Unit 7
Ex.1 Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions.
1/ Do you like road trips?
2/ How often do you go for a ride in a car? Where do you go?
3/ What are the advantages of owning a car?
4/ Are there any disadvantages of owning a car?
5/ What is the longest trip you’ve ever taken in a car?
Ex.2 Learn the following words/word combinations
1.bring about changes/ˌbrɪŋ əˈbaʊt//
вызывать изменения
2. respond to consumer demands
реагировать на требования
потребителя
устанавливать нормативы выброса
вредных веществ в атмосферу
составлять 20 %
/rɪˈspɒnd//kənˈsjuːmə(r)/
3. impose emission standards
/ɪmˈpəʊz/ /ɪˈmɪʃ(ə)n/
4. account for 20 % of smth
/əˈkaʊnt/
беспокоиться о безопасности
автомобиля
/kənˈsɜː(r)nd/
6. reduce emissions
снизить выброс вредных веществ в
атмосферу
/rɪˈdjuːs/
7. be equipped with safety devices
быть оборудованным устройствами
безопасности
/ɪˈkwɪpt/
превзойти друг друга
8. outdo one another /ˌaʊtˈduː/
9. prize smth /praɪz/
высоко ценить
10. fuel-efficient cars /ˌfjuːəl ɪˈfɪʃ(ə)nt/
экономичные автомобили
Ex.3 Match the words/word combinations to their definitions
5.be concerned with automotive safety
1/respond to smth
2/reduce smth
a/to value extremely highly
b/to introduce something such as a new
law or new system, and force people to
accept it
c/to form, use, or produce a particular
amount of things
d/ to make something happen, especially
to cause changes in a situation
e/to give your attention to something
because you think it is important
f/to be provided with the things that smb
or smth need for a particular purpose
3/outdo smb
4/impose smth
5/account for smth
6/be concerned with smth
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7/be equipped with smth
g/to be better than someone else at
doing something
h/ to react to something by taking a
particular course of action
i/to make something smaller or less in
size, amount, importance etc
8/bring about smth
9/prize smth
Ex.4 Match column A to column B
A
1/emission
2/consumer
3/fuel-efficient
4/ safety
B
a/cars
b/ devices
c/standards
d/ demands
Ex.5 Match the verbs to their synonyms
1/reduce
2/bring about
3/rise
4/prize
5/reach
6/outdo
7/equip
8/ respond
a/cause
b/surpass
c/achieve
d/increase
e/thin
f/value
g/react
h/provide
Ex.6 Look through the following words/word combinations to help you to
understand the text below.
вершина
расцвет
дефицит, недостаток
ограничение
вещество, загрязняющее воздух
нормы, правило
автомобиль с высоким расходом
топлива
заправочная станция
принять закон
ослабевать
поглощать (о компании)
постепенно прекращать что-то
огромный
pinnacle (n)/ˈpɪnək(ə)l/
heyday (n) /ˈheɪdeɪ/
shortage (n) /ˈʃɔː(r)tɪdʒ/
restriction (n) /rɪˈstrɪkʃ(ə)n/
pollutant (n) /pəˈluːt(ə)nt/
regulation (n) /ˌreɡjʊˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
gas guzzler (n) /ˈɡæs ˌɡʌzlə(r)/
gas pump (n) /ˈɡæs ˌpʌmp/
pass the law /pɑːs/
wane (v) /weɪn/
swallow up smth (phrasal verb)
phase out of smth (phrasal verb)
immense (adj) /ɪˈmens/
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освобожденный от чего-либо
exempt from smth (adj) /ɪɡˈzempt/
Ex.7 Read the text. Give the title to each part. Fill in gaps 1-4 with the
following word combinations:
a/Air pollution
b/Energy crisis
c/Imports d/Safety concerns
From excess to efficiency 1
American cars reached their heyday in the late 1950s and 1960s. Having
swallowed up smaller competitors, the Big Three automakers – General Motors,
Ford, and Chrysler – tried to outdo one another with annual model changes and
bigger, fancier, more powerful cars. Design excess reached a pinnacle in the late
fifties, when manufactures embellished their cars with huge tail fins and outlandish
amounts of decorative chrome. That era produced classic, sporty models that are
still prized by collectors – iconic cars such as Ford Mustang and Pontiac GTO.
However, the next two decades brought a dramatic shift in the American auto
market. The gigantic gas guzzlers gave way to smaller, safer, cleaner, more fuelefficient cars, many of them imported from other countries, especially Japan.
Influences that brought about these changes in car design include:
1/……….. In the 1960s, Americans were becoming more concerned with
automotive safety. In 1965, consumer activist Ralph Nader published a blockbuster
book, Unsafe at any Speed, which made the issue front-page news. Nader accused
Detroit automakers of putting style ahead of safety and pointed a finger at some of
the unsafest models, such as the Chevy Corvair.
Faced new federal regulations, manufactures responded by building more crashresistant cars equipped with safety devices such as belts, air bags, and anti-lock
brakes.
2/……….. In 1966, motor vehicles accounted for more than 60 percent of
atmospheric pollutants nationwide. With Los Angeles ranked the smog capital of
the nation, California became the first state to establish emission standards for new
cars. In 1963 and 1970, Congress passed clean-air laws that established federal
controls on vehicle emissions.
Although the auto industry fought the regulations, within the next two decades, all
new cars were equipped with features such as fuel injection, catalytic converters,
and computerized systems that dramatically reduced emissions. Lead, a major
environmental pollutant, was phased out of gasoline.
3/………….In 1970, an OPEC oil embargo led to gasoline shortages, long waits
at the gas pumps, and restrictions on when drivers could refuel. Congress
Mcintosh P. Cars, cars, cars//English teaching forum. - 2013. -V.51. №2.
- P. 44-46
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mandated more fuel-efficient cars, and consumers, shocked by the shortages and
rising gas prices, demanded smaller, more economical models.
4/……….Detroit, heavily invested in its gas guzzlers could not respond readily to
new consumer demands. Americans turned to small, inexpensive, fuel-efficient
imports. In 1980, Japanese cars accounted for 20 percent of all new cars sold in the
United States. American automakers would never again dominate the market as
they had for much of the 20th century.
Cars in the 21st century
Cars today whether domestic or imported, are safer, cleaner, and smaller than
those of 40 or 50 years ago. A 1960s-era car looks immense to a “full-size”
modern model. Still, the pendulum swings. Americans’ love of roomy cars led to a
boom in sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and minivans in the late 1990s and early
2000s. Classified as light trucks, they are exempt from the fuel economy standards
imposed on cars.
Steadily rising gas prices have caused a shift again. Demand increased for
crossovers, SUV-style vehicles on car platforms, which get better mileage and
which ride and handle more like a car. In 2006, crossovers accounted for more than
half of all SUV sales, and their popularity shows no sign of waning. Economyminded consumers are also turning to hybrid cars – high-mileage vehicles that
combine an ordinary gasoline engine with an electric battery-powered motor.
Large or small, SUV or sedan, the car is and will likely remain an enduring part
of American culture.
Ex.8 Fill in the table using the information from the text.
Car design innovations in the 1950s1960s
Car design innovations in the 1960s1970s
Car design innovations in the 1990s and
early 2000s
Car design innovations nowadays
Ex.9 Work in pairs. Discuss the facts in the text you find most interesting. You
may use the following word combinations: to my mind; from my point of view; I
think; I consider; on the one hand… on the other hand.
Ex.10 Decide which statements are true.
1/In the 1970s manufactures embellished their cars with huge tail fins and
outlandish amounts of decorative chrome.
2/ In 1966, motor vehicles accounted for more than 60 percent of atmospheric
pollutants nationwide.
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3/ In 1980, Japanese cars accounted for 50 percent of all new cars sold in the
United States.
4/ Cars today whether domestic or imported, are safer, cleaner, and smaller than
those of 40 or 50 years ago.
5/Americans’ love of roomy cars led to a boom in hybrid cars.
6/ Nowadays economy-minded consumers are also turning to gas guzzlers.
Ex.11 Paraphrase the underlined parts of the following sentences. *
1/ The Big Three automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler – tried to
outdo one another with annual model changes.
2/ That era produced classic, sporty models that are still prized by collectors.
3/ Steadily rising gas prices have caused a shift again.
4/ In the 1960s, Americans were becoming more concerned with automotive
safety.
5/ Nader accused Detroit automakers of putting style ahead of safety.
6/In 2006, crossovers accounted for more than half of all SUV sales, and their
popularity shows no sign of waning.
Ex.12 Answer the questions.
1/What factors brought about dramatic changes in American car design in
the1960s?
2/What did an OPEC oil embargo lead to in the 1970s?
3/Why were sport utility vehicles so popular in the USA in the late 1990s?
4/What are the main advantages of hybrid cars?
5/ What features will the car of the future have?
6/ There is a billion of cars in the world today. What do you think of that?
7/ How many countries have you visited and which is your favourite country apart
from your own? Explain why?
8/ Which is the longest journey you’ve ever made? How did you travel? What
experiences are the most memorable?
Ex.13 Make up sentences using the following word combinations.
Pay attention to the direct word order. E.g. Car manufacturers were becoming
more concerned with automotive safety in the 1970s.
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bring about changes, outdo one another, respond to new consumer demands,
impose emission standards, account for 20 percent of all new cars, pass clean-air
laws, fuel-efficient cars, be concerned with automotive safety, reduce emissions,
be equipped with safety devices, atmospheric pollutants
Ex.14 Put parts a/- l/ of the dialogue in the correct order. The first one has
been done for you. Role-play the dialogue. Make up your own dialogues.
a/ I’m glad to meet you, Mr. Smith. Let me introduce myself. My name is Tom
Brandon. I’m a reporter working for “Cars today” magazine. Could I ask you a
few questions about the new car make introduced by your company at the Car
Exhibition?
b/Does it mean that it saves the energy?
c/ Well, nowadays all automakers are trying to outdo one another producing
high-mileage vehicles that combine an ordinary gasoline engine with an electric
battery-powered motor. What are the advantages of your model?
d/Definitely. The Volt uses up to 15 % less energy due to the new method.
e/Yes, of course. General Motors is one of the leaders in car manufacturing. Today
our company is responding to consumer demands producing fuel-efficient models.
At the exhibition we are displaying the Chevy Volt. The Volt will run on electricity
for about 60 kilometers. After that a gasoline engine will power the car. It will be
able to run for about 560 kilometers on one charge and a tank of gasoline.
f/That’s great! And how much does it cost?
g/GM has used a different approach from most hybrid carmakers. In the Volt, an
electric motor always runs the car. Gasoline is used to produce electricity.
h/But I’m sure the model will be highly prized by our customers.
i/I wish you good luck. And thank you for the interview.
j/It’s quite expensive.
k/Good bye, Mr. Brandon.
l/The Volt costs about 40.000 dollars.
Ex.15 Comment on the following statement. *
Use the following phrases:
As far as I know…As far as I remember… I’m (not) sure… I suppose…
It’s clear that… I’m convinced that…I think that…
It is obvious that hybrid vehicles will replace conventional cars in the future.
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Еx.16 Topical questions
1/Why do people love cars so much? Is it because they are convenient means of
transport – or do they have other qualities? Do a survey in your class to find out.
2/How is it possible to use cars less? (E.g. Provide good public transport,
expensive parking, cutting down the need for journeys etc)
3/What should people do to reduce the environmental impact of cars? (E.g. Use
public transport, produce fewer cars, impose strict emission standards, replace
conventional cars by electric and hybrid ones etc)
4/Who should find solutions to these problems – governments or individuals?
Would you rather join a political campaign or do smth about it yourself?
Ex.17 Speak on the topics. Take advantage of the words in brackets.
1/ A car of the future. (Powerful, fuel-efficient, hybrid, electric, equipped with
safety devices, crashed-resistant, with improved design, high mileage, with
reduced emission, a battery-powered motor etc)
2/The advantages and disadvantages of traveling by car/by train. (a means of
transport, fast, safe, environmentally-friendly, convenient, reliable, equipped with,
consuming a lot of fuel/electricity, bringing about changes in environment, causing
traffic jams/car accidents/collisions/long waits at the petrol station etc)
Part 2 – Listening comprehension.
Ex.1 Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions.
1/ What are the advantages of riding a bike instead of driving a car?
2/ What are the disadvantages of riding a bike in a town or city?
3/ When was the last time you rode a bike? Where did you go?
Ex.2 Read the words to the text.
заряжать повторно
длиться, хватать (заряда батареи)
велодорожка (зд)
усилие
recharge (v)
last for (v)
trail (n)
effort (n)
Ex.3 Listen to the text and say what you learnt about an electric bike.
Ex.4 Decide which statements are true.
1/ It may look like any other bike, but the clue is in the sound.
2/What you can hear is an internal combustion engine.
3/ The bikes can get up to 60 miles an hour.
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4/ In Britain at the moment, most people know a lot about electric bikes.
5/ You can recharge a bike only at the charging station.
Ex.5 Listen to the text and answer the following questions.
1/What is the speed of the electric bike?
2/ What are the advantages of it?
3/ Where can you hire an electric bike?
4/ How long does the battery last?
5/ Why is the trail for bikes traffic free?
6/Do you go cycling in Moscow?
7/Have you ever hired a bike?
8/ What is the fee?
9/Do you know where bike trails in Moscow are?
10/Is cycling convenient in Moscow?
Ex.6 Look at the following table. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages
of different types of bikes. *
designed for high-speed travel,
have narrow tires, a short wheelbase, a
lightweight frame,
can’t be ridden on unpaved surfaces.
used for long distances,
have a smoother ride, the lower gears
than the average bike.
equipped to handle gravel roads,
have better breaking system, shockabsorbing qualities, durable.
combine
comfort,
speed
and
durability,
are good for short trips on paved
roads,
have narrower tires than mountain
bikes,
are not as fast as road bikes.
Road bikes
Touring bikes
Mountain bikes
Hybrids
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Script
Electric bikes available for hire in England
An unusual bicycle hire scheme is hoping to attract more visitors to England's
Peak District.
Visitors and people who live in this hilly area of central and northern England can
now hire electric bikes to explore the countryside. Jenny Hill reports:
It may look like any other bike, but the clue is in the sound. What you can hear is a
battery powered motor that takes away all the effort.
The bikes can get up to 15 miles an hour. What was once a mountain is suddenly a
molehill.
Steve Garadis:
In Britain at the moment, most people don't really know what an electric bike is
and what it can do. It's just like normal cycling, but with an extra boost that pushes
you up the hills. It means you don't have to worry about headwinds. You don't get
horribly sweaty.
Reporter:
At this cafe, you can hire the bikes, you can also recharge them. The batteries last
for about 40 miles. Other local businesses offer the same service.
What you won't find here are cars. In fact, they've just opened up old railway
tunnels to keep this trail traffic free.
Jenny Hill, BBC NEWS
References
1. Mcintosh P. Cars, cars, cars//English teaching forum. - 2013. -V.51. №2.
- P. 44-46
2. Hill J. Electric bikes available for hire in England [Электронный ресурс] //
bbc.co.uk: сайт новостей Би-би-си. URL
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2
011/05/110530_witn_electric_bike_page.shtml (дата обращения – 10.06.2015)
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