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Price war over taxi apps (25th November, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A price war has broken out across the world among taxi companies. There is increasing competition for passengers because of the different apps that can order taxis. Some taxi companies are cutting their fares by more than half to beat competitor companies. The world's biggest taxi-booking app is called Uber. It was founded in 2009 and now operates in over 200 cities across the globe. Many drivers of London's traditional black taxis are unhappy with taxi apps. They argue that drivers of app cabs are too inexperienced to drive taxis in London. Black cab drivers must pass a difficult test on their knowledge of London's streets to get their taxi-driving license. They have slashed some of their fares from $45 to $7.50.

The U.K. boss of Uber said the price war would benefit his company and result in higher profits, saying: "There's a lot of competition over the app makers and, to a certain degree, you need to think of things that you can do to stand out from the crowd." London black cab driver Anthony Street says business remains good despite the app companies. He said: "There are lots of technologies that are changing things for us, but it's up to drivers." One of New York's biggest taxi companies has called for Uber to have its license suspended. It says Uber is illegally using data collected from passengers. In Singapore, the government has just announced that it would start regulating taxi app companies.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.klfm967.co.uk/news/uk-news/1460294/taxi-apps-price-war-sees-fares-slashed/
http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/11/23/taxi-app-price-battle-intensifies-get-taxi-slashes-fares
http://fortune.com/2014/11/21/singapore-to-license-taxi-hailing-apps/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TAXIS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about taxis. 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?

price war / increasing competition / passengers / booking / traditional / inexperienced / benefit / profits / to a certain degree / stand out / crowd / license / data / regulating

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

3. COMPETITION: What can taxi drivers do to stay ahead of the competition? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Problems now	Improvements
Fares
Car
Bookings
Extra services
The driver
Safety

4. TEST: Students A strongly believe all taxi drivers must pass a difficult test on their knowledge of streets; Students B strongly believe this is unnecessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. TAXI DRIVER: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important thing about a taxi driver at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• uniform

• friendly

• chooses shortest route

• chats a lot

• gives advice

• well groomed

• safe driver

• on time

6. ORDER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "order". 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 taxi price war has broken out worldwide.	T / F
b.	Some taxi companies have reduced fares by up to 50 per cent.	T / F
c.	The world's biggest taxi app company operates in over 200 countries.	T / F
d.	All taxi drivers in London must pass a test of their street knowledge.	T / F
e.	The boss of the Uber app is worried about falling profits.	T / F
f.	The boss said drivers look for people standing out in a crowd.	T / F
g.	A big New York taxi company got its license suspended.	T / F
h.	Singapore will soon start regulating taxi app companies.	T / F

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

1.	broken out	a.	point
2.	beat	b.	world
3.	globe	c.	cut
4.	argue	d.	information
5.	slashed	e.	started
6.	benefit	f.	stays
7.	degree	g.	claim
8.	remains	h.	begin
9.	data	i.	get the better of
10.	start	j.	be of help to

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

1.	A price war has broken	a.	drive taxis in London
2.	increasing competition	b.	suspended
3.	It was founded	c.	of their fares
4.	too inexperienced to	d.	degree
5.	They have slashed some	e.	for passengers
6.	the price war would	f.	out from the crowd
7.	to a certain	g.	in 2009
8.	things that you can do to stand	h.	benefit his company
9.	have its license	i.	taxi app companies
10.	it would start regulating	j.	out

GAP FILL

A price war has broken out (1) ____________ the world among taxi companies. There is increasing competition for passengers because of the different (2) ____________ that can order taxis. Some taxi companies are cutting their (3) ____________ by more than half to beat competitor companies. The world's biggest taxi-booking app is called Uber. It was (4) ____________ in 2009 and now operates in over 200 cities across the globe. Many drivers of London's traditional black taxis are unhappy with taxi apps. They (5) ____________ that drivers of app cabs are too (6) ____________ to drive taxis in London. Black cab drivers must pass a difficult test on their (7) ____________ of London's streets to get their taxi-driving license. They have (8) ____________ some of their fares from $45 to $7.50.

founded
apps
knowledge
fares
argue
slashed
across
inexperienced

The U.K. boss of Uber said the price war would (9) ____________ his company and result in higher profits, saying: "There's a lot of competition over the app makers and, to a (10) ____________ degree, you need to think of things that you can do to (11) ____________ out from the crowd." London black cab driver Anthony Street says business remains good (12) ____________ the app companies. He said: "There are lots of technologies that are changing (13) ____________ for us, but it's up to drivers." One of New York's biggest taxi companies has called for Uber to have its (14) ____________ suspended. It says Uber is illegally using (15) ____________ collected from passengers. In Singapore, the government has just announced that it would start (16) ____________ taxi app companies.

stand
benefit
data
things
regulating
certain
despite
license

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A price war has broken out across the world ______
	a. amongst taxi companies b. among taxi companies c. amen taxi companies d. aiming taxi companies
2)	competition for passengers because of the different apps that ______
	a. can disorder taxis b. can reorder taxis c. can orderly taxis d. can order taxis
3)	It was founded in 2009 and now operates ______
	a. in over 220 cities b. in over 300 cities c. in over 222 cities d. in over 333 cities
4)	Black cab drivers must pass a difficult test on their knowledge of London's streets
	a. knowledge by London's b. knowledge for London's c. knowledge of London's d. knowledge on London's
5)	They have slashed some of their fares ______
	a. from $54 to $7.50 b. from $45 to $7.00 c. from $40 to $7.50 d. from $45 to $7.50
6)	The U.K. boss of Uber said the price war would benefit his company and result ______
	a. in high are profits b. in highest profits c. in higher profits d. in heighten profits
7)	to a certain degree, you need to think of things that you can do to stand ______
	a. out from the crowded b. out from the crowd c. out from the cloud d. out from the cloudy
8)	There are lots of technologies that are changing things for us, but ______
	a. it's on to drivers b. it's up to drivers c. it's app to drivers d. it's apt to drivers
9)	It says Uber is illegally using data collected ______
	a. from passengers b. for passengers c. frame passengers d. farm passengers
10)	the government has just announced that it would start ______ companies
	a. regulate in taxi app b. regulation taxi app c. regulating taxi app d. regulations taxi app

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A price war has (1) ___________________ the world among taxi companies. There is increasing competition for passengers because of the different apps that can order taxis. Some taxi companies are (2) ___________________ by more than half to beat competitor companies. The world's biggest taxi-(3) ___________________ Uber. It was founded in 2009 and now operates in over 200 cities across the globe. Many drivers of London's traditional black taxis are unhappy with taxi apps. They (4) ___________________ app cabs are too inexperienced to drive taxis in London. Black cab drivers must pass a difficult test (5) ___________________ of London's streets to get their taxi-driving license. They have slashed some (6) ___________________ $45 to $7.50.

The U.K. boss of Uber said the price war (7) ___________________ company and result in higher profits, saying: "There's a lot of competition over the app makers and, (8) ___________________, you need to think of things that you can (9) ___________________ from the crowd." London black cab driver Anthony Street says business remains good despite the app companies. He said: "There are lots of technologies that are (10) ___________________ us, but it's up to drivers." One of New York's biggest taxi companies has called for Uber to have (11) ___________________. It says Uber is illegally using data collected from passengers. In Singapore, the government has just announced that it (12) ___________________ taxi app companies.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Where has a price war among taxis started?
2.	By how much are some taxi companies cutting fares?
3.	In how many cities does the taxi app company Uber operate?
4.	What do London's black-taxi drivers think of taxi app drivers?
5.	What price have some London drivers reduced their fare to?
6.	In what way did a boss of Uber think his company would benefit?
7.	What did a boss of Uber say people needed to do?
8.	How did a London black cab driver describe business?
9.	In which city might a taxi company have its license suspended?
10.	Where will taxi companies start being regulated?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Where has a price war among taxis started?	6.	In what way did a boss of Uber think his company would benefit?
	a) Nova Scotia b) Delhi c) across the world d) in South America		a) more competition b) higher profits c) more customers d) better drivers
2.	By how much are some taxi companies cutting fares?	7.	What did a boss of Uber say people needed to do?
	a) over half b) 45% c) 10% d) $7.50		a) stand out from the crowd b) be a one in a million c) be a small fish in a large pond d) get back to basics
3.	In how many cities does the taxi app company Uber operate?	8.	How did a London black cab driver describe business?
	a) more than 200 b) 199 c) 328 d) around 100		a) record breaking b) busy c) good d) on a downward spiral
4.	What do London's black-taxi drivers think of taxi app drivers?	9.	In which city might a taxi company have its license suspended?
	a) not much b) they are inexperienced c) they are overpaid d) they are very polite		a) Singapore b) Cape Town c) Karachi d) New York
5.	What price have some London drivers reduced their fare to?	10.	Where will taxi companies start being regulated?
	a) $45 b) $18 c) $9.99 d) $7.50		a) Singapore b) New York c) Novia Scotia d) Bangkok

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Being well dressed

You think it is most important for a taxi driver to be well dressed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): drive safely, being on time or be chatty.

Role B – Driving safely

You think it is most important for a taxi driver to drive safely. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): well dressed, being on time or be chatty.

Role C – Being on time

You think it is most important for a taxi driver to be on time. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): drive safely, well dressed or be chatty.

Role D – Being chatty

You think it is most important for a taxi driver to be chatty. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): drive safely, being on time or well dressed.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

taxi

app

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:

broken
half
2009
argue
test
45

benefit
lot
stand
things
data
start

TAXIS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about taxis 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.

TAXIS DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'taxi'?
3)	What do you think of taxi fares?
4)	How important are taxis to you?
5)	What are the good and bad things about taxis?
6)	What do you think about the price war?
7)	What problems are there in running a taxi company?
8)	What do you think of the taxi-ordering apps?
9)	Should taxi drivers take a test of their knowledge of streets?
10)	Who do you think will win the price war?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Do you have any 'taxi stories'?
13)	What can taxis do to stand out from the crowd?
14)	What do you think of the quality of taxis (inside and outside)?
15)	Are taxis good value for money?
16)	How can technology change taxis?
17)	What's your best and worst taxi ride ever?
18)	What extra services would you like taxis to offer?
19)	What controls do governments need to put on taxis?
20)	What questions would you like to ask a taxi driver?

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.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A price war has broken out across the world (1) ____ taxi companies. There is increasing competition (2) ____ passengers because of the different apps that can order taxis. Some taxi companies are cutting their fares by more than half to (3) ____ competitor companies. The world's biggest taxi-booking app is called Uber. It was founded in 2009 and now operates in over 200 cities across the globe. Many drivers of London's traditional black taxis are unhappy (4) ____ taxi apps. They (5) ____ that drivers of app cabs are too inexperienced to drive taxis in London. Black cab drivers must pass a difficult test on their knowledge of London's streets to get their taxi-driving license. They have (6) ____ some of their fares from $45 to $7.50.

The U.K. boss of Uber said the price war would (7) ____ his company and result in higher profits, saying: "There's a lot of competition over the app makers and, to a (8) ____ degree, you need to think of things that you can do to (9) ____ out from the crowd." London black cab driver Anthony Street says business remains good despite the app companies. He said: "There are lots of technologies that are changing things for us, but it's (10) ____ to drivers." One of New York's biggest taxi companies has called for Uber to have its license suspended. It says Uber is illegally (11) ____ data collected from passengers. In Singapore, the government has just announced that it would start (12) ____ taxi app companies.

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

1.	(a)	all	(b)	middle	(c)	for	(d)	among
2.	(a)	at	(b)	by	(c)	of	(d)	for
3.	(a)	win	(b)	beat	(c)	lose	(d)	victory
4.	(a)	by	(b)	from	(c)	with	(d)	for
5.	(a)	argue	(b)	fight	(c)	quarrel	(d)	shout
6.	(a)	slashed	(b)	ripped	(c)	broken	(d)	grated
7.	(a)	advantage	(b)	cost	(c)	nice	(d)	benefit
8.	(a)	certain	(b)	sure	(c)	really	(d)	truth
9.	(a)	sit	(b)	stand	(c)	kneel	(d)	tread
10.	(a)	from	(b)	along	(c)	up	(d)	in
11.	(a)	used	(b)	uses	(c)	using	(d)	usage
12.	(a)	regulated	(b)	regulating	(c)	regulates	(d)	regulation

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	competition for seearpngss
2.	It was dfednuo in 2009
3.	sreoeapt in over 200 cities
4.	too nexcdrpinieee to drive taxis
5.	their gwoldeken of London's streets
6.	edahsls some of their fares from $45 to $7.50
Paragraph 2
7.	the price war would tbfenie his company
8.	result in higher rfopits
9.	business inrmaes good
10.	have its cenilse suspended
11.	glilyaell using data
12.	… has just nnncaudoe that it would start

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	cutting their fares by more than half to beat competitor companies. The world's biggest
( )	taxi-booking app is called Uber. It was founded in 2009 and now operates in over 200 cities across the
( )	competition for passengers because of the different apps that can order taxis. Some taxi companies are
( )	for us, but it's up to drivers." One of New York's biggest taxi companies has
( )	called for Uber to have its license suspended. It says Uber is illegally using data collected from
( )	of things that you can do to stand out from the crowd." London black cab driver Anthony Street says business
( )	remains good despite the app companies. He said: "There are lots of technologies that are changing things
( )	passengers. In Singapore, the government has just announced that it would start regulating taxi app companies.
( )	in higher profits, saying: "There's a lot of competition over the app makers and, to a certain degree, you need to think
( 1 )	A price war has broken out across the world among taxi companies. There is increasing
( )	knowledge of London's streets to get their taxi-driving license. They have slashed some of their fares from $45 to $7.50.
( )	The U.K. boss of Uber said the price war would benefit his company and result
( )	globe. Many drivers of London's traditional black taxis are unhappy with taxi apps. They argue that drivers
( )	of app cabs are too inexperienced to drive taxis in London. Black cab drivers must pass a difficult test on their

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	war out world price broken the A has across.
2.	competition passengers There increasing for is.
3.	across in the over globe 200 cities Operates.
4.	inexperienced too are cabs app of Drivers.
5.	their of some slashed have They fares.
6.	result Benefit in his higher company profits and.
7.	stand to do can you that Things crowd the from out.
8.	despite good remains Business companies app the.
9.	passengers using data Uber collected is from illegally.
10.	would It companies app taxi regulating start.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A price war has broken up / out across the world among taxi companies. There is increasing competition by / for passengers because of the different apps that can order / orderly taxis. Some taxi companies are cutting their fares by / for more than half to beat competes / competitor companies. The world's biggest taxi-booking app is called / calling Uber. It was founded in 2009 and now operates / operations in over 200 cities across the globe. Many drivers of London's traditional black taxis are unhappily / unhappy with taxi apps. They argue that drivers of app cabs are too inexperienced / experienced to drive taxis in London. Black cab drivers must pass a difficult test on their knowledge of London's streets to get their taxi-driving license. They have slashed / sliced some of their fares from $45 to $7.50.

The U.K. boss of Uber said the price war would beneficial / benefit his company and result in higher profitable / profits, saying: "There's a lot of competition over / under the app makers and, for / to a certain degree, you need to think of things that you can do to sit / stand out from the crowd." London black cab driver Anthony Street says business remains / remaining good despite the app companies. He said: "There are lots of technologies that are changing things for us, but it's up / in to drivers." One of New York's biggest taxi companies has called at / for Uber to have its license suspended. It says Uber is illegally using / uses data collected from passengers. In Singapore, the government has just announced that it would start regulating / regulate taxi app companies.

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)

_ pr_c_ w_r h_s br_k_n __t _cr_ss th_ w_rld _m_ng t_x_ c_mp_n__s. Th_r_ _s _ncr__s_ng c_mp_t_t__n f_r p_ss_ng_rs b_c__s_ _f th_ d_ff_r_nt _pps th_t c_n _rd_r t_x_s. S_m_ t_x_ c_mp_n__s _r_ c_tt_ng th__r f_r_s by m_r_ th_n h_lf t_ b__t c_mp_t_t_r c_mp_n__s. Th_ w_rld's b_gg_st t_x_-b__k_ng _pp _s c_ll_d _b_r. _t w_s f__nd_d _n 2009 _nd n_w _p_r_t_s _n _v_r 200 c_t__s _cr_ss th_ gl_b_. M_ny dr_v_rs _f L_nd_n's tr_d_t__n_l bl_ck t_x_s _r_ _nh_ppy w_th t_x_ _pps. Th_y _rg__ th_t dr_v_rs _f _pp c_bs _r_ t__ _n_xp_r__nc_d t_ dr_v_ t_x_s _n L_nd_n. Bl_ck c_b dr_v_rs m_st p_ss _ d_ff_c_lt t_st _n th__r kn_wl_dg_ _f L_nd_n's str__ts t_ g_t th__r t_x_-dr_v_ng l_c_ns_. Th_y h_v_ sl_sh_d s_m_ _f th__r f_r_s fr_m $45 t_ $7.50.

Th_ _.K. b_ss _f _b_r s__d th_ pr_c_ w_r w__ld b_n_f_t h_s c_mp_ny _nd r_s_lt _n h_gh_r pr_f_ts, s_y_ng: "Th_r_'s _ l_t _f c_mp_t_t__n _v_r th_ _pp m_k_rs _nd, t_ _ c_rt__n d_gr__, y__ n__d t_ th_nk _f th_ngs th_t y__ c_n d_ t_ st_nd __t fr_m th_ cr_wd." L_nd_n bl_ck c_b dr_v_r _nth_ny Str__t s_ys b_s_n_ss r_m__ns g__d d_sp_t_ th_ _pp c_mp_n__s. H_ s__d: "Th_r_ _r_ l_ts _f t_chn_l_g__s th_t _r_ ch_ng_ng th_ngs f_r _s, b_t _t's _p t_ dr_v_rs." _n_ _f N_w Y_rk's b_gg_st t_x_ c_mp_n__s h_s c_ll_d f_r _b_r t_ h_v_ _ts l_c_ns_ s_sp_nd_d. _t s_ys _b_r _s _ll_g_lly _s_ng d_t_ c_ll_ct_d fr_m p_ss_ng_rs. _n S_ng_p_r_, th_ g_v_rnm_nt h_s j_st _nn__nc_d th_t _t w__ld st_rt r_g_l_t_ng t_x_ _pp c_mp_n__s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a price war has broken out across the world among taxi companies there is increasing competition for passengers because of the different apps that can order taxis some taxi companies are cutting their fares by more than half to beat competitor companies the world's biggest taxi-booking app is called uber it was founded in 2009 and now operates in over 200 cities across the globe many drivers of london's traditional black taxis are unhappy with taxi apps they argue that drivers of app cabs are too inexperienced to drive taxis in london black cab drivers must pass a difficult test on their knowledge of london's streets to get their taxi-driving license they have slashed some of their fares from $45 to $750

the uk boss of uber said the price war would benefit his company and result in higher profits saying "there's a lot of competition over the app makers and to a certain degree you need to think of things that you can do to stand out from the crowd" london black cab driver anthony street says business remains good despite the app companies he said "there are lots of technologies that are changing things for us but it's up to drivers" one of new york's biggest taxi companies has called for uber to have its license suspended it says uber is illegally using data collected from passengers in singapore the government has just announced that it would start regulating taxi app companies

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Apricewarhasbrokenoutacrosstheworldamongtaxicompanies.There
isincreasingcompetitionforpassengersbecauseofthedifferentappsth
atcanordertaxis.Sometaxicompaniesarecuttingtheirfaresbymoreth
anhalftobeatcompetitorcompanies.Theworld'sbiggesttaxi-book
ingappiscalledUber.Itwasfoundedin2009andnowoperatesinover200
citiesacrosstheglobe.ManydriversofLondon'straditionalblacktaxisar
eunhappywithtaxiapps.Theyarguethatdriversofappcabsaretooinex
periencedtodrivetaxisinLondon.Blackcabdriversmustpassadifficultt
estontheirknowledgeofLondon'sstreetstogettheirtaxi-drivinglice
nse.Theyhaveslashedsomeoftheirfaresfrom$45to$7.50.TheU.K.bo
ssofUbersaidthepricewarwouldbenefithiscompanyandresultinhighe
rprofits,saying:"There'salotofcompetitionovertheappmakersand,to
acertaindegree,youneedtothinkofthingsthatyoucandotostandoutfro
mthecrowd."LondonblackcabdriverAnthonyStreetsaysbusinessrem
ainsgooddespitetheappcompanies.Hesaid:"Therearelotsoftechnolo
giesthatarechangingthingsforus,butit'suptodrivers."OneofNewYork
'sbiggesttaxicompanieshascalledforUbertohaveitslicensesuspende
d.ItsaysUberisillegallyusingdatacollectedfrompassengers.InSingap
ore,thegovernmenthasjustannouncedthatitwouldstartregulatingta
xiappcompanies.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Taxis are the best way to get around a city. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 taxis. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TAXI APS: Make a poster about taxi apps. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. LICENSE: Write a magazine article about the licenses taxi drivers need. Include imaginary interviews with people who think taxi drivers need to know every street and with those who think a general knowledge of streets is OK.

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 taxis. Ask him/her three questions about taxi apps. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make taxis better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	broken out	a.	started
2.	beat	b.	get the better of
3.	globe	c.	world
4.	argue	d.	claim
5.	slashed	e.	cut
6.	benefit	f.	be of help to
7.	degree	g.	point
8.	remains	h.	stays
9.	data	i.	information
10.	start	j.	begin

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Across the world
2.	More than half
3.	Over 200
4.	They are inexperienced
5.	$7.50
6.	It would be more profitable
7.	Stand out from the crowd
8.	He said it was good
9.	New York
10.	Singapore

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

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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Price war over taxi apps (25th November, 2014)

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