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Record number of Rolls-Royces sold in 2013 (11th January, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The luxury automobile maker Rolls-Royce has reported record sales for 2013. The company said it's the fourth consecutive annual sales record. It sold 3,630 cars last year, with a strong surge in demand in the Middle East and China accounting for a good portion of the buoyant sales. The Middle East saw a sales increase of 17 per cent last year, while sales in China went up by 11 per cent. Rolls-Royce sold cars in more than 40 countries last year, including new markets. Plans are in place to continue this global expansion. The company CEO said: "We have reported a strong year and have maintained our position at the pinnacle of the super-luxury market." Super-luxury means cars costing over $272,000.

The CEO said people buy a Rolls Royce because they want to have a brand that is unrivalled in its image of luxury. He said: "It's the ultimate treat; the reward for hard work. We see that clearly from our customers. Around 80 per cent of our cars are bought by businessmen and women, most of whom have started and run their own businesses. The rest are bought by sports stars and film stars." He added that it's not just the super-rich who were snapping up the cars. He said: "What's interesting now is that we are seeing a new group of individuals who have built up mid-sized businesses and they also want to treat themselves to the magic carpet ride." Businesswomen now account for ten per cent of sales.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/rollsroyce-is-on-a-roll-as-the-superrich-get-all-revved-up-9047802.html
http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-422728/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10559466/Young-global-entrepreneurs-drive-Rolls-Royce-Motor-cars-to-record-sales.html

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. ROLLS ROYCE CARS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Rolls-Royce cars. 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.

luxury / sales / consecutive / buoyant / new markets / global expansion / pinnacle / unrivalled / the ultimate treat / hard work / new customers / super-rich / magic carpet

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

3. LUXURY: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Luxury…	What makes them luxurious?	Would you want them? Why?
car
hotel
apartment
watch
cruise
goods

4. BRAND: Students A strongly believe the Rolls-Royce brand is top of the list when thinking about luxury; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners often

5. TREAT: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the biggest treats at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• chocolate

• expensive clothes

• going to a good restaurant

• a shopping spree

• a massage

• a new gadget

• extra time in bed

• a hotel stay

6. SALES: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "sales". 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.	Rolls-Royce has had record sales for 4 years in a row.	T / F
b.	Rolls-Royce sold 36,300 cars in 2013.	T / F
c.	Sales in the Middle East rose by 11 per cent in 2013.	T / F
d.	A super-luxury car has a price tag starting from $150,000.	T / F
e.	Rolls-Royce's CEO said his cars were the ultimate treat.	T / F
f.	About 80% of Rolls-Royce sales went to business people.	T / F
g.	It's only the super-rich who are buying Rolls-Royce cars.	T / F
h.	Women now buy about 10% of Rolls-Royce's cars.	T / F

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

1.	automobile	a.	make
2.	consecutive	b.	people
3.	surge	c.	strong
4.	buoyant	d.	topmost
5.	pinnacle	e.	successive
6.	brand	f.	managed
7.	ultimate	g.	jump
8.	treat	h.	top
9.	run	i.	present
10.	individuals	j.	car

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

1.	it's the fourth consecutive	a.	for hard work
2.	buoyant	b.	pinnacle
3.	Plans are in	c.	annual sales record
4.	maintained our position at the	d.	treat
5.	Super-luxury means cars	e.	own businesses
6.	a brand that is unrivalled	f.	place to continue this
7.	It's the ultimate	g.	carpet ride
8.	the reward	h.	sales
9.	run their	i.	in its image of luxury
10.	treat themselves to the magic	j.	costing over $272,000

GAP FILL

The luxury (1) ____________ maker Rolls-Royce has reported record sales for 2013. The company said it's the fourth (2) ____________ annual sales record. It sold 3,630 cars last year, with a strong (3) ____________ in demand in the Middle East and China accounting for a good portion of the (4) ____________ sales. The Middle East saw a sales increase of 17 per cent last year, while sales in China went up by 11 per cent. Rolls-Royce sold cars in more than 40 countries last year, (5) ____________ new markets. Plans are in place to continue this global (6) ____________. The company CEO said: "We have reported a strong year and have (7) ____________ our position at the (8) ____________ of the super-luxury market." Super-luxury means cars costing over $272,000.

expansion
buoyant
consecutive
pinnacle
automobile
maintained
surge
including

The CEO said people buy a Rolls Royce because they want to have a brand that is (9) ____________ in its image of luxury. He said: "It's the (10) ____________ treat; the reward for hard work. We see that clearly from our customers. Around 80 per cent of our cars are bought by businessmen and women, most of whom have started and (11) ____________ their own businesses. The (12) ____________ are bought by sports stars and film stars." He added that it's not just the super-rich who were (13) ____________ up the cars. He said: "What's interesting now is that we are seeing a new group of (14) ____________ who have built up mid-sized businesses and they also want to (15) ____________ themselves to the magic carpet ride." Businesswomen now (16) ____________ for ten per cent of sales.

snapping
run
account
treat
unrivalled
rest
ultimate
individuals

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The company said it's the ______ annual sales record
	a. fourth consecutively b. fourth con executive c. fourth cons executive d. fourth consecutive
2)	the Middle East and China accounting for a good portion of ______
	a. the boy ant sales b. the buoyancy sales c. the buoyant sales d. the boy and sales
3)	Plans are in place to continue this ______
	a. globally expansion b. global expansion c. globe all expansion d. glow-ball expansion
4)	We have reported a strong year and have maintained our position ______
	a. at the pin a call b. at the pinnacle c. at the pinner call d. at the pinner core
5)	Super-luxury means cars ______ $272,000
	a. costing over b. coasting over c. costs over d. cost in over
6)	people buy a Rolls Royce because they want to have a brand ______
	a. that is unrivalled b. that is non-rivalled c. that is unravelled d. that is sun rivalled
7)	He said: "It's the ______
	a. ultimate threat b. ultimate treat c. ultimate tweet d. ultimate tread
8)	most of whom have started and run ______
	a. their owing businesses b. their owner businesses c. their own businesses d. their owned businesses
9)	He added that it's not just the super-rich who were ______
	a. snapping up the cars b. snipping up the cars c. strapping up the cars d. slapping up the cars
10)	they also want to treat themselves to the ______
	a. magic rug ride b. magic carpet ride c. magic floor ride d. magic mat ride

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The luxury automobile maker Rolls-Royce (1) ___________________ sales for 2013. The company said it's the fourth (2) ___________________ record. It sold 3,630 cars last year, with (3) ___________________ demand in the Middle East and China accounting for a good (4) ___________________ sales. The Middle East saw a sales increase of 17 per cent last year, while sales in China went up by 11 per cent. Rolls-Royce sold cars in more than 40 countries last year, including new markets. (5) ___________________ to continue this global expansion. The company CEO said: "We have reported a strong year and have maintained our position (6) ___________________ of the super-luxury market." Super-luxury means cars costing over $272,000.

The CEO said people buy a Rolls Royce because they want to have a brand that (7) ___________________ image of luxury. He said: "It's the ultimate treat; the reward for hard work. We (8) ___________________ our customers. Around 80 per cent of our cars are bought by businessmen and women, (9) ___________________ started and run their own businesses. The rest are bought by sports stars and film stars." He added that it's not just the super-rich who were (10) ___________________ cars. He said: "What's interesting now is that we are seeing a (11) ___________________ who have built up mid-sized businesses and they also want to treat themselves to the (12) ___________________." Businesswomen now account for ten per cent of sales.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many years in a row has Rolls-Royce reported record sales?
2.	How many cars did Rolls-Royce sell in 2013?
3.	How much was the increase in sales in China last year?
4.	What has Rolls-Royce maintained, according to its CEO?
5.	From what price to super-luxury cars start?
6.	What did the CEO say a Rolls-Royce was a reward for?
7.	Who buys around 80% of Rolls-Royce cars?
8.	What has a new group of Rolls-Royce customers built up?
9.	What kind of ride did the CEO say people treat themselves to?
10.	What proportion of Rolls-Royce cars are bought by businesswomen?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many years in a row has Rolls-Royce reported record sales?	6.	What did the CEO say a Rolls-Royce was a reward for?
	a) 4 b) 3 c) 5 d) 11		a) the elite b) being rich c) car makers d) hard work
2.	How many cars did Rolls-Royce sell in 2013?	7.	Who buys around 80% of Rolls-Royce cars?
	a) 6,360 b) 3,360 c) 3,630 d) 6,630		a) Chinese people b) actors and sports stars c) business people d) Americans
3.	How much was the increase in sales in China last year?	8.	What has a new group of Rolls-Royce customers built up?
	a) 83.5% b) 17% c) 40% d) 11%		a) a strong Facebook following b) mid-sized businesses c) a good reputation d) a collection of luxury cars
4.	What has Rolls-Royce maintained, according to its CEO?	9.	What kind of ride did the CEO say people treat themselves to?
	a) speed b) it's top position in the market c) good staff satisfaction d) quality and standards		a) a jet-coaster ride b) the ride of their life c) a magic carpet ride d) a smooth and comfortable ride
5.	From what price to super-luxury cars start?	10.	What proportion of Rolls-Royce cars are bought by businesswomen?
	a) $272,000 b) $727,000 c) $172,000 d) $271,000		a) 12% b) 10% c) 8% d) 17%

ROLE PLAY

Role A – An overnight hotel stay

You think an overnight hotel stay is the ultimate treat. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): extra time in bed, luxury chocolates or a shopping spree.

Role B – Extra time in bed

You think extra time in bed is the ultimate treat. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): an overnight hotel stay, luxury chocolates or a shopping spree.

Role C – Luxury chocolates

You think luxury chocolates are the ultimate treat. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): extra time in bed, an overnight hotel stay or a shopping spree.

Role D – A shopping spree

You think a shopping spree is the ultimate treat. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): extra time in bed, luxury chocolates or an overnight hotel stay.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

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:

ROLLS ROYCE CARS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Rolls-Royce cars 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.

ROLLS ROYCE CARS 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 'luxury'?
c)	What do you know about Rolls-Royce?
d)	Would you buy a Rolls-Royce if you had the money?
e)	Are you surprised at how many cars Rolls-Royce sold?
f)	What do you think when you see someone driving a Rolls-Royce?
g)	What does a Rolls-Royce say about its owner?
h)	How is a Rolls-Royce different from other luxury cars?
i)	What do you think of the look of a Rolls-Royce?
j)	Is it OK to spend upwards of $272,000 on a car?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Why is Rolls-Royce regarded as the top luxury car?
c)	Is Rolls-Royce "unrivalled in its image of luxury"?
d)	Is a Rolls-Royce "the ultimate treat"? If it isn't, what is?
e)	What problems might someone with a Rolls-Royce have?
f)	If you had a Rolls-Royce, would you employ a chauffeur or drive it yourself?
g)	What extra comforts would you order for your Rolls-Royce?
h)	Should governments stop car makers making big, gas-guzzling cars?
i)	Why did the CEO compare a Rolls-Royce to a "magic carpet ride"?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the CEO of Rolls Royce?

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

The (1) ____ automobile maker Rolls-Royce has reported record sales for 2013. The company said it's the fourth (2) ____ annual sales record. It sold 3,630 cars last year, with a strong (3) ____ in demand in the Middle East and China accounting for a good portion of the (4) ____ sales. The Middle East saw a sales increase of 17 per cent last year, while sales in China went up by 11 per cent. Rolls-Royce sold cars in more than 40 countries last year, including new markets. Plans are in (5) ____ to continue this global expansion. The company CEO said: "We have reported a strong year and have maintained our position at the (6) ____ of the super-luxury market." Super-luxury means cars costing over $272,000.

The CEO said people buy a Rolls Royce because they want to have a brand that is (7) ____ in its image of luxury. He said: "It's the ultimate treat; the reward for hard work. We see that clearly from our customers. Around 80 per cent of our cars are bought by businessmen and women, most of whom have started and (8) ____ their own businesses. The rest are bought by sports stars and film stars." He added that it's not just the super-rich who were (9) ____ up the cars. He said: "What's interesting now is that we are seeing a new group of (10) ____ who have built up mid-sized businesses and they also want to (11) ____ themselves to the magic carpet ride." Businesswomen now (12) ____ for ten per cent of sales.

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

1.	(a)	luxury	(b)	luxuriant	(c)	luxuries	(d)	luxurious
2.	(a)	succession	(b)	in a row	(c)	consecutive	(d)	running
3.	(a)	purge	(b)	dirge	(c)	surge	(d)	merge
4.	(a)	buoy	(b)	buoyancy	(c)	buoys	(d)	buoyant
5.	(a)	place	(b)	there	(c)	location	(d)	site
6.	(a)	icicle	(b)	pinnacle	(c)	debacle	(d)	oracle
7.	(a)	drilled	(b)	unmasked	(c)	closeted	(d)	unrivalled
8.	(a)	pay	(b)	run	(c)	move	(d)	risk
9.	(a)	scooping	(b)	scrapping	(c)	snapping	(d)	slopping
10.	(a)	luxuries	(b)	businesses	(c)	groups	(d)	individuals
11.	(a)	threat	(b)	tweet	(c)	teat	(d)	treat
12.	(a)	accounts	(b)	account	(c)	accounting	(d)	accountable

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	luxury oloubtaime maker
2.	it's the fourth nicustcoeve annual sales record
3.	a strong gsuer in demand
4.	uabonyt sales
5.	global xpenosina
6.	our position at the lncnaiep of the super-luxury market
Paragraph 2
7.	a brand that is laneidruvl
8.	It's the imauettl treat
9.	the wrreda for hard work
10.	a new group of dasnviildui
11.	built up mid-sized seessinbus
12.	Businesswomen now atcnouc for ten per cent of sales

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	position at the pinnacle of the super-luxury market." Super-luxury means cars costing over $272,000.
( )	in demand in the Middle East and China accounting for a good portion of the buoyant sales. The Middle East saw a sales
( )	increase of 17 per cent last year, while sales in China went up by 11 per cent. Rolls-Royce sold cars in more than 40 countries
( )	treat themselves to the magic carpet ride." Businesswomen now account for ten per cent of sales.
( )	that it's not just the super-rich who were snapping up the cars. He said: "What's
( )	last year, including new markets. Plans are in place to continue this global
( )	The CEO said people buy a Rolls Royce because they want to have a brand that is unrivalled in its image
( )	expansion. The company CEO said: "We have reported a strong year and have maintained our
( )	of luxury. He said: "It's the ultimate treat; the reward for hard work. We see that clearly from our
( 1 )	The luxury automobile maker Rolls-Royce has reported record sales for 2013. The company said it's the fourth
( )	whom have started and run their own businesses. The rest are bought by sports stars and film stars." He added
( )	customers. Around 80 per cent of our cars are bought by businessmen and women, most of
( )	interesting now is that we are seeing a new group of individuals who have built up mid-sized businesses and they also want to
( )	consecutive annual sales record. It sold 3,630 cars last year, with a strong surge

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	for Rolls has sales Royce record 2013 - reported.
2.	the It's record sales annual consecutive fourth.
3.	portion of the buoyant sales China accounting for a good.
4.	place this in continue expansion are to global Plans.
5.	the at position Our market luxury - super the of pinnacle.
6.	in of brand unrivalled image A is its luxury that.
7.	customers our from clearly that see We.
8.	were the cars who just the rich not up - It's snapping super.
9.	mid businesses who up sized Individuals built - have.
10.	ride carpet magic the to themselves Treat.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The luxury / luxurious automobile maker Rolls-Royce has reported record sales for 2013. The company said it's the fourth consecutively / consecutive annual sales record. It sold 3,630 cars last year, with a strong purge / surge in demand in the Middle East and China accounting to / for a good portion / potion of the buoyant sales. The Middle East saw a sales increase of 17 per cent last year, while sails / sales in China went up by 11 per cent. Rolls-Royce sold cars in more than 40 countries last year, including / inclusive new markets. Plans are in place to continue this global / globally expansion. The company CEO said: "We have reported a strong year and have maintained our position at the pinnacle / nadir of the super-luxury market." Super-luxury means cars costing / costed over $272,000.

The CEO said people buy a Rolls Royce because they want to have a bland / brand that is unrivalled / rivalled in its image of luxury. He said: "It's the ultimate threat / treat; the reward for hard / hardly work. We see that clearly from our customers / customs. Around 80 per cent of our cars are bought by businessmen and women, most of whom have started and ruin / run their own businesses. The rest are bought by sports stars and film stars." He added that it's not just the super-rich who were strapping / snapping up the cars. He said: "What's interesting now is that we are seeing a new group of individually / individuals who have built up mid-sized businesses and they also want to treat themselves to the magic rug / carpet ride." Businesswomen now accounting / account for ten per cent of sales.

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_x_ry __t_m_b_l_ m_k_r R_lls-R_yc_ h_s r_p_rt_d r_c_rd s_l_s f_r 2013. Th_ c_mp_ny s__d _t's th_ f__rth c_ns_c_t_v_ _nn__l s_l_s r_c_rd. _t s_ld 3,630 c_rs l_st y__r, w_th _ str_ng s_rg_ _n d_m_nd _n th_ M_ddl_ __st _nd Ch_n_ _cc__nt_ng f_r _ g__d p_rt__n _f th_ b__y_nt s_l_s. Th_ M_ddl_ __st s_w _ s_l_s _ncr__s_ _f 17 p_r c_nt l_st y__r, wh_l_ s_l_s _n Ch_n_ w_nt _p by 11 p_r c_nt. R_lls-R_yc_ s_ld c_rs _n m_r_ th_n 40 c__ntr__s l_st y__r, _ncl_d_ng n_w m_rk_ts. Pl_ns _r_ _n pl_c_ t_ c_nt_n__ th_s gl_b_l _xp_ns__n. Th_ c_mp_ny C__ s__d: "W_ h_v_ r_p_rt_d _ str_ng y__r _nd h_v_ m__nt__n_d __r p_s_t__n _t th_ p_nn_cl_ _f th_ s_p_r-l_x_ry m_rk_t." S_p_r-l_x_ry m__ns c_rs c_st_ng _v_r $272,000.

Th_ C__ s__d p__pl_ b_y _ R_lls R_yc_ b_c__s_ th_y w_nt t_ h_v_ _ br_nd th_t _s _nr_v_ll_d _n _ts _m_g_ _f l_x_ry. H_ s__d: "_t's th_ _lt_m_t_ tr__t; th_ r_w_rd f_r h_rd w_rk. W_ s__ th_t cl__rly fr_m __r c_st_m_rs. _r__nd 80 p_r c_nt _f __r c_rs _r_ b__ght by b_s_n_ssm_n _nd w_m_n, m_st _f wh_m h_v_ st_rt_d _nd r_n th__r _wn b_s_n_ss_s. Th_ r_st _r_ b__ght by sp_rts st_rs _nd f_lm st_rs." H_ _dd_d th_t _t's n_t j_st th_ s_p_r-r_ch wh_ w_r_ sn_pp_ng _p th_ c_rs. H_ s__d: "Wh_t's _nt_r_st_ng n_w _s th_t w_ _r_ s___ng _ n_w gr__p _f _nd_v_d__ls wh_ h_v_ b__lt _p m_d-s_z_d b_s_n_ss_s _nd th_y _ls_ w_nt t_ tr__t th_ms_lv_s t_ th_ m_g_c c_rp_t r_d_." B_s_n_ssw_m_n n_w _cc__nt f_r t_n p_r c_nt _f s_l_s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the luxury automobile maker rolls-royce has reported record sales for 2013 the company said it's the fourth consecutive annual sales record it sold 3630 cars last year with a strong surge in demand in the middle east and china accounting for a good portion of the buoyant sales the middle east saw a sales increase of 17 per cent last year while sales in china went up by 11 per cent rolls-royce sold cars in more than 40 countries last year including new markets plans are in place to continue this global expansion the company ceo said "we have reported a strong year and have maintained our position at the pinnacle of the super-luxury market" super-luxury means cars costing over $272000

the ceo said people buy a rolls royce because they want to have a brand that is unrivalled in its image of luxury he said "it's the ultimate treat the reward for hard work we see that clearly from our customers around 80 per cent of our cars are bought by businessmen and women most of whom have started and run their own businesses the rest are bought by sports stars and film stars" he added that it's not just the super-rich who were snapping up the cars he said "what's interesting now is that we are seeing a new group of individuals who have built up mid-sized businesses and they also want to treat themselves to the magic carpet ride" businesswomen now account for ten per cent of sales

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheluxuryautomobilemakerRolls-Roycehasreportedrecordsalesfor2013.The
companysaidit'sthefourthconsecutiveannualsalesrecord.Itsold3,630carslasty
ear,withastrongsurgeindemandintheMiddleEastandChinaaccountingforagood
portionofthebuoyantsales.TheMiddleEastsawasalesincreaseof17percentlasty
ear,whilesalesinChinawentupby11percent.Rolls-Roycesoldcarsi
nmorethan40countrieslastyear,includingnewmarkets.Plansareinplacetoconti
nuethisglobalexpansion.ThecompanyCEOsaid:"Wehavereportedastrongyear
andhavemaintainedourpositionatthepinnacleofthesuper-luxurymarket."S
uperluxurymeanscarscostingover$272,000.TheCEOsaidpeoplebuyaRollsRoyc
ebecausetheywanttohaveabrandthatisunrivalledinitsimageofluxury.Hesaid:"I
t'stheultimatetreat;therewardforhardwork.Weseethatclearlyfromourcustome
rs.Around80percentofourcarsareboughtbybusinessmenandwomen,mostofwh
omhavestartedandruntheirownbusinesses.Therestareboughtbysportsstarsan
dfilmstars."Headdedthatit'snotjustthesuper-richwhoweresnappin
gupthecars.Hesaid:"What'sinterestingnowisthatweareseeinganewgroupofind
ividualswhohavebuiltupmid-sizedbusinessesandtheyalsowanttotreatt
hemselvestothemagiccarpetride."Businesswomennowaccountfortenpercento
fsales.

FREE WRITING

Write about Rolls-Royce cars for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

It is immoral to buy an expensive car when people are dying from hunger. 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 Rolls-Royce cars. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ROLLS ROYCE CARS: Make a poster about Rolls-Royce cars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SUPER-LUXURY: Write a magazine article about a super-luxury lifestyle. Include imaginary interviews with a poor person talking to someone who leads a super-luxury life.

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 CEO of Rolls-Royce. Ask him three questions about Rolls-Royce cars. Give him three of your opinions on them. 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

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	automobile	a.	car
2.	consecutive	b.	successive
3.	surge	c.	jump
4.	buoyant	d.	strong
5.	pinnacle	e.	top
6.	brand	f.	make
7.	ultimate	g.	topmost
8.	treat	h.	present
9.	run	i.	managed
10.	individuals	j.	people

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Four
2.	3,630
3.	11%
4.	Its position at the pinnacle of the super-luxury market
5.	$272,000
6.	Hard work
7.	Businessmen and women
8.	Mid-sized businesses
9.	A magic carpet ride
10.	10%

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

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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Record number of Rolls-Royces sold in 2013 (11th January, 2014)

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