The Reading / Listening - Electric Cars - Level 3

The car company Volvo has said it will start making all-electric cars. All new cars it makes from 2019 will have an electric motor. Volvo wants to stop making cars that use only petrol-driven or diesel-driven engines. The carmaker said it plans to launch five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a range of hybrid models. A hybrid car has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven. Volvo becomes the first major carmaker to say it will end making cars with an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has been used in cars for over a century. Volvo's CEO said: "People increasingly demand electrified cars, and we want to respond to our customers' current and future needs."

More and more car companies are now selling cars with electric or hybrid engines. The US-based company Tesla makes only all-electric cars. Its stock market value is now 25 per cent higher than that of Ford Motor Company, which started in 1903. Tesla recently announced that it will make 20,000 of its Model 3 cars a month by December. Volvo hopes to sell a million electrified cars by 2025. In addition, it hopes to have changed its factories to be more environmentally friendly. It hopes to have what it calls "climate-neutral" manufacturing. Volvo said its plans will mean the company will have one of the widest ranges of electrified cars of any carmaker in the world.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Electric Cars - Level 0,  Electric Cars - Level 1   or  Electric Cars - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40505671
  • http://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/news/volvo-to-produce-all-electric-cars-from-2019
  • http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volvo/100024/volvo-to-go-electric-with-new-range-of-evs-and-hybrid-models-from-2019


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 :-)

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?

       car company / electric cars / electric motor / diesel / century / demand / customers
       selling / stock market / higher / a million / factories / environment / climate / plans

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

3. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Students A strongly believe electric cars are environmentally friendly; Students B strongly believe they aren't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. BETTER CARS: How can cars be made better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Improvements

Why?

Shape

 

 

Engine

 

 

Interior

 

 

Speed

 

 

Fuel

 

 

Colors

 

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

6. TRANSPORT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • train
  • taxi
  • drone
  • helicopter
  • bicycle
  • car
  • airplane
  • bus

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. All new Volvo cars from 2019 will have an electric motor.     T / F
  2. Volvo will stop making all petrol-driven cars before 2019.     T / F
  3. The internal combustion engine has been used in cars for over 100 years.   T / F
  4. Volvo wants to respond to its customers' current and future needs.     T / F
  5. The numbers of carmakers selling hybrid cars is increasing.     T / F
  6. Ford's stock market value is 25% higher than Tesla's value.     T / F
  7. Tesla will be making 200,000 cars a month by December.     T / F
  8. Volvo has the widest range of electrified cars of any carmaker globally.    T / F

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

  1. making
  2. makes
  3. major
  4. increasingly
  5. needs
  6. value
  7. announced
  8. hopes
  9. plans
  10. in the world
  1. reported
  2. more and more
  3. on the planet
  4. produces
  5. aims
  6. manufacturing
  7. ideas
  8. requirements
  9. big
  10. worth

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

  1. Volvo has said it will start
  2. All new cars it
  3. diesel-
  4. a range of hybrid
  5. respond to our customers' current
  6. More and
  7. Its stock
  8. sell a million electrified cars
  9. be more environmentally
  10. one of the widest
  1. driven engines
  2. friendly
  3. and future needs
  4. more car companies
  5. models
  6. by 2025
  7. making all-electric cars
  8. ranges of electrified cars
  9. market value
  10. makes from 2019

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
launch
end
driven
respond
models
making
century
major

The car company Volvo has said it will start (1) ____________ all-electric cars. All new cars it makes from 2019 will have an electric motor. Volvo wants to stop making cars that use only petrol- (2) ____________ or diesel-driven engines. The carmaker said it plans to (3) ____________ five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a range of hybrid (4) ____________. A hybrid car has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven. Volvo becomes the first (5) ____________ carmaker to say it will (6) ____________ making cars with an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has been used in cars for over a (7) ____________. Volvo's CEO said: "People increasingly demand electrified cars, and we want to (8) ____________ to our customers' current and future needs."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hybrid
million
more
ranges
recently
climate
value
friendly

More and (9) ____________ car companies are now selling cars with electric or (10) ____________ engines. The US-based company Tesla makes only all-electric cars. Its stock market (11) ____________ is now 25 per cent higher than that of Ford Motor Company, which started in 1903. Tesla (12) ____________ announced that it will make 20,000 of its Model 3 cars a month by December. Volvo hopes to sell a (13) ____________ electrified cars by 2025. In addition, it hopes to have changed its factories to be more environmentally (14) ____________. It hopes to have what it calls "(15) ____________ -neutral" manufacturing. Volvo said its plans will mean the company will have one of the widest (16) ____________ of electrified cars of any carmaker in the world.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The car company Volvo has said it will start ______ cars
     a.  making all-electrical
     b.  making all-electrics
     c.  making all-electric
     d.  making all-electricity

2)  stop making cars that use only petrol-driven or diesel-______
     a.  driving engines
     b.  driven engines
     c.  drive on engines
     d.  drive-in engines

3)  electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a range of ______
     a.  hybrids models
     b.  hybrid model
     c.  hybrid models
     d.  hybrids model

4)  the first major carmaker to say it will end making cars with an internal ______
     a.  combustible engine
     b.  combustive engine
     c.  combustion engine
     d.  combusting engine

5)  we want to respond to our customers' current ______
     a.  on future needs
     b.  and future needs
     c.  on future needs
     d.  and futures needs

6)  The US-______ Tesla
     a.  biased company
     b.  based company
     c.  basted company
     d.  braised company

7)  Tesla recently announced that it will make 20,000 of its Model 3 ______
     a.  cars all month
     b.  cars a month
     c.  cars as month
     d.  cars at month

8)  Volvo hopes to sell a million electrified ______
     a.  cars bye 2025
     b.  cars buy 2025
     c.  cars by 2025
     d.  cars bay 2025

9)  It hopes to have what it calls "______" manufacturing
     a.  climate-newt troll
     b.  climate-neuter all
     c.  climate-natural
     d.  climate-neutral

10)  Volvo said its plans will mean the company will have one of the ______
     a.  widest ranges
     b.  widest range is
     c.  widest rangers
     d.  widest rain goes

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The car company Volvo has said it (1) ___________________ all-electric cars. All new cars it makes from 2019 will have an electric motor. Volvo wants to stop making cars (2) ___________________ petrol-driven or diesel-driven engines. The carmaker said it plans (3) ___________________ fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a range of hybrid models. A hybrid car has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven. Volvo becomes the first major carmaker (4) ___________________ end making cars with an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has been used in cars for (5) ___________________. Volvo's CEO said: "People increasingly demand electrified cars, and we want to (6) ___________________ customers' current and future needs."

More and more car companies (7) ___________________ cars with electric or hybrid engines. The US-based company Tesla makes only all-electric cars. Its stock (8) ___________________ now 25 per cent higher than that of Ford Motor Company, which started in 1903. Tesla recently announced that it will make 20,000 of its Model 3 (9) ___________________ by December. Volvo hopes to sell a million electrified cars by 2025. In addition, (10) ___________________ changed its factories to be more environmentally friendly. It hopes to have what it calls (11) ___________________ manufacturing. Volvo said its plans will mean the company will have one of the (12) ___________________ electrified cars of any carmaker in the world.

Comprehension questions

  1. What will all new Volvo cars have from 2019?
  2. How many fully electric cars will Volvo launch between 2019 and 2021?
  3. What has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven?
  4. For how long has the internal combustion engine been used?
  5. What did Volvo say it will respond to?
  6. What kind of cars does Tesla make?
  7. How much higher is Tesla's stock market value than Ford's value?
  8. How many Model 3 cars will Tesla make each month by December?
  9. How many electrified cars does Volvo hope to sell by 2025?
  10. What kind of manufacturing does Volvo hope it will do?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What will all new Volvo cars have from 2019?
a) an electric motor
b) six wheels
c) a diesel-powered engine
d) air bags

2) How many fully electric cars will Volvo launch between 2019 and 2021?
a) seven
b) six
c) five
d) four

3) What has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven?
a) an all-electric car
b) a hybrid car
c) a bus
d) a motorbike

4) For how long has the internal combustion engine been used?
a) since 1966
b) since the 19th century
c) 88 years
d) over a century

5) What did Volvo say it will respond to?
a) customers' needs
b) e-mails
c) criticism
d) questions

6) What kind of cars does Tesla make?
a) diesel-driven cars
b) hybrid cars
c) sports cars
d) all-electric cars

7) How much higher is Tesla's stock market value than Ford's value?
a) 20%
b) 25%
c) 30%
d) 15%

8) How many Model 3 cars will Tesla make each month by December?
a) 200,000
b) 12,000
c) 22,000
d) 20,000

9) How many electrified cars does Volvo hope to sell by 2025?
a) 10,000
b) 100,000
c) 1,000,000
d) 1,000,000,000

10) What kind of manufacturing does Volvo hope it will do?
a) climate-natural
b) climate-neutral
c) neutral-climate
d) natural-climate

Role play

Role  A – Bicycles

You think bicycles are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms or transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): cars, trains or airplanes.

Role  B – Cars

You think cars are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms or transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bicycles, trains or airplanes.

Role  C – Train

You think trains are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms or transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): airplanes, bicycles or cars.

Role  D – Airplane

You think airplanes are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms or transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  bicycles, cars or trains.

After reading / listening

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

'electric'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'petrol'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • selling
    • stock
    • 1903
    • month
    • factories
    • widest
    • all
    • launch
    • both
    • major
    • century
    • needs

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Volvo will start making only all-electric cars

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'electric'?
    3. What do you think about electric cars?
    4. Are electric cars good for the environment?
    5. In what ways are electric cars better than petrol cars?
    6. What is your favourite car and why?
    7. What do you know about Volvo?
    8. How popular are electric cars in your country?
    9. In what ways can cars be more environmentally friendly?
    10. Are there any negative things about electric cars?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'car'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Tesla?
    5. Why haven't all car companies decided to make only electrified cars?
    6. How can factories be more environmentally friendly?
    7. When will we stop using fossil fuels?
    8. Would you prefer an electric or petrol-driven car?
    9. What is "climate-neutral" manufacturing?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the boss of Volvo?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The car company Volvo has said it will (1) ____ making all-electric cars. All new cars it makes from 2019 will have an electric (2) ____. Volvo wants to stop making cars that use only petrol-driven or diesel-driven engines. The carmaker said it plans to (3) ____ five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a range of hybrid models. A hybrid car has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven. Volvo becomes the (4) ____ major carmaker to say it will end making cars with an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has been used in cars for over (5) ____ century. Volvo's CEO said: "People increasingly demand electrified cars, and we want to respond (6) ____ our customers' current and future needs."

    More and (7) ____ car companies are now selling cars with electric or hybrid engines. The US-based company Tesla makes only all-electric cars. Its (8) ____ market value is now 25 per cent higher than that of Ford Motor Company, (9) ____ started in 1903. Tesla recently announced that it will make 20,000 of its Model 3 cars a month by December. Volvo hopes to sell a million electrified cars by 2025. In (10) ____, it hopes to have changed its factories to be more environmentally friendly. It hopes to have what it calls "climate-(11) ____" manufacturing. Volvo said its plans will mean the company will have one of the widest (12) ____ of electrified cars of any carmaker in the world.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     started     (b)     starting     (c)     start     (d)     starts    
    2. (a)     motor     (b)     motoring     (c)     motored     (d)     motors    
    3. (a)     launch     (b)     lynch     (c)     lunch     (d)     lurch    
    4. (a)     first     (b)     firstly     (c)     firsts     (d)     firsthand    
    5. (a)     all     (b)     a     (c)     an     (d)     the    
    6. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    7. (a)     many     (b)     much     (c)     more     (d)     most    
    8. (a)     stocks     (b)     stocking     (c)     stocked     (d)     stock    
    9. (a)     which     (b)     what     (c)     when     (d)     why    
    10. (a)     added     (b)     addition     (c)     additionally     (d)     additions    
    11. (a)     neutered     (b)     neutral     (c)     neutron     (d)     neutrality    
    12. (a)     range     (b)     ranging     (c)     ranges     (d)     ranger

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. chluan five fully electric cars
    2. a range of bdiyrh models
    3. the first oamjr carmaker
    4. for over a ertnyuc
    5. we want to odsnrep to our customers
    6. rnctreu and future needs

    Paragraph 2

    1. Its stock market leuav
    2. aocdunenn that it will make 20,000
    3. Volvo hopes to sell a nlliimo
    4. In ioditand, it hopes to…
    5. "climate-tneralu" manufacturing
    6. one of the widest aserng of electrified cars

    Put the text back together

    (    )     started in 1903. Tesla recently announced that it will make 20,000 of its Model 3 cars a

    (    )     carmaker to say it will end making cars with an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has

    (    )     More and more car companies are now selling cars with electric or hybrid engines. The US-based company Tesla

    (    )     "climate-neutral" manufacturing. Volvo said its plans will mean the company will

    (    )     to have changed its factories to be more environmentally friendly. It hopes to have what it calls

    (    )     makes only all-electric cars. Its stock market value is now 25 per cent higher than that of Ford Motor Company, which

    (    )     electric motor. Volvo wants to stop making cars that use only petrol-driven or diesel-driven

    (    )     engines. The carmaker said it plans to launch five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a range

    (  1  )     The car company Volvo has said it will start making all-electric cars. All new cars it makes from 2019 will have an

    (    )     of hybrid models. A hybrid car has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven. Volvo becomes the first major

    (    )     been used in cars for over a century. Volvo's CEO said: "People increasingly demand electrified

    (    )     cars, and we want to respond to our customers' current and future needs."

    (    )     have one of the widest ranges of electrified cars of any carmaker in the world.

    (    )     month by December. Volvo hopes to sell a million electrified cars by 2025. In addition, it hopes

    Put the words in the right order

    1. it   making   will   said   start   all-electric   has   Volvo   cars   .
    2. fully  electric   carmaker  plans   five  The   it   launch   cars   said   to  .
    3. end   with  combustion   will   cars   internal   It  making   an   engine   .
    4. The   been   internal   used   combustion   in   engine   cars   has   .
    5. current   customers'   our   to   Respond   needs   future   and   .
    6. market   now   cent   stock   is   per   Its   value   25   higher   .
    7. recently   it   20,000   Tesla   that   make   announced   will   .
    8. sell   electrified   2025   to   million   by   hopes   a   cars   Volvo   .
    9. to   factories   its   Changed   friendly   environmentally   more   be   .
    10. the  electrified  any   of   ranges  of   One  widest  cars  carmaker   of   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The car company Volvo has said it will start made / making all-electric cars. All new cars it makes from / between 2019 will have an electric motor. Volvo wants to stop making cars that use only / once petrol-driven or diesel-driven engines. The carmaker said it plans to launch / lunch five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a strange / range of hybrid models. A hybrid car has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven. Volvo becomes the first major carmaker to say / speak it will end making cars with an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has being / been used in cars for over the / a century. Volvo's CEO said: "People increasingly / increase demand electrified cars, and we want to respond to our customers' current and future / futures needs."

    More and more car companies are now / known selling cars with electric or hybrid engines. The US-based company Tesla makes only all-electric cars. Its stock / shock market value is now 25 per cent higher than those / that of Ford Motor Company, which started in 1903. Tesla recent / recently announced that it will make 20,000 of / off its Model 3 cars a month by December. Volvo hopes to sell a million electrified cars by 2025. In added / addition, it hopes to have changed its factories to be / been more environmentally friendly. It hopes to have that / what it calls "climate-neutral" manufacturing. Volvo said its plans will meaning / mean the company will have one of the widest ranges of electrified cars of many / any carmaker in the world.

    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)

    Th_ c_r c_mp_ny V_lv_ h_s s__d _t w_ll st_rt m_k_ng _ll-_l_ctr_c c_rs. _ll n_w c_rs _t m_k_s fr_m 2019 w_ll h_v_ _n _l_ctr_c m_t_r. V_lv_ w_nts t_ st_p m_k_ng c_rs th_t _s_ _nly p_tr_l-dr_v_n _r d__s_l-dr_v_n _ng_n_s. Th_ c_rm_k_r s__d _t pl_ns t_ l__nch f_v_ f_lly _l_ctr_c c_rs b_tw__n 2019 _nd 2021 _nd _ r_ng_ _f hybr_d m_d_ls. _ hybr_d c_r h_s _n _ng_n_ th_t _s b_th _l_ctr_c _nd p_tr_l-dr_v_n. V_lv_ b_c_m_s th_ f_rst m_j_r c_rm_k_r t_ s_y _t w_ll _nd m_k_ng c_rs w_th _n _nt_rn_l c_mb_st__n _ng_n_. Th_ _nt_rn_l c_mb_st__n _ng_n_ h_s b__n _s_d _n c_rs f_r _v_r _ c_nt_ry. V_lv_'s C__ s__d: "P__pl_ _ncr__s_ngly d_m_nd _l_ctr_f__d c_rs, _nd w_ w_nt t_ r_sp_nd t_ __r c_st_m_rs' c_rr_nt _nd f_t_r_ n__ds."

    M_r_ _nd m_r_ c_r c_mp_n__s _r_ n_w s_ll_ng c_rs w_th _l_ctr_c _r hybr_d _ng_n_s. Th_ _S-b_s_d c_mp_ny T_sl_ m_k_s _nly _ll-_l_ctr_c c_rs. _ts st_ck m_rk_t v_l__ _s n_w 25 p_r c_nt h_gh_r th_n th_t _f F_rd M_t_r C_mp_ny, wh_ch st_rt_d _n 1903. T_sl_ r_c_ntly _nn__nc_d th_t _t w_ll m_k_ 20,000 _f _ts M_d_l 3 c_rs _ m_nth by D_c_mb_r. V_lv_ h_p_s t_ s_ll _ m_ll__n _l_ctr_f__d c_rs by 2025. _n _dd_t__n, _t h_p_s t_ h_v_ ch_ng_d _ts f_ct_r__s t_ b_ m_r_ _nv_r_nm_nt_lly fr__ndly. _t h_p_s t_ h_v_ wh_t _t c_lls "cl_m_t_-n__tr_l" m_n_f_ct_r_ng. V_lv_ s__d _ts pl_ns w_ll m__n th_ c_mp_ny w_ll h_v_ _n_ _f th_ w_d_st r_ng_s _f _l_ctr_f__d c_rs _f _ny c_rm_k_r _n th_ w_rld.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the car company volvo has said it will start making all-electric cars all new cars it makes from 2019 will have an electric motor volvo wants to stop making cars that use only petrol-driven or diesel-driven engines the carmaker said it plans to launch five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021 and a range of hybrid models a hybrid car has an engine that is both electric and petrol-driven volvo becomes the first major carmaker to say it will end making cars with an internal combustion engine the internal combustion engine has been used in cars for over a century volvo's ceo said "people increasingly demand electrified cars and we want to respond to our customers' current and future needs"

    more and more car companies are now selling cars with electric or hybrid engines the us-based company tesla makes only all-electric cars its stock market value is now 25 per cent higher than that of ford motor company which started in 1903 tesla recently announced that it will make 20000 of its model 3 cars a month by december volvo hopes to sell a million electrified cars by 2025 in addition it hopes to have changed its factories to be more environmentally friendly it hopes to have what it calls "climate-neutral" manufacturing volvo said its plans will mean the company will have one of the widest ranges of electrified cars of any carmaker in the world

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThecarcompanyVolvohassaiditwillstartmakingall-electriccars.Allne
    wcarsitmakesfrom2019willhaveanelectricmotor.Volvowantstostop
    makingcarsthatuseonlypetrol-drivenordiesel-drivenengines.Thec
    armakersaiditplanstolaunchfivefullyelectriccarsbetween2019and20
    21andarangeofhybridmodels.Ahybridcarhasanenginethatisbothele
    ctricandpetrol-driven.Volvobecomesthefirstmajorcarmakertosayi
    twillendmakingcarswithaninternalcombustionengine.Theinternalco
    mbustionenginehasbeenusedincarsforoveracentury.Volvo'sCEOsai
    d:"Peopleincreasinglydemandelectrifiedcars,andwewanttorespondt
    oourcustomers'currentandfutureneeds."Moreandmorecarcompanie
    sarenowsellingcarswithelectricorhybridengines.TheUS-basedcom
    panyTeslamakesonlyall-electriccars.Itsstockmarketvalueisnow25
    percenthigherthanthatofFordMotorCompany,whichstartedin1903.T
    eslarecentlyannouncedthatitwillmake20,000ofitsModel3carsamont
    hbyDecember.Volvohopestosellamillionelectrifiedcarsby2025.Inad
    dition,ithopestohavechangeditsfactoriestobemoreenvironmentallyf
    riendly.Ithopestohavewhatitcalls"climate-neutral"manufacturi
    ng.Volvosaiditsplanswillmeanthecompanywillhaveoneofthewidestr
    angesofelectrifiedcarsofanycarmakerintheworld.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Are electric cars good for the environment? Discuss three advantages and disadvantages.

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    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 this news. 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. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Write a magazine article about electric cars being environmentally friendly. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe they are and with people who believe they are not.

    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 of your opinions on them. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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