The Reading / Listening - Car Battery - Level 3

Car makers are spending a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce the amount of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a tank of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

The new batteries could totally transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery running out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the point of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Car Battery - Level 0,  Car Battery - Level 1   or  Car Battery - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-charging-electric-car-battery-5-minutes-2021-1
  • https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/19/electric-car-batteries-race-ahead-with-five-minute-charging-times
  • https://www.timesofisrael.com/revving-up-electric-car-industry-israeli-firm-develops-5-minute-charge-battery/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. CAR BATTERIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about car batteries. 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 makers / electric cars / atmosphere / battery / charge / time / petrol / company /
       transform / travel / anxiety / electricity / highway / spokesperson / revolution / switch
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ELECTRIC CARS: Students A strongly believe electric cars are better than petrol cars; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. THE FUTURE: What will the future of these things look like? Will it be good or bad? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

The Future

Good Things

Bad Things

Cars

 

 

 

The Internet

 

 

 

English

 

 

 

Healthcare

 

 

 

Clothes

 

 

 

Food

 

 

 
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. BATTERY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "battery". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CARS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important thing about cars at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Safety
  • Speed
  • Colour
  • Fuel efficiency
  • Performance
  • Price
  • Comfort
  • Looks

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. replace a. Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
      2. reduce b. Completely or in total.
      3. atmosphere c. Made something on a large scale using robots and machinery.
      4. fully d. The layer of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
      5. tank e. Made something new and made it better.
      6. developed f. Change one thing for another thing.
      7. manufactured g. A large container for putting in liquid or gas.

    Paragraph 2

      8. transform h. Experience or have something bad or unpleasant.
      9. suffer i. The area covered by or included in something.
      10. range j. Contact with something or doing something to remember.
      11. anxiety k. Be in a particular position without being able to move or get away.
      12. stuck l. A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, because of a future event or something that may or may not happen.
      13. revolution m. Made a total and big change in the form, appearance, or character of.
      14. experience n. A big change in the way something works or is organized or in people's ideas about it.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Car makers are spending very little money on electric cars.     T / F
  2. Some electric-car batteries take 12 hours to charge.     T / F
  3. A company in Israel developed a lithium-steel battery.     T / F
  4. The new battery is being made in China.     T / F
  5. The article says electric cars will be able to go farther than petrol cars.    T / F
  6. "Range anxiety" is worrying about getting stuck on a road somewhere.    T / F
  7. The battery company said a revolution is coming with charging.     T / F
  8. The company said the switch to electric cars will be very slow.     T / F

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

  1. replace
  2. problem
  3. just
  4. developed
  5. manufactured
  6. transform
  7. anxiety
  8. afraid
  9. point
  10. happen
  1. only
  2. worry
  3. made
  4. change
  5. time
  6. take over from
  7. invented
  8. occur
  9. difficulty
  10. scared

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

  1. Car makers are spending
  2. electric cars will
  3. reduce the amount
  4. take up to
  5. fill a tank
  6. travel as far
  7. range
  8. you're going to get stuck
  9. at the point of achieving a
  10. the switch from petrol
  1. on the highway
  2. of CO2
  3. as petrol cars
  4. of gas
  5. to electric cars
  6. a lot of money
  7. revolution
  8. 12 hours to charge
  9. replace petrol cars
  10. anxiety

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
amount
fully
manufactured
spending
tank
replace
just
charging

Car makers are (1) _____________________ a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will (2) _____________________ petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce the (3) _____________________ of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is (4) _____________________ the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge (5) _____________________. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in (6) _____________________ five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a (7) _____________________ of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being (8) _____________________ by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
switch
stuck
suffer
point
totally
running
faster
station

The new batteries could (9) _____________________ transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today (10) _____________________ from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery (11) _____________________ out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get (12) _____________________ on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging (13) _____________________ for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the (14) _____________________ of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the (15) _____________________ from petrol to electric cars will happen much (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) In the future, electric cars will ______
     a.  replaces petrol cars
     b.  replaced petrol cars
     c.  replace petrol cars
     d.  replacement petrol cars
2)  Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours ______
     a.  to charge full
     b.  to charges fully
     c.  to charges full
     d.  to charge fully
3)  created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in ______
     a.  just five minutes
     b.  adjust five minutes
     c.  justly five minutes
     d.  justice five minutes
4)  This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a ______
     a.  dank of gas
     b.  rank of gas
     c.  tank of gas
     d.  bank of gas
5)  They are being manufactured by a Chinese company ______
     a.  call Eve Energy
     b.  called Eve Energy
     c.  calls Eve Energy
     d.  calling Eve Energy

6)  The new batteries could totally ______
     a.  trains form driving
     b.  trans firm driving
     c.  transform driving
     d.  transfer driving
7)  They would mean electric cars would be able to travel ______ petrol cars
     a.  as far as
     b.  as for as
     c.  as fur as
     d.  as fir as
8)  This is stress caused by worrying about the battery running ______
     a.  out of electrical
     b.  out of electrician
     c.  out of electrics
     d.  out of electricity
9)  The new batteries would ______
     a.  end this anxious
     b.  end this auxiliary
     c.  end this and deity
     d.  end this anxiety
10)  He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will ______
     a.  happen many faster
     b.  happen much faster
     c.  happen more faster
     d.  happen most faster

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Car makers are spending a lot (1) ____________________ electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce (2) ____________________ CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can (3) ____________________ 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people (4) ____________________ just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill (5) ____________________ gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. (6) ____________________ manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

The new batteries (7) ____________________ driving. They would mean electric cars would (8) ____________________ travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery (9) ____________________ electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're (10) ____________________ to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're (11) ____________________ of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it (12) ____________________ from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster.

Comprehension questions

  1. How much money are car makers spending?
  2. What will be reduced in the environment?
  3. How long can some batteries take to charge?
  4. In which country is the company that created the new battery?
  5. Where is the new battery being made?
  6. What does the article say the new battery will transform?
  7. What do many electric-car drivers suffer from?
  8. Where are people worrying about being stuck?
  9. What did a company say we are at the point of achieving?
  10. What did the company say might happen much faster?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much money are car makers spending?
a) not much
b) amazing amounts
c) billions
d) a lot
2) What will be reduced in the environment?
a) NO2
b) CO2
c) H20
d) O2
3) How long can some batteries take to charge?
a) 48 hours
b) 24 hours
c) 12 hours
d) 6 hours
4) In which country is the company that created the new battery?
a) Israel
b) China
c) the UK
d) Peru
5) Where is the new battery being made?
a) the UK
b) Peru
c) China
d) Israel

6) What does the article say the new battery will transform?
a) life
b) driving
c) petrol
d) the environment
7) What do many electric-car drivers suffer from?
a) a fear of speed
b) nerves
c) headaches
d) range anxiety
8) Where are people worrying about being stuck?
a) on a highway
b) at home
c) at a gas station
d) in the countryside
9) What did a company say we are at the point of achieving?
a) zero-emission cars
b) a sustainable car
c) a revolution
d) a safe car
10) What did the company say might happen much faster?
a) the end of petrol
b) the switch to electric cars
c) global warming
d) climate change

Role play

Role  A – Looks
You think looks is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): safety, performance or comfort.

Role  B – Safety
You think safety is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): looks, performance or comfort.

Role  C – Performance
You think performance is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): safety, looks or comfort.

Role  D – Comfort
You think comfort is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): safety, performance or looks.

After reading / listening

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

'car'

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

    • and 'battery'.

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

    • • 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:

    • spending
    • reduce
    • problem
    • charge
    • fill
    • developed
    • totally
    • suffer
    • either
    • need
    • point
    • switch

    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 - Car Battery

    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 'car'?
    3. What do you think of electric cars?
    4. In what ways are electric cars better than petrol cars?
    5. How bad are petrol cars for the environment?
    6. What do you think of charging electric-car batteries?
    7. Would you prefer an electric or petrol car?
    8. What do you know about batteries?
    9. How much CO2 does charging the batteries create?
    10. Should we use public transport instead of 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 'battery'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of petrol cars?
    5. In what ways are petrol cars better than electric cars?
    6. How would the new battery transform driving?
    7. Would you worry about running out of petrol?
    8. How might the new battery change driving?
    9. What gives you anxiety?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the battery maker?

    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)

    Car makers are (1) ____ a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will (2) ____ the amount of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars (3) ____ charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has (4) ____ a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a (5) ____ of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are (6) ____ manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

    The new batteries could (7) ____ transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This (8) ____ stress caused by worrying about the battery running out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either (9) ____ that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end (10) ____ anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the (11) ____ of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     spending     (b)     spent     (c)     spends     (d)     spender    
    2. (a)     deuce     (b)     deduce     (c)     reduce     (d)     induce    
    3. (a)     are     (b)     is     (c)     will     (d)     be    
    4. (a)     creating     (b)     creation     (c)     creates     (d)     created    
    5. (a)     tank     (b)     cup     (c)     box     (d)     carton    
    6. (a)     be     (b)     being     (c)     been     (d)     be in    
    7. (a)     totals     (b)     totality     (c)     total     (d)     totally    
    8. (a)     has     (b)     is     (c)     be     (d)     have    
    9. (a)     fright     (b)     scary     (c)     afraid     (d)     petrify    
    10. (a)     these     (b)     how     (c)     what     (d)     this    
    11. (a)     stand     (b)     step     (c)     rim     (d)     point     
    12. (a)     fast     (b)     faster     (c)     fasten     (d)     fasts

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. electric cars will plaeecr petrol cars
    2. this will urcdee the amount of CO2
    3. take up to 12 hours to charge uyllf
    4. the same uaotnm of time
    5. dveepldoe by the Israeli company
    6. fuaruaetndmc by a Chinese company

    Paragraph 2

    1. totally snatrfrom driving
    2. people with electric cars today fuesrf
    3. range xtaneyi
    4. sit in a charging oisatnt for two hours
    5. at the point of achieving a vurooitlne
    6. the electric vehicle charging rcxeeenepi

    Put the text back together

    (...)  The new batteries could totally transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as
    (...)  experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster.
    (...)  to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery
    (...)  afraid that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in
    (...)  that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it
    (...)  far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused
    (  1  )Car makers are spending a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will
    (...)  by worrying about the battery running out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either
    (...)  the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.
    (...)  spokesperson said: "We're at the point of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging
    (...)  takes to fill a tank of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by
    (...)  replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce the amount of CO2 put into the
    (...)  a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot
    (...)  atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up

    Put the words in the right order

    1. money   lot   Spending   cars   .   of   on   electric   a
    2. up   Take   hours   to   charge   to   12   fully   .
    3. is   of   the   same   amount   time   .   This
    4. tank   Fill   a   with   gas   petrol   .   of
    5. are   by   manufactured   being   They   Chinese   a   company   .
    6. batteries   driving   .   The   new   could   totally   transform
    7. with   People   from   cars   range   suffer   electric   anxiety   .
    8. the   about   electricity   .   battery   running   of   Worrying   out
    9. a   in   two   Sit   charging   for   hours   .   station
    10. experience   .   electric   in   the   revolution   charging   vehicle   A

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Car makers are spent / spending a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will / be replace petrol cars. Environmentalists belief / believe this will reduce the amount by / of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charger / charging the battery. Some batteries in today's / today electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has / does created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time / hours it takes to fill a tank of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were enveloped / developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being manufactured by a Chinese company name / called Eve Energy.

    The new batteries could total / totally transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel was / as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today buffer / suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery running in / out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid / scary that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to seat / sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end / send this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the point / blunt of achieving a revolution / evolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster / fast.

    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)

    C_r  m_k_rs  _r_  sp_nd_ng  _  l_t  _f  m_n_y  _n  _l_ctr_c  c_rs.  _n  th_  f_t_r_,  _l_ctr_c  c_rs  w_ll  r_pl_c_  p_tr_l  c_rs.  _nv_r_nm_nt_l_sts  b_l__v_  th_s  w_ll  r_d_c_  th_  _m__nt  _f  C_2  p_t  _nt_  th_  _tm_sph_r_.  _  b_g  pr_bl_m  f_r  _l_ctr_c  c_rs  _s  ch_rg_ng  th_  b_tt_ry.  S_m_  b_tt_r__s  _n  t_d_y's  _l_ctr_c  c_rs  c_n  t_k_  _p  t_  12  h__rs  t_  ch_rg_  f_lly.  H_w_v_r,  _  c_mp_ny  _n  _sr__l  s_ys  _t  h_s  cr__t_d  _  l_th__m-__n  b_tt_ry  th_t  p__pl_  c_n  ch_rg_  _n  j_st  f_v_  m_n_t_s.  Th_s  _s  th_  s_m_  _m__nt  _f  t_m_  _t  t_k_s  t_  f_ll  _  t_nk  _f  g_s  w_th  p_tr_l.  Th_  n_w  l_th__m-__n  b_tt_r__s  w_r_  d_v_l_p_d  by  th_  _sr__l_  c_mp_ny  St_r_D_t.  Th_y  _r_  b__ng  m_n_f_ct_r_d  by  _  Ch_n_s_  c_mp_ny  c_ll_d  _v_  _n_rgy.

    Th_  n_w  b_tt_r__s  c__ld  t_t_lly  tr_nsf_rm  dr_v_ng.  Th_y  w__ld  m__n  _l_ctr_c  c_rs  w__ld  b_  _bl_  t_  tr_v_l  _s  f_r  _s  p_tr_l  c_rs.  M_ny  p__pl_  w_th  _l_ctr_c  c_rs  t_d_y  s_ff_r  fr_m  "r_ng_  _nx__ty".  Th_s  _s  str_ss  c__s_d  by  w_rry_ng  _b__t  th_  b_tt_ry  r_nn_ng  __t  _f  _l_ctr_c_ty.  _  St_r_D_t  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d:  "Y__'r_  __th_r  _fr__d  th_t  y__'r_  g__ng  t_  g_t  st_ck  _n  th_  h_ghw_y,  _r  th_t  y__'r_  g__ng  t_  n__d  t_  s_t  _n  _  ch_rg_ng  st_t__n  f_r  tw_  h__rs."  Th_  n_w  b_tt_r__s  w__ld  _nd  th_s  _nx__ty.  _  St_r_D_t  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d:  "W_'r_  _t  th_  p__nt  _f  _ch__v_ng  _  r_v_l_t__n  _n  th_  _l_ctr_c  v_h_cl_  ch_rg_ng  _xp_r__nc_".  H_  s__d  _t  m__ns  th_  sw_tch  fr_m  p_tr_l  t_  _l_ctr_c  c_rs  w_ll  h_pp_n  m_ch  f_st_r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    car makers are spending a lot of money on electric cars in the future electric cars will replace petrol cars environmentalists believe this will reduce the amount of co2 put into the atmosphere a big problem for electric cars is charging the battery some batteries in todays electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully however a company in israel says it has created a lithiumion battery that people can charge in just five minutes this is the same amount of time it takes to fill a tank of gas with petrol the new lithiumion batteries were developed by the israeli company storedot they are being manufactured by a chinese company called eve energy

    the new batteries could totally transform driving they would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars many people with electric cars today suffer from range anxiety this is stress caused by worrying about the battery running out of electricity a storedot spokesperson said youre either afraid that youre going to get stuck on the highway or that youre going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours the new batteries would end this anxiety a storedot spokesperson said were at the point of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience he said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Carmakersarespendingalotofmoneyonelectriccars.Inthefuture,elec
    triccarswillreplacepetrolcars.Environmentalistsbelievethiswillreduc
    etheamountofCO2putintotheatmosphere.Abigproblemforelectricca
    rsischargingthebattery.Somebatteriesintoday'selectriccarscantake
    upto12hourstochargefully.However,acompanyinIsraelsaysithascre
    atedalithium-ionbatterythatpeoplecanchargeinjustfiveminutes.Thi
    sisthesameamountoftimeittakestofillatankofgaswithpetrol.Thenewl
    ithium-ionbatteriesweredevelopedbytheIsraelicompanyStoreD
    ot.TheyarebeingmanufacturedbyaChinesecompanycalledEveEnerg
    y.Thenewbatteriescouldtotallytransformdriving.Theywouldmeanel
    ectriccarswouldbeabletotravelasfaraspetrolcars.Manypeoplewithel
    ectriccarstodaysufferfrom"rangeanxiety".Thisisstresscausedbywor
    ryingaboutthebatteryrunningoutofelectricity.AStoreDotspokespers
    onsaid:"You'reeitherafraidthatyou'regoingtogetstuckonthehighway
    ,orthatyou'regoingtoneedtositinachargingstationfortwohours."The
    newbatterieswouldendthisanxiety.AStoreDotspokespersonsaid:"W
    e'reatthepointofachievingarevolutionintheelectricvehiclecharginge
    xperience".Hesaiditmeanstheswitchfrompetroltoelectriccarswillhap
    penmuchfaster.

    Free writing

    Write about car battery for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All cars should be electric within the next ten years. Discuss.

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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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. CAR BATTERIES: Make a poster about car batteries. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ALL ELECTRIC: Write a magazine article about all cars being electric by the end of this decade. 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 an expert on car batteries. Ask him/her three questions about car batteries. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    Answers

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

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