Cars and Driving

1. Cars and Driving

2. Related Vocabulary • Manual • Automatic • Drunk driving • Fine • Speed limit • Learners licence • Restricted licence • Full license • Honk • Horn • GPS (Global Position System) • Seat belts • Hybrid cars • Rush hour • Car pooling

3. With a partner answer the following questions: • How old were you when you first learned to drive? • Was there anything difficult about learning to drive? • Who taught you to drive? • How long did it take you to learn to drive? • Can you drive a manual car? • Do you have a car? What kind is it? (manual or automatic) • Which do you like to drive best? A manual or an automatic?

4. Driving Phrases • To floor it “My friends told me to floor it so I could pass the slow truck ahead.” • To cruise “During the summer my friends and I like to cruise in my friend’s old Mustang.” • Slam on the brakes “The bus driver had to slam on the brakes when the boy crossed the street without looking.”

5. More Driving Phrases • To rev the engine “My neighbour was revving his engine all night and it kept me up.” • Hang a left/right “Hang a right at the next light and then hang a left onto Red Oaks.” • Tailgate “I get mad when someone tailgates me. I wish they’d go around me.”

6. More Driving Phrases • Get a flat “On the way home from school we got a flat and had to pull over. Luckily we had a spare tire.” • Road rage “There was an episode of road rage that occurred downtown last night. A man jumped out of his car and struck another driver after he was cut off.” • Run a light • “I got a ticket for running a light in Jarrell, TX.

7. Driving Phrases • Look at the following pictures. Describe them to your partner using the phrases we have just learnt.

9. Driving Phrases • Use the driving phrases to describe to your partner a time you had to: To floor it, to cruise, to slam on the brakes, to rev the engine, hang a left/right, tailgate, get a flat, road rage, run a light. • If you do not know how to drive you can talk about a situation when you saw one of the previous phrases mentioned occurred.

10. Can you guess what these photos are about? Describe each one to your partner.

14. Jokes About Women Drivers • Are there any jokes about women drivers in China? What are they? • According to insurance statistics women are better driver than men. • Do you agree?

18. The Dangers of Driving • Have you ever been in a car accident? • Have you ever been pulled over by the police? • What happened? • What are the speed limits in your country? • On what occasions do you honk your car horn? • Is it acceptable to honk in your country? • What are the laws about seat belts in your country?

19. Drunk Driving • Is drunk driving a problem in your country? • What kind of laws does your country have about drunk driving? • What is the penalty for drunk driving in your country? • Have you ever been (or) do you know anyone who has been in an accident related to drunk driving?

20. Accident Role Play • You were driving home from work and witnessed a traffic accident. You are calling 911 to report the accident and call for an ambulance. The operator will ask questions to get the following information:

21. Breaking Down • Is road side assistance common in your country? • Can you change a flat tire? • Do you know anything about fixing a car? • Who taught you to drive? • Was it pleasant or unpleasant? • Have you ever broken down and been stuck on the side of the road? Who helped you?

22. Cars of the Future • You are living in the year 2050. It is your task to create the design for a modern car that is both environmentally friendly and modern. With a partner describe this car then present your ideas to the class.

23. Hybrid Cars • Do you think that there is a relation between global warming and cars? • Have you ever seen a "hybrid" car? • What do you know about "hybrid" cars? • Do you really think that car manufacturers are interested in global warming?

24. various car brands. A Few Car Brands

25. Car Brands • Watch the video clip (15:20). • What is your dream car? What brand is it? What does it look like? Describe it to your partner. • Does the type of car a person drives tell us about the person who drives it? • What can we tell or imagine about a person by looking at the car they drive?

26. Final Speaking Topics • Have you ever bribed a policeman in your country after he pulled you over? • Is it common for traffic cops to accept bribes? • How are the traffic laws in your country? • Are they strict or lax? • Do most people follow the rules of the road?

27. Final Speaking Topics • What should be done in order to prevent traffic congestion in your city? • Is there any kind of rules to avoid traffic congestions? • How do you feel about spending time in your car during rush hour? • Do you think cars should be banned from city centres?

28. Final Speaking Topics • What are the advantages/disadvantages of buying a second-hand car? • Do you wash your car yourself or do you have it washed? • How often do you need to get your car repaired? • On what occasions do you honk your car horn? • Is it acceptable to honk in your country? • Do you like to drive or be driven? Why? • Is it easy to find parking? • Is parking expensive?