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40+ activities
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* 26-page lesson
    (40 exercises)

 

* 2-page MINI lesson
    (PDF)

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA male)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation -
    (10 sentences)

* Speed Reading
    (100 - 300 wpm)

* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

* No spaces

* Text Jumble

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* No letters

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

China opens world's longest high-speed railway (27th December, 2012)

The longest railway line in the world opened on Wednesday. The line joins China's capital Beijing with the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. The line is 2,298 kilometers long and stretches across half of China. The first train left Beijing station at 9 a.m. and arrived in Guangzhou eight hours later. The super-fast train travels at an average speed of 300 kph and cuts the journey time from 20 hours to just eight. It stops at 35 different cities along its route. A total of 310 trains will run between the two cities each day. A one-way ticket for the journey costs US$138. China's government hopes the train will help the country's economy as business people can now travel across the country a lot quicker.


 

Chinese media say the bullet train service started on 26 December to commemorate the birth of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The train is also a sign of China's plan to become the world's leader in high-speed rail travel. It already has 8,600 km of high-speed railway track, which is more than any other country in the world. It plans to extend this to 16,000 km by 2015 and 50,000 km by 2020. China Ministry of Railways spokesman Zhou Li told reporters: "The opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line shows China's high-speed railway network has started to take shape." A passenger who travelled on the first train explained how proud she was of the train, saying: "It's amazing China has developed so quickly".

Sources:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-12/26/c_132063630.htm
http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-12/26/content_16055421.htm


 
 

WARM-UPS


 

1. TRAINS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about trains. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

longest / railway / capital / super-fast / journey time / different cities / one-way ticket / media / bullet train / world leader / network / reporters / proud / amazing / quickly

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

3. SPEED: Do you want faster speeds? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

 

Yes / No

How much faster/slower?

Why?

English listening

 

 

 

Trains

 

 

 

Shop cashiers

 

 

 

Drying hair

 

 

 

Internet

 

 

 

Cars

 

 

 

4. TRAIN: Students A strongly believe trains are better than planes; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. TRANSPORT: Which is best? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • train
  • plane
  • bicycle
  • bus
  • coach
  • ferry
  • cruise ship
  • car

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



 

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.

The world's longest high-speed railway starts and ends in Shanghai.

T / F

b.

The first train to run on the line left in the evening.

T / F

c.

The journey between Beijing and Guangzhou is now 12 hours faster.

T / F

d.

A ticket on the train costs less than $140.

T / F

e.

The train service started on the birthday of a former Chinese leader.

T / F

f.

China already has over 10,000km of high-speed railway track.

T / F

g.

China hopes to have 50,000km of high-speed track in the next decade.

T / F

h.

A passenger said the train was nothing special for China.

T / F

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

1.

joins

a.

departed

2.

stretches

b.

begun

3.

left

c.

extends

4.

cuts

d.

faster

5.

quicker

e.

links

6.

commemorate

f.

pleased

7.

former

g.

celebrate

8.

started

h.

reduces

9.

proud

i.

progressed

10.

developed

j.

ex-

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

1.

stretches across

a.

along its route

2.

cuts the journey time from

b.

started to take shape

3.

It stops at 35 different cities

c.

a lot quicker

4.

the train will help

d.

train service

5.

travel across the country

e.

half of China

6.

the bullet

f.

developed so quickly

7.

commemorate the birth of former Chinese

g.

the country's economy

8.

It plans to extend this

h.

leader Mao Zedong

9.

China's high-speed railway network has

i.

20 hours to just eight

10.

It's amazing China has

j.

to 16,000 km

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

The longest railway line in the world (1) ____________ on Wednesday. The line joins China's capital Beijing with the (2) ____________ Chinese city of Guangzhou. The line is 2,298 kilometers long and (3) ____________ across half of China. The first train left Beijing station at 9 a.m. and (4) ____________ in Guangzhou eight hours later. The super-fast train travels at an  (5) ____________ speed of 300 kph and cuts the journey time from 20 hours to just eight. It stops at 35 different cities along its (6) ____________. A total of 310 trains will run between the two cities each day. A one-way ticket for the (7) ____________ costs US$138. China's government hopes the train will help the country's economy as business people can now travel across the country a lot (8) ____________.

 

 

 

average
quicker
southern
route
stretches
opened
journey
arrived

Chinese media say the bullet train service started on 26 December to commemorate the birth of (9) ____________ Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The train is also a sign of China's plan to become the world's (10) ____________ in high-speed rail travel. It already has 8,600 km of high-speed railway (11) ____________, which is more than any other country in the world. It plans to (12) ____________ this to 16,000 km by 2015 and 50,000 km by 2020. China Ministry of Railways spokesman Zhou Li told reporters: "The (13) ____________ of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line shows China's high-speed railway network has started to take (14) ____________." A passenger who travelled on the first train explained how (15) ____________ she was of the train, saying: "It's amazing China has (16) ____________ so quickly".

 

 

opening
proud
track
former
developed
extend
leader
shape


 
 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

The ______ China's capital Beijing with the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

 

a.  line in joins
b.  line joints
c.  line enjoys
d.  line joins

2)

stretches ______ China.

 

a.  a cross over half of
b.  across halves of
c.  across half of
d.  across half for

3)

The super-fast train travels ______ 300 kph

 

a.  at the average speed of
b.  at an over age speed of
c.  at an average speed of
d.  as an average speed of

4)

It stops at 35 different ______.

 

a.  cities along its route
b.  cities a longer of its route
c.  city is along its route
d.  cities along it is a route

5)

business people can now travel across ______

 

a.  the country a lot quicker
b.  China a lot quicker
c.  the countries a lot quicker
d.  the country a lot more quickly

6)

commemorate ______ Chinese leader Mao Zedong

 

a.  the birth of farmer
b.  the birth for former
c.  the birthday of former
d.  the birth of former

7)

The train is also a sign of China's plan to become ______-speed rail travel.

 

a.  the world's reader in high
b.  the world's lead are in high
c.  the world's leader in high
d.  the world's leading high

8)

It plans to extend this ______

 

a.  to 16,000 km by 2050
b.  to 60,000 km by 2015
c.  two 16,000 km by 2015
d.  to 16,000 km by 2015

9)

China's high-speed railway network has ______

 

a.  started to take shape
b.  start it to take shape
c.  started to take a shape
d.  started to take sharp

10)

A passenger who travelled on the first train ______ she was

 

a.  explained what proud
b.  explained who proud
c.  explained how proud
d.  explained why proud

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The longest railway line in the world opened on Wednesday. (1) __________ China's capital Beijing with the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. The line is 2,298 kilometers long and stretches (2) __________________ China. The first train left Beijing station at 9 a.m. and arrived in Guangzhou eight hours later. The super-fast train travels (3) __________________ of 300 kph and cuts the journey time from 20 hours to just eight. It stops at 35 different cities (4) __________________. A total of 310 trains will run between the two cities each day. A (5) __________________ the journey costs US$138. China's government hopes the train will help the country's economy as business people (6) __________________ the country a lot quicker.

Chinese media say the bullet train service started on 26 December to commemorate (7) __________________ Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The train is also a sign of China's plan to become the world's leader in high-speed rail travel. It already (8) __________________ high-speed railway track, which is more than any other country in the world. It plans to extend this (9) __________________ and 50,000 km by 2020. China Ministry of Railways spokesman Zhou Li told reporters: "The opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line shows China's high-(10) __________________ has (11) __________________." A passenger who travelled on the first train explained how proud she was of the train, saying: "It's amazing China has (12) __________________".


 
 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

Which two cities does the new high-speed line join?

2.

How long is the railway line?

3.

How long does the journey take?

4.

How much faster is the high-speed journey?

5.

Who does the government hope the train will help?

6.

Which ex-leader's birthday does the railway's opening celebrate?

7.

How much high-speed railway track does China currently have?

8.

How much track does China plan to have in 2020?

9.

What did Zhou Li say about China's high-speed railway network?

10.

What feeling did a passenger have for the train?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

On what day did the railway open?

6.

On whose birthday did the first train run?

 

a) Tuesday
b) Wednesday
c) Thursday
d) Friday

 

a) Jiang Zemin
b) Deng Xiaoping
c) Mao Zedong
d) Hu Jintao

2.

How long is the line?

7.

How much high-speed railway track does China have?

 

a) 2,928 kilometers
b) 22,298 kilometers
c) 2,228 kilometers
d) 2,298 kilometers

 

a) 16,800 km
b) 6,800 km
c) 16,000 km
d) 8,600 km

3.

What time did the train leave Beijing?

8.

By when does China plan to have 50,000 km of high-speed railway track?

 

a) 9 a.m.
b) 9.09 a.m.
c) 9 p.m.
d) 9.09 p.m.

 

a) 2020
b) 2025
c) 2030
d) 2050

4.

How many different cities does the train stop at?

9.

Who is Zhou Li?

 

a) 25
b) 30
c) 35
d) 40

 

a) a worker at China's Ministry of
    Railways
b) a journalist
c) the first passenger on the train
d) a driver of the high-speed trains

5.

How much is a one-way ticket?

10.

What feeling did a passenger have?

 

a) 138 yuan
b) $138
c) $183
d) 183 yuan

 

a) ecstasy
b) pride
c) boredom
d) envy

SUPERLATIVE

The ~est  or  the most …..

 

What ~est / most…… doI want?

Why?

Internet

 

 

My hobby

 

 

Studying

 

 

My country

 

 

The world

 

 

My personal life

 

 

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

high

speed

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • capital
  • half
  • 9
  • 20
  • 310
  • 138
  • birth
  • sign
  • track
  • 2015
  • shows
  • proud

TRAINS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about trains 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.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

TRAINS DISCUSSION

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

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'train'?

c)

Do you like travelling by train?

d)

Would you like to go on China's new high-speed train?

e)

What are the trains like in your country?

f)

Is train the best way to travel?

g)

Why don't more countries build high-speed trains?

h)

What would you do on a train for eight hours?

i)

Which country do you think has the best railway network?

j)

Would you worry about being on a train travelling at 300 kph?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRAINS DISCUSSION

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Why are high-speed trains called "bullet" trains?

c)

Do you think China will become world leader in high-speed rail travel?

d)

What do you think of China's plans?

e)

What would it be like to be a train driver?

f)

Have you met any strange people on a train?

g)

How could trains be made better?

h)

What will trains of the future be like?

i)

Are you proud of the railway network in your country?

j)

What questions would you like to ask a driver of fast China's trains?

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.

________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

The longest railway line in the world opened on Wednesday. The (1) ____ China's capital Beijing with the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. The line is 2,298 kilometers long and (2) ____ across half of China. The first train left Beijing station at 9 a.m. and (3) ____ in Guangzhou eight hours later. The super-fast train travels at an average speed of 300 kph and (4) ____ the journey time from 20 hours to just eight. It stops at 35 different cities along its route. A total of 310 trains will run between the two cities each day. A one-way ticket for the (5) ____ costs US$138. China's government hopes the train will help the country's economy (6) ____ business people can now travel across the country a lot quicker.

Chinese media say the (7) ____ train service started on 26 December to commemorate the birth of (8) ____ Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The train is also a sign of China's plan to become the world's leader in high-speed rail travel. It already has 8,600 km of high-speed railway (9) ____, which is more than any other country in the world. It plans to (10) ____ this to 16,000 km by 2015 and 50,000 km by 2020. China Ministry of Railways spokesman Zhou Li told reporters: "The opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line shows China's high-speed railway network has started to (11) ____ shape." A passenger who travelled on the first train explained how (12) ____ she was of the train, saying: "It's amazing China has developed so quickly".

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

joins

(b)

joining

(c)

joint

(d)

join

2.

(a)

stretchers

(b)

stretching

(c)

stretches

(d)

stretch

3.

(a)

berthed

(b)

docked

(c)

landed

(d)

arrived

4.

(a)

buts

(b)

cuts

(c)

nuts

(d)

ruts

5.

(a)

flight

(b)

destination

(c)

travel

(d)

journey

6.

(a)

has

(b)

was

(c)

as

(d)

ease

7.

(a)

gun

(b)

bullet

(c)

cannon

(d)

rifle

8.

(a)

former

(b)

firmer

(c)

farmer

(d)

framer

9.

(a)

track

(b)

tack

(c)

tackles

(d)

tacky

10.

(a)

extension

(b)

extent

(c)

extend

(d)

extending

11.

(a)

create

(b)

give

(c)

do

(d)

take

12.

(a)

parade

(b)

proud

(c)

prude

(d)

prod

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

the uenrthos Chinese city of Guangzhou

2.

esthcetrs across half of China

3.

an avgraee speed of 300 kph

4.

the yrujneo time

5.

along its orute

6.

China's mnreoevgnt

Paragraph 2

7.

ulblte train

8.

tcmmoeaermo the birth of former Chinese leader

9.

It plans to xdntee this to 16,000 km

10.

China Ministry of Railways psoemsnka

11.

A negsapsre who travelled on the first train

12.

China has eledpovde so quickly

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

route. A total of 310 trains will run between the two cities each day. A one-way ticket for the

(    )

journey costs US$138. China's government hopes the train will help

(    )

leader in high-speed rail travel. It already has 8,600 km of high-speed railway track, which is more than any other country in the world. It plans to

(    )

extend this to 16,000 km by 2015 and 50,000 km by 2020. China Ministry of Railways spokesman Zhou Li told

(    )

how proud she was of the train, saying: "It's amazing China has developed so quickly".

(    )

Chinese city of Guangzhou. The line is 2,298 kilometers long and stretches across half of China. The first train

(    )

reporters: "The opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line shows China's high-speed railway network has

(    )

Chinese media say the bullet train service started on 26 December to commemorate

(    )

average speed of 300 kph and cuts the journey time from 20 hours to just eight. It stops at 35 different cities along its

(    )

started to take shape." A passenger who travelled on the first train explained

(    )

left Beijing station at 9 a.m. and arrived in Guangzhou eight hours later. The super-fast train travels at an

(    )

the birth of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The train is also a sign of China's plan to become the world's

1  )

The longest railway line in the world opened on Wednesday. The line joins China's capital Beijing with the southern

(    )

the country's economy as business people can now travel across the country a lot quicker.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

the   world   opened   on   Wednesday   The   longest   railway   line  in.

2.

travels   300kph   speed   at   fast   The   of  an  train  super-   average

3.

the     way     A     journey     ticket     one     US$138     costs     for.    

4.

economy     country's     the     help     will     train     The.    

5.

travel    across    the    country   a   lot   quicker   People    can     now.

6.

world's     the     become     to     plan     China's     leader.    

7.

to     to     km     16,000     extend     It     by      this     plans     2015.    

8.

high     has     -     started     speed     railway     China's     network.    

9.

train     travelled     on     A     the     passenger     first     who.    

10.

It's     quickly     so     developed     has     China     amazing.    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The longest railway line in the world opened on Wednesday. The line joints / joins China's capital Beijing with the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. The line is 2,298 kilometers long and stretching / stretches across half of China. The first train left Beijing station at 9 a.m. and arrived / arrival in Guangzhou eight hours later. The super-fast train travels at an overage / average speed of 300 kph and cuts the journey / journeys time from 20 hours to just eight. It stops / stopping at 35 different cities along its route / root. A total of 310 trains will run between the two cities each day. A one-way / one-weigh ticket for the journey costs US$138. China's government hopes the train will help the country's economic / economy as business people can now travel across the country a lot / loads quicker.

Chinese media say the bullet / bulletin train service started on 26 December to commemorate the birth / born of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The train is also a sigh / sign of China's plan to become the world's leader in high-speed rail travel. It already has 8,600 km of high-speed railway truck / track, which is more than any other country in the world. It plans / planning to extend / extension this to 16,000 km by 2015 and 50,000 km by 2020. China Ministry of Railways spokesman Zhou Li said / told reporters: "The opening / opened of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line shows China's high-speed railway network has started to take / do shape." A passenger who travelled on the first train explained how pride / proud she was of the train, saying: "It's amazing China has developed so quickly".

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_ l_ng_st r__lw_y l_n_ _n th_ w_rld _p_n_d _n W_dn_sd_y. Th_ l_n_ j__ns Ch_n_'s c_p_t_l B__j_ng w_th th_ s__th_rn Ch_n_s_ c_ty _f G__ngzh__. Th_ l_n_ _s 2,298 k_l_m_t_rs l_ng _nd str_tch_s _cr_ss h_lf _f Ch_n_. Th_ f_rst tr__n l_ft B__j_ng st_t__n _t 9 _.m. _nd _rr_v_d _n G__ngzh__ __ght h__rs l_t_r. Th_ s_p_r-f_st tr__n tr_v_ls _t _n _v_r_g_ sp__d _f 300 kph _nd c_ts th_ j__rn_y t_m_ fr_m 20 h__rs t_ j_st __ght. _t st_ps _t 35 d_ff_r_nt c_t__s _l_ng _ts r__t_. _ t_t_l _f 310 tr__ns w_ll r_n b_tw__n th_ tw_ c_t__s __ch d_y. _ _n_-w_y t_ck_t f_r th_ j__rn_y c_sts _S$138. Ch_n_'s g_v_rnm_nt h_p_s th_ tr__n w_ll h_lp th_ c__ntry's _c_n_my _s b_s_n_ss p__pl_ c_n n_w tr_v_l _cr_ss th_ c__ntry _ l_t q__ck_r.

Ch_n_s_ m_d__ s_y th_ b_ll_t tr__n s_rv_c_ st_rt_d _n 26 D_c_mb_r t_ c_mm_m_r_t_ th_ b_rth _f f_rm_r Ch_n_s_ l__d_r M__ Z_d_ng. Th_ tr__n _s _ls_ _ s_gn _f Ch_n_'s pl_n t_ b_c_m_ th_ w_rld's l__d_r _n h_gh-sp__d r__l tr_v_l. _t _lr__dy h_s 8,600 km _f h_gh-sp__d r__lw_y tr_ck, wh_ch _s m_r_ th_n _ny _th_r c__ntry _n th_ w_rld. _t pl_ns t_ _xt_nd th_s t_ 16,000 km by 2015 _nd 50,000 km by 2020. Ch_n_ M_n_stry _f R__lw_ys sp_k_sm_n Zh__ L_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "Th_ _p_n_ng _f th_ B__j_ng-G__ngzh__ h_gh-sp__d l_n_ sh_ws Ch_n_'s h_gh-sp__d r__lw_y n_tw_rk h_s st_rt_d t_ t_k_ sh_p_." _ p_ss_ng_r wh_ tr_v_ll_d _n th_ f_rst tr__n _xpl__n_d h_w pr__d sh_ w_s _f th_ tr__n, s_y_ng: "_t's _m_z_ng Ch_n_ h_s d_v_l_p_d s_ q__ckly".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the longest railway line in the world opened on wednesday the line joins china's capital beijing with the southern chinese city of guangzhou the line is 2298 kilometers long and stretches across half of china the first train left beijing station at 9 am and arrived in guangzhou eight hours later the super-fast train travels at an average speed of 300 kph and cuts the journey time from 20 hours to just eight it stops at 35 different cities along its route a total of 310 trains will run between the two cities each day a one-way ticket for the journey costs us$138 china's government hopes the train will help the country's economy as business people can now travel across the country a lot quicker

chinese media say the bullet train service started on 26 december to commemorate the birth of former chinese leader mao zedong the train is also a sign of china's plan to become the world's leader in high-speed rail travel it already has 8600 km of high-speed railway track which is more than any other country in the world it plans to extend this to 16000 km by 2015 and 50000 km by 2020 china ministry of railways spokesman zhou li told reporters "the opening of the beijing-guangzhou high-speed line shows china's high-speed railway network has started to take shape" a passenger who travelled on the first train explained how proud she was of the train saying "it's amazing china has developed so quickly"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThelongestrailwaylineintheworldopenedonWednesday.ThelinejoinsChina'scapital
BeijingwiththesouthernChinesecityofGuangzhou.Thelineis2,298kilometerslong
andstretchesacrosshalfofChina.ThefirsttrainleftBeijingstationat9a.m.andarrivedin
Guangzhoueighthourslater.Thesuper-fasttraintravelsatanaveragespeedof300kph
andcutsthejourneytimefrom20hourstojusteight.Itstopsat35differentcitiesalongits
route.Atotalof310trainswillrunbetweenthetwocitieseachday.Aone-wayticketforthe
journeycostsUS$138.China'sgovernmenthopesthetrainwillhelpthecountry'seconomy
asbusinesspeoplecannowtravelacrossthecountryalotquicker.Chinesemediasaythe
bullettrainservicestartedon26DecembertocommemoratethebirthofformerChinese
leaderMaoZedong.ThetrainisalsoasignofChina'splantobecometheworld'sleaderinhigh
-speedrailtravel.Italreadyhas8,600kmofhigh-speedrailwaytrack,whichismorethan
anyothercountryintheworld.Itplanstoextendthisto16,000kmby2015and50,000km
by2020.ChinaMinistryofRailwaysspokesmanZhouLitoldreporters:"Theopeningofthe
Beijing-Guangzhouhigh-speedlineshowsChina'shigh-speedrailwaynetworkhas
startedtotakeshape."Apassengerwhotravelledonthefirsttrainexplainedhowproud
shewasofthetrain,saying:"It'samazingChinahasdevelopedsoquickly".

FREE WRITING

Write about trains for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

High-speed trains are too dangerous.  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 China's new high-speed trains. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. BULLET TRAINS: Make a poster about bullet trains. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. HIGH-SPEED: Write a magazine article about the new train line. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 the railway boss of the new trains. 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.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

joins

a.

links

2.

stretches

b.

extends

3.

left

c.

departed

4.

cuts

d.

reduces

5.

quicker

e.

faster

6.

commemorate

f.

celebrate

7.

former

g.

ex-

8.

started

h.

begun

9.

proud

i.

pleased

10.

developed

j.

progressed

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Beijing and Guangzhou

2.

2,298 kilometers

3.

8 hours

4.

12 hours

5.

Business people

6.

Mao Zedong

7.

8,600 km

8.

50,000 km

9.

It has started to take shape

10.

Pride

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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