.	kind means can That horsepower car of the accelerate .
5.	faster Going airplane an of out falling of speed the than .
6.	research in acceleration The came new from improvement .
7.	wheels the the the Delivers from to power engine .
8.	to battery 10% managed the by Engineers increase power .
9.	piece motors moving electric one Tesla only have .
10.	ludicrous The $13,000 extra an be will upgrade .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new, upgraded / abridged version of an electric car from Tesla Motors is capable of going from 0 to 100kph in just 2.8 seconds. The originally / original 691 horsepower Tesla Model S P85D was already incredible / incredibly fast. It even had a function called Insane Mode, which mean / meant the car could get from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds. The upgrade is called Ludicrous Mode and will take the horsepower up / over to 762, thus providing the extra power / powerful to get to 100kph in less than three seconds. This is close to the accelerating / acceleration of a Porsche 911 Turbo S supercar. That kind / kindred of horsepower means the car can accelerate at a fierce / force of 1.1G. This means the acceleration will make the driver feel that he or she is going faster than the speed of falling from / out of an airplane.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained / explanation that the new improvement in acceleration came from research into / to an advanced battery. Engineers were working on / in a new power train for its cars. A power train is the system that delivers / delivery the power from the engine to the wheels. The engineers managed / manage to increase the battery power at / by ten per cent, resulting in the extra accreditation / acceleration. Tesla said: "Unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine with hundreds of moving / movement parts, Tesla electric motors have only one moving peace / piece: the rotor. As a result, Model S acceleration is instantaneous, silent and smooth." The Tesla S P85D car is priced at $87,500 as a basic / basically model; the "ludicrous" upgrade will be an extra $13,000.

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, _pgr_d_d v_rs__n _f _n _l_ctr_c c_r fr_m T_sl_ M_t_rs _s c_p_bl_ _f g__ng fr_m 0 t_ 100kph _n j_st 2.8 s_c_nds. Th_ _r_g_n_l 691 h_rs_p_w_r T_sl_ M_d_l S P85D w_s _lr__dy _ncr_d_bly f_st. _t _v_n h_d _ f_nct__n c_ll_d _ns_n_ M_d_, wh_ch m__nt th_ c_r c__ld g_t fr_m 0-100kph _n 3.2 s_c_nds. Th_ _pgr_d_ _s c_ll_d L_d_cr__s M_d_ _nd w_ll t_k_ th_ h_rs_p_w_r _p t_ 762, th_s pr_v_d_ng th_ _xtr_ p_w_r t_ g_t t_ 100kph _n l_ss th_n thr__ s_c_nds. Th_s _s cl_s_ t_ th_ _cc_l_r_t__n _f _ P_rsch_ 911 T_rb_ S s_p_rc_r. Th_t k_nd _f h_rs_p_w_r m__ns th_ c_r c_n _cc_l_r_t_ _t _ f_rc_ _f 1.1G. Th_s m__ns th_ _cc_l_r_t__n w_ll m_k_ th_ dr_v_r f__l th_t h_ _r sh_ _s g__ng f_st_r th_n th_ sp__d _f f_ll_ng __t _f _n __rpl_n_.

T_sl_ C__ _l_n M_sk _xpl__n_d th_t th_ n_w _mpr_v_m_nt _n _cc_l_r_t__n c_m_ fr_m r_s__rch _nt_ _n _dv_nc_d b_tt_ry. _ng_n__rs w_r_ w_rk_ng _n _ n_w p_w_r tr__n f_r _ts c_rs. _ p_w_r tr__n _s th_ syst_m th_t d_l_v_rs th_ p_w_r fr_m th_ _ng_n_ t_ th_ wh__ls. Th_ _ng_n__rs m_n_g_d t_ _ncr__s_ th_ b_tt_ry p_w_r by t_n p_r c_nt, r_s_lt_ng _n th_ _xtr_ _cc_l_r_t__n. T_sl_ s__d: "_nl_k_ _ g_s_l_n_ _nt_rn_l c_mb_st__n _ng_n_ w_th h_ndr_ds _f m_v_ng p_rts, T_sl_ _l_ctr_c m_t_rs h_v_ _nly _n_ m_v_ng p__c_: th_ r_t_r. _s _ r_s_lt, M_d_l S _cc_l_r_t__n _s _nst_nt_n___s, s_l_nt _nd sm__th." Th_ T_sl_ S P85D c_r _s pr_c_d _t $87,500 _s _ b_s_c m_d_l; th_ "l_d_cr__s" _pgr_d_ w_ll b_ _n _xtr_ $13,000.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new upgraded version of an electric car from tesla motors is capable of going from 0 to 100kph in just 28 seconds the original 691 horsepower tesla model s p85d was already incredibly fast it even had a function called insane mode which meant the car could get from 0-100kph in 32 seconds the upgrade is called ludicrous mode and will take the horsepower up to 762 thus providing the extra power to get to 100kph in less than three seconds this is close to the acceleration of a porsche 911 turbo s supercar that kind of horsepower means the car can accelerate at a force of 11g this means the acceleration will make the driver feel that he or she is going faster than the speed of falling out of an airplane

tesla ceo elon musk explained that the new improvement in acceleration came from research into an advanced battery engineers were working on a new power train for its cars a power train is the system that delivers the power from the engine to the wheels the engineers managed to increase the battery power by ten per cent resulting in the extra acceleration tesla said "unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine with hundreds of moving parts tesla electric motors have only one moving piece the rotor as a result model s acceleration is instantaneous silent and smooth" the tesla s p85d car is priced at $87500 as a basic model the "ludicrous" upgrade will be an extra $13000

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Anew,upgradedversionofanelectriccarfromTeslaMotorsiscapableofg
oingfrom0to100kphinjust2.8seconds.Theoriginal691horsepowerTe
slaModelSP85Dwasalreadyincrediblyfast.Itevenhadafunctioncalled
InsaneMode,whichmeantthecarcouldgetfrom0-100kphin3.2seco
nds.TheupgradeiscalledLudicrousModeandwilltakethehorsepoweru
pto762,thusprovidingtheextrapowertogetto100kphinlessthanthree
seconds.ThisisclosetotheaccelerationofaPorsche911TurboSsuperca
r.Thatkindofhorsepowermeansthecarcanaccelerateataforceof1.1G.
Thismeanstheaccelerationwillmakethedriverfeelthatheorsheisgoing
fasterthanthespeedoffallingoutofanairplane.TeslaCEOElonMuskexp
lainedthatthenewimprovementinaccelerationcamefromresearchint
oanadvancedbattery.Engineerswereworkingonanewpowertrainforit
scars.Apowertrainisthesystemthatdeliversthepowerfromtheenginet
othewheels.Theengineersmanagedtoincreasethebatterypowerbyte
npercent,resultingintheextraacceleration.Teslasaid:"Unlikeagasoli
neinternalcombustionenginewithhundredsofmovingparts,Teslaelec
tricmotorshaveonlyonemovingpiece:therotor.Asaresult,ModelSacc
elerationisinstantaneous,silentandsmooth."TheTeslaSP85Dcarispri
cedat$87,500asabasicmodel;the"ludicrous"upgradewillbeanextra$
13,000.

FREE WRITING

Write about electric cars for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Electric cars don't help the environment because they need electricity. 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 electric cars. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ELECTRIC CARS: Make a poster about electric cars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. TESLA: Write a magazine article about the new Tesla car that can go from 0 to 100kph in 2.8 seconds. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 an expert on electric cars. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three ideas on how to make them better for the environment. 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

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	upgraded	a.	improved
2	incredibly	b.	amazingly
3.	providing	c.	supplying
4.	extra	d.	additional
5.	feel	e.	sense
6.	improvement	f.	advance
7.	resulting in	g.	leading to
8.	as a result	h.	because of this
9.	instantaneous	i.	immediate
10.	ludicrous	j.	ridiculous

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Tesla Motors
2.	691
3.	Ludicrous Mode
4.	A force of 1.1G
5.	Falling from an airplane
6.	A(n advanced) battery
7.	Hundreds
8.	A rotor
9.	Silent
10.	$13,000

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

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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Electric car does 0 to 100kph in 2.8 seconds (21st July, 2015)

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