The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Some people think going by car is less of a risk for getting germs than travelling on public transport. The opposite may be true. A British survey found that most cars are so dirty inside, they could be a breeding ground for bacteria such as the deadly E.Coli. The survey was carried out by microbiologists at Nottingham University. They analysed steering wheels, hand brakes and other areas to find out what bacteria might be there. They found that most cars were dirty enough to have bacteria. Most car owners gave very little thought to the importance of keeping their car interior hygienic.

Cars are a perfect place for germs. Over half of car owners have dropped food onto seats. A third have spilt drinks. Other owners spoke of vomit and 'pet accidents'. Only a quarter of owners cleaned the inside of their cars regularly. Most drivers still eat and drink at the wheel. Common problems were drink bottles under seats, used tissues in storage areas and rotting food on seat covers. A spokeswoman said: "It's really worrying to see just how dirty people are letting their cars get….We didn't expect to find bacteria relating to E.coli in there."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www. dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3173386/How-clean-car-Deadly-bugs-E-coli-lurking-steering-wheels-handbrakes-caused-people-eating-drinking-move.html
  • http://www. express.co.uk/life-style/health/593581/Car-staphylococcus-eColi-British-germs-dangerous
  • https:// home.bt.com/lifestyle/motoring/motoring-news/dirty-cars-breeding-ground-for-bacteria-11363994273687


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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

going by car is less

a.

interior hygienic

2.

travelling on

b.

ground for bacteria

3.

The opposite may

c.

wheels

4.

a breeding

d.

public transport

5.

The survey was carried out

e.

have bacteria

6.

steering

f.

of a risk

7.

dirty enough to

g.

by microbiologists

8.

keeping their car

h.

be true



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

a perfect place

a.

tissues

2.

A third have spilt

b.

of owners

3.

Only a quarter

c.

food

4.

cleaned the

d.

for germs

5.

eat and drink

e.

to E.coli

6.

used

f.

drinks

7.

rotting

g.

at the wheel

8.

bacteria relating

h.

inside

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Some people believe going by (1) ___________________ risk for getting germs than travelling on public transport. The (2) ___________________ true. A British survey found that most cars are (3) ___________________, they could be a breeding ground for bacteria such as the deadly E.Coli. The survey (4) ___________________ by microbiologists at Nottingham University. They analysed steering wheels, hand brakes and other areas   (5) ___________________ bacteria might be there. They found that most cars were dirty enough to have bacteria. Most car owners gave very little thought to the importance (6) ___________________ car interior hygienic.

Cars are (7) ___________________ germs. Over half of car owners have dropped food onto seats. A (8) ___________________ drinks. Other owners spoke of vomit and 'pet accidents'. (9) ___________________ owners cleaned the inside of (10) ___________________. Most drivers still eat and drink at the wheel. Common problems were drink bottles under seats, used tissues in storage areas and (11) ___________________ seat covers. A spokeswoman said: "It's really worrying to see just how dirty people are letting their cars get….We didn't (12) ___________________ bacteria relating to E.coli in there."

BACTERIA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about bacteria 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.

 

 

 

 


WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________


FREE WRITING

Write about bacteria for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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