Consumers asked to throw away hoverboards

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Three big UK retailers, including Amazon, are telling customers to throw away hoverboards because of safety worries. There have been reports of them exploding. Consumers will get a refund if they take their hoverboard to a recycling centre. Hoverboards are like self-balancing, two-wheeled skateboards. They are a very popular gift this Christmas. The retailers' decision will disappoint many children.

A consumer group in the UK said half-a-million people bought a hoverboard as a Christmas gift. Another million people have it on their shopping list. Britain's largest store said: "We've suspended the sale of all hoverboards…as a precautionary measure." Amazon said: "We regret the inconvenience…but trust you will understand that your safety and satisfaction is our highest priority." Hoverboards are not allowed on public roads.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/12052732/Get-rid-of-your-hoverboards-now-Amazon-tells-customers.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35109728
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3361995/Amazon-throw-hoverboards-away-advice-amid-safety-alert.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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	Three big UK	a.	centre
2.	throw	b.	a refund
3.	safety	c.	disappoint many children
4.	Consumers will get	d.	worries
5.	a recycling	e.	retailers
6.	self-balancing, two-	f.	this Christmas
7.	very popular gifts	g.	away hoverboards
8.	The retailers' decision will	h.	wheeled skateboards

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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 consumer	a.	inconvenience
2.	have it on their shopping	b.	priority
3.	We've suspended the sale	c.	allowed on public roads
4.	as a precautionary	d.	of all hoverboards
5.	We regret the	e.	group
6.	your safety	f.	measure
7.	our highest	g.	list
8.	Hoverboards are not	h.	and satisfaction

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Three (1) ___________________, including Amazon, are telling customers to throw away hoverboards because (2) ___________________. There have been reports (3) ___________________. Consumers will get a refund if they take their hoverboard to (4) ___________________. Hoverboards are like self-balancing, two-wheeled skateboards. They (5) _________________ gift this Christmas. The retailers' decision (6) ___________________ children.

A consumer group in the UK said (7) ___________________ people bought a hoverboard as a Christmas gift. Another million (8) __________________ on their shopping list. Britain's (9) ___________________: "We've suspended (10) ___________________ hoverboards…as a precautionary measure." Amazon said: "We regret the inconvenience…but trust you will understand (11) ___________________ and satisfaction is our highest priority." Hoverboards are (12) ___________________ public roads.

HOVERBOARDS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about hoverboards 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 hoverboards for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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