English Lesson on World Car-Free Day

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THE LESSON ON WORLD CAR-FREE DAY

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on World Car-Free Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

World Car-Free Day is a very important holiday on the environmental calendar. Every September 22, governments, green groups and ordinary citizens highlight the damage cars are doing to the Earth. The day is a reminder that we do not need to rely so much on cars. Those who take part hope others will realize we do not have to accept our car-dominated society. Carlos Pardo from Colombia’s Sustainable Urban Transport Project summed things up, saying: "World Car-Free Day is not only a celebration of fun ways to get around the city, but a demonstration of what is possible: unclogged streets, clean air, and city traffic participants with their usual stress levels turned down drastically."

World Car-Free Day aims to take a sizeable number of cars off the streets for all or part of a day. This will give people a chance to see what their town might look like with a lot fewer cars. The idea for this day came in October 1994 at the International Accessible Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain. The first national campaign was held in Britain three years later. The European Union adopted the idea in 2000. Today, as many as 100 million people in over 1,500 cities worldwide celebrate this day. There are many critics of the day. They say it is a one-day gimmick and does not make people give up their cars for the rest of the year. They say what is needed is a move towards a more sustainable city transportation system.

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.

a very important holiday on the

a.

much on cars

2

ordinary

b.

is possible

3.

we do not need to rely so

c.

environmental calendar

4.

summed

d.

levels

5.

a demonstration of what

e.

citizens

6.

stress

f.

things up

Paragraph 2

1.

a sizeable

a.

day gimmick

2

for all or part

b.

transportation system

3.

a lot

c.

campaign

4.

national

d.

number

5.

They say it is a one-

e.

of a day

6.

a more sustainable city

f.

fewer cars

LISTENING GAP FILL

World Car-Free Day is _____________________ on the environmental calendar. Every September 22, governments, green groups and ordinary citizens highlight _____________________ doing to the Earth. The day is a reminder that we do not need to rely so much on cars. Those who _____________________ will realize we do not have to accept our car-dominated society. Carlos Pardo from Colombia’s Sustainable Urban Transport Project _____________________, saying: "World Car-Free Day is not only a celebration of fun ways to get around the city, but a demonstration _____________________: unclogged streets, clean air, and city traffic participants with their _______________________ down drastically."

World Car-Free Day aims _____________________ number of cars off the streets for all or part of a day. This will give people a chance to see what their town _____________________ a lot fewer cars. The idea for this day came in October 1994 at the International Accessible Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain. The first _____________________ held in Britain three years later. The European Union _____________________ 2000. Today, as many as 100 million people in over 1,500 cities worldwide celebrate this day. There are many critics of the day. They say it _____________________ and does not make people give up their cars for the rest of the year. They say what is needed is a _____________________ sustainable city transportation system.

WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

World Car-Free Day is a very important holiday on the environmental ____________. Every September 22, governments, green groups and ordinary citizens highlight the ____________ cars are doing to the Earth. The day is a reminder that we do not need to ____________ so much on cars. Those who take part hope others will ____________ we do not have to accept our car-dominated society. Carlos Pardo from Colombia’s Sustainable Urban Transport Project ____________ things up, saying: "World Car-Free Day is not only a celebration of ____________ ways to get around the city, but a demonstration of what is possible: ____________ streets, clean air, and city traffic participants with their usual stress ____________ turned down drastically."

 

 

 

realize
summed
unclogged
calendar
levels
damage
rely
fun

World Car-Free Day aims to take a ____________ number of cars off the streets for all or part of a day. This will give people a ____________ to see what their town might look like with a lot ____________ cars. The idea for this day came in October 1994 at the International Accessible Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain. The first national ____________ was held in Britain three years later. The European Union ____________ the idea in 2000. Today, as many as 100 million people in over 1,500 cities worldwide celebrate this day. There are many ____________ of the day. They say it is a one-day gimmick and does not make people ____________ up their cars for the rest of the year. They say what is needed is a ____________ towards a more sustainable city transportation system.

 

 

critics
 
chance
campaign
move
sizeable
adopted
give
fewer

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.

World Car-Free Day is a very important holiday on the environmental calendar. Every September 22, governments, green / greenish groups and ordinary citizen / citizens highlight the damage cars are doing to the Earth. The day is a reminder that we do not need to rely / reliable so much on cars. Those who take part hopefully / hope others will realize we do not have to accept our car-dominated society. Carlos Pardo from Colombia’s Sustainable Urban Transport Project added / summed things up, saying: "World Car-Free Day is not only a celebration of fun ways to get around the city, but / and a demonstration of what is probable / possible: unclogged streets, clean air, and city traffic participants with their usual stress levels turned down drastic / drastically."

World Car-Free Day aims to take a sizes / sizeable number of cars off the streets for all or parts / part of a day. This will give people a chance to see what there / their town might look like with a lot fewer cars. The idea for this day came in October 1994 at the International Accessible Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain. The first national campaign was holding / held in Britain three years later. The European Union adopted the idea in 2000. Today, as many / much as 100 million people in over 1,500 cities worldwide celebrate this day. There are many criticisms/ critics of the day. They say it is a one-day gimmick and does not make people give up their cars for the relax / rest of the year. They say what is needed is a move / moved towards a more sustainable city transportation system.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

World Car-Free Day is a very important holiday (1) ____ the environmental calendar. Every September 22, governments, (2) ____ groups and ordinary citizens highlight the damage cars are doing to the Earth. The day is a reminder that we do not need to (3) ____ so much on cars. Those who take part hope others will realize we do not have to (4) ____ our car-dominated society. Carlos Pardo from Colombia’s Sustainable Urban Transport Project (5) ____ things up, saying: "World Car-Free Day is not only a celebration of fun ways to get around the city, but a demonstration of what is (6) ____: unclogged streets, clean air, and city traffic participants with their usual stress levels turned down drastically."

World Car-Free Day aims to take a (7) ____ number of cars off the streets for all or part of a day. This will give people a chance to see what their town might (8) ____ like with a lot fewer cars. The idea for this day came in October 1994 at the International Accessible Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain. The first national (9) ____ was held in Britain three years later. The European Union adopted the idea in 2000. Today, as many as 100 million people in over 1,500 cities (10) ____ celebrate this day. There are many critics of the day. They say it is a one-day gimmick and does not (11) ____ people give up their cars for the rest of the year. They say what is needed is a (12) ____ towards a more sustainable city transportation system.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.

(a)

in

(b)

at

(c)

on

(d)

by

2.

(a)

green

(b)

greenish

(c)

greens

(d)

greeny

3.

(a)

reliable

(b)

rely

(c)

reliance

(d)

relies

4.

(a)

except

(b)

aspect

(c)

accept

(d)

impact

5.

(a)

sums

(b)

summing

(c)

summation

(d)

summed

6.

(a)

possible

(b)

probable

(c)

definite

(d)

possibility

7.

(a)

sizeable

(b)

size

(c)

sizes

(d)

sized

8.

(a)

see

(b)

look

(c)

view

(d)

stare

9.

(a)

campaigner

(b)

campaigns

(c)

campaign

(d)

campaigned

10.

(a)

worldly

(b)

worlds

(c)

world

(d)

worldwide

11.

(a)

do

(b)

be

(c)

take

(d)

make

12.

(a)

moves

(b)

move

(c)

movable

(d)

moved

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

the environmental aladecrn

2.

the amgdae cars are doing

3.

others will iareezl

4.

our car-dominated iycoset

5.

what is isbpoles

6.

stress levels udenrt down

Paragraph 2

7.

a sizeable mruebn of cars

8.

give people a aehcnc

9.

national cnaagimp

10.

The European Union odatedp the idea

11.

1,500 cities ediwrdwlo

12.

transportation ssymet

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

1  )

World Car-Free Day is a very important holiday on the environmental calendar. Every September 22, governments,

(    )

air, and city traffic participants with their usual stress levels turned down drastically."

(    )

World Car-Free Day aims to take a sizeable number of cars off the streets for all or part

(    )

Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain. The first national campaign was held in Britain three years later. The European

(    )

give up their cars for the rest of the year. They say what is needed is a move towards a more sustainable city transportation system.

(    )

of a day. This will give people a chance to see what their town might look like with a lot fewer

(    )

worldwide celebrate this day. There are many critics of the day. They say it is a one-day gimmick and does not make people

(    )

that we do not need to rely so much on cars. Those who take part hope others will realize we do not have to accept

(    )

Union adopted the idea in 2000. Today, as many as 100 million people in over 1,500 cities

(    )

up, saying: "World Car-Free Day is not only a celebration of fun ways to get

(    )

our car-dominated society. Carlos Pardo from Colombia’s Sustainable Urban Transport Project summed things

(    )

around the city, but a demonstration of what is possible: unclogged streets, clean

(    )

cars. The idea for this day came in October 1994 at the International Accessible

(    )

green groups and ordinary citizens highlight the damage cars are doing to the Earth. The day is a reminder

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

damage     doing     Earth     the     are     the     Highlight     cars     to.    

2.

rely     so     much     on     cars     We     do     not     need     to.    

3.

to     ways     Fun     city     the     around     get.    

4.

demonstration     what     possible     A     of     is.    

5.

levels     down     stress     turned     drastically     Usual.    

6.

streets     a     of     the     Take     number     off     sizeable     cars.    

7.

first     in     national     Britain     campaign     was     The     held.    

8.

,     worldwide     day     1,500     cities     this     Over     celebrate.    

9.

up     cars     Make     give     their     people.    

10.

more     city     system     A     sustainable     transportation.    

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.

________________________________________________________

THE WORLD CAR-FREE DAY SURVEY

Write five questions about World Car-Free Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about World Car-Free Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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 more information about World Car-Free Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about World Car-Free Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. POSTER: Make your own poster about World Car-Free Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

ANSWERS

Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.


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