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Record airbag recall (22nd May, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Authorities in the USA are recalling a record 34 million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fitted in them. The manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanisms inside the bags are defective and thus need to be repaired or replaced. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the airbags open too quickly on impact, which can cause broken glass or shards of metal to be propelled into the face of the driver or passenger. The bags are fitted into 11 different models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in US history. It follows a string of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Honda. The faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.

The US Department for Transportation welcomed the airbag recall. A spokesman said: "Today is a major step forward for public safety. The department…is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are addressed first." Meanwhile, Takata CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement…which represents a clear path forward." The company will obviously take a huge financial hit. The recall will cost the company and its customers up to $5 billion. Despite this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to make a profit this year.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/19/us-autos-takata-recall-idUSKBN0O428E20150519
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/20/business/takata-airbag-recall.html?_r=0
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32806056

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. CARS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cars. 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?

authorities / safety concerns / manufacturer / mechanisms / impact / passenger / major / step forward / public safety / risks / agreement / financial hit / customers

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

3. CAR SAFETY: How could cars be made safer? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Feature	How?	Good idea	Bad idea	Why?
Airbags
Tyres
Seat belts
Crash helmets
Brakes
GPS

4. AIRBAGS: Students A strongly believe airbags should be in all cars, buses, trains and airplanes; Students B strongly believe this is a stupid idea. 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. TRANSPORT: Rank these with your partner. Put the safest at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• bicycle

• car

• ship

• train

• taxi

• motorbike

• bus

• helicopter

6. SAFETY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "safety". 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.	Japan has recalled a record 34 million cars over safety concerns.	T / F
b.	The airbag maker has denied that anything was wrong with its airbags.	T / F
c.	There are eleven different models of car affected by the recall.	T / F
d.	Sixty deaths have been attributed to the airbags.	T / F
e.	The US Department of Transportation is happy with the recall.	T / F
f.	The CEO of the airbag company said he was pleased.	T / F
g.	The recall will cost the airbag company and its customers up to $5bn.	T / F
h.	The airbag company will not be able to make any profit this year.	T / F

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

1.	concerns	a.	broken
2.	admitted	b.	greeted
3.	defective	c.	connected
4.	propelled	d.	course
5.	linked	e.	worries
6.	welcomed	f.	anticipates
7.	major	g.	launched
8.	replaced	h.	confessed
9.	path	i.	exchanged
10.	expects	j.	important

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

1.	safety	a.	or passenger
2.	mechanisms inside the bags	b.	path forward
3.	the driver	c.	of other recalls
4.	It follows a string	d.	step forward
5.	linked to six deaths and	e.	concerns
6.	a major	f.	addressed first
7.	taking the proactive	g.	more than 100 injuries
8.	the highest risks are	h.	profit
9.	a clear	i.	are defective
10.	make a	j.	steps necessary

GAP FILL

Authorities in the USA are recalling a (1) ____________ 34 million cars because of safety (2) ____________ over the airbags fitted in them. The manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanisms inside the bags are (3) ____________ and thus need to be repaired or replaced. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the airbags open too quickly on impact, which can cause broken glass or (4) ____________ of metal to be propelled into the face of the driver or (5) ____________. The bags are fitted into 11 different models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in US (6) ____________. It follows a (7) ____________ of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Honda. The faulty airbags have been (8) ____________ to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.

passenger
concerns
string
record
shards
linked
defective
history

The US Department for Transportation (9) ____________ the airbag recall. A spokesman said: "Today is a (10) ____________ step forward for public safety. The department…is taking the proactive steps necessary to (11) ____________ that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest (12) ____________ are addressed first." Meanwhile, Takata's CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are pleased to have (13) ____________ this agreement…which represents a clear path (14) ____________." The company will obviously take a huge financial (15) ____________. The recall will cost the company and its customers up to $5 billion. Despite this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to make a (16) ____________ this year.

major
risks
forward
profit
welcomed
hit
ensure
reached

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Authorities in the USA are recalling a record 34 million cars ______ concerns
	a. because of safely b. because of safety c. because of safe tea d. because of safe tee
2)	The manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanisms inside the ______
	a. bags are reflective b. bags are invective c. bags are convective d. bags are defective
3)	the company Takata said that the airbags open too ______
	a. quickly on compact b. quickly on in packed c. quickly on impact d. quickly on repacked
4)	…which can cause broken glass or shards of metal to be propelled ______ the driver
	a. into the skull of b. into the head of c. into the visage of d. into the face of
5)	It follows ______ recalls, from Japanese manufacturers
	a. a thread of other b. a rope of other c. a sling of other d. a string of other
6)	The US Department for Transportation welcomed ______
	a. the airbags recall b. the airbag recall c. the airbag's recall d. the airbags' recall
7)	A spokesman said: "Today is a major step forward ______."
	a. for public safety b. for private safety c. for publicity safety d. for publicly safety
8)	taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective ______
	a. inflators are replaces b. inflators are replace c. inflators are replaced d. inflators are replacing
9)	We are pleased to have reached this agreement…which represents ______
	a. a cleared path forward b. a clear path forward c. a clears path forward d. a clearly path forward
10)	he expects the company will still be able to ______ year
	a. do a profit this b. have a profit this c. fake a profit this d. make a profit this

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Authorities in the USA are (1) ___________________ 34 million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fitted in them. The manufacturer of the airbags (2) ___________________ mechanisms inside the bags are defective and thus need to be (3) ___________________. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the airbags open too quickly on impact, which can cause broken glass or shards of metal (4) ___________________ into the face of the driver or passenger. The bags are fitted into 11 different models of car and (5) ___________________ the biggest in US history. It follows a string of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Honda. The faulty airbags have (6) ___________________ deaths and more than 100 injuries.

The US Department for Transportation welcomed (7) ___________________. A spokesman said: "Today is a major step forward for public safety. The department…is (8) ___________________ steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest (9) ___________________ first." Meanwhile, Takata's CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement…which represents a (10) ___________________." The company will obviously take a huge financial hit. The recall will cost the company and its customers (11) ___________________. Despite this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to (12) ___________________ year.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many cars are being recalled?
2.	Who admitted the airbags were defective?
3.	What did the manufacturer say happens too quickly on impact?
4.	How many different models of car are affected?
5.	How many injuries have the airbags caused?
6.	Which US government department welcomed the recall?
7.	How quickly are the airbags being replaced?
8.	What does the recall represent?
9.	How much will the recall cost the company and its customers?
10.	What will the company still be able to make this year?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many cars are being recalled?	6.	Which US government department welcomed the recall?
	a) 3.4 million b) 34 million c) 34,000 d) 340,000		a) Transportation b) Automobiles c) Public Safety d) Food and Fisheries
2.	Who admitted the airbags were defective?	7.	How quickly are the airbags being replaced?
	a) passengers b) car drivers c) a US government department d) the airbag company		a) once the spare parts arrive b) whenever c) as quickly as possible d) they're still deciding
3.	What did the manufacturer say happens too quickly on impact?	8.	What does the recall represent?
	a) the bags open b) accidents c) malfunctions d) nothing		a) a clear path forward b) common sense c) a huge financial loss d) a victory for passengers
4.	How many different models of car are affected?	9.	How much will the recall cost the company and its customers?
	a) 10 b) 11 c) 12 d) 13		a) up to $5 bn b) nearly $5,000,000 c) as much as $50,000,000 d) nearly half a billion dollars
5.	How many injuries have the airbags caused?	10.	What will the company still be able to make this year?
	a) just under 100 b) more than 100 c) exactly 100 d) around 100		a) new airbags b) a mess c) inroads d) a profit

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Bicycle

You think a bicycle is the safest form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so safe. Also, tell the others which is the most dangerous of these (and why): car, train or bus.

Role B – Car

You think a car is the safest form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so safe. Also, tell the others which is the most dangerous of these (and why): bicycle, train or bus.

Role C – Train

You think a train is the safest form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so safe. Also, tell the others which is the most dangerous of these (and why): car, bicycle or bus.

Role D – Bus

You think a bus is the safest form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so safe. Also, tell the others which is the most dangerous of these (and why): car, train or bicycle.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

air

bag

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:

record
inside
quickly
face
history
100

welcomed
major
safe
CEO
path
5

AIRBAGS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about airbags 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.

AIRBAGS 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 'airbag'?
3)	What do you know about airbags?
4)	How good an invention are airbags?
5)	What do you think of the safety recall?
6)	Do you feel comforted if there are airbags in a car?
7)	What other safety features would you like to see in cars?
8)	How much damage do you think this recall will cause the maker?
9)	What do you think of Toyota and Honda?
10)	What compensation should the air bag company pay people?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How dangerous are cars?
13)	How do airbags work?
14)	How are safety regulations in your country?
15)	Do you ever worry about safety in cars?
16)	In what other areas of life should there be airbags?
17)	How safe are cars and driving in them?
18)	If you bought a new car, would you ask questions about airbags?
19)	What risks and dangers are there in your daily life?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Takata's CEO?

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

Authorities in the USA are recalling a (1) ____ 34 million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fitted in them. The manufacturer of the airbags has (2) ____ that mechanisms inside the bags are (3) ____ and thus need to be repaired or replaced. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the airbags open too quickly (4) ____ impact, which can cause broken glass or shards of metal to be propelled into the face of the driver or passenger. The bags are (5) ____ into 11 different models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in US history. It follows a (6) ____ of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Honda. The faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.

The US Department for Transportation (7) ____ the airbag recall. A spokesman said: "Today is a major step forward (8) ____ public safety. The department…is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are (9) ____ first." Meanwhile, Takata's CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement…which represents a (10) ____ path forward." The company will obviously take a huge financial (11) ____. The recall will cost the company and its customers up to $5 billion. Despite this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to (12) ____ a profit this year.

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

1.	(a)	recorded	(b)	recording	(c)	record	(d)	records
2.	(a)	admitted	(b)	admits	(c)	admission	(d)	admitting
3.	(a)	defective	(b)	deflective	(c)	dejected	(d)	departed
4.	(a)	on	(b)	to	(c)	as	(d)	by
5.	(a)	fitness	(b)	fitted	(c)	fits	(d)	fitting
6.	(a)	thread	(b)	rope	(c)	tape	(d)	string
7.	(a)	pleased	(b)	greetings	(c)	welcomed	(d)	applaud
8.	(a)	to	(b)	by	(c)	of	(d)	for
9.	(a)	addressed	(b)	stamped	(c)	enveloped	(d)	mailed
10.	(a)	clarity	(b)	clear	(c)	clearly	(d)	clears
11.	(a)	smack	(b)	hit	(c)	punch	(d)	tap
12.	(a)	fake	(b)	bake	(c)	make	(d)	rake

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	tasrtoiehui in the USA
2.	fseaty concerns
3.	ecahssmimn inside the bags
4.	the driver or enpseasgr
5.	Japanese cteruaunfmasr
6.	six deaths and more than 100 sjrieiun
Paragraph 2
7.	a major step wdfraor
8.	taking the proactive steps ecreanyss
9.	the highest risks are esrdaedds first
10.	reached this nmtreegea
11.	rprsseteen a clear path forward
12.	take a huge aicnfnlia hit

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	defective and thus need to be repaired or replaced. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the airbags open
( )	step forward for public safety. The department…is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure
( )	reached this agreement…which represents a clear path forward." The company will obviously take a huge
( )	in them. The manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanisms inside the bags are
( )	financial hit. The recall will cost the company and its customers up
( )	The US Department for Transportation welcomed the airbag recall. A spokesman said: "Today is a major
( )	and Honda. The faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.
( )	to $5 billion. Despite this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to make a profit this year.
( )	or passenger. The bags are fitted into 11 different models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in US
( )	history. It follows a string of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota
( )	too quickly on impact, which can cause broken glass or shards of metal to be propelled into the face of the driver
( 1 )	Authorities in the USA are recalling a record 34 million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fitted
( )	risks are addressed first." Meanwhile, Takata's CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are pleased to have
( )	that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	cars million 34 record a recalling are USA the in Authorities .
2.	open too quickly on impact Takata said that the airbags .
3.	of into to Shards the the be of driver face propelled metal .
4.	11 different models of car The bags are fitted into .
5.	faulty been six The have to airbags linked deaths .
6.	safety is step public Today major for a forward .
7.	safe replaced Ensure ones inflators that with are defective .
8.	reached are this pleased agreement to have We .
9.	hit company take financial The obviously huge will a .
10.	He a able will expects profit to still the make be company .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Authorities in the USA are recalling / recalled a record 34 million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fit / fitted in them. The manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanism / mechanisms inside the bags are reflective / defective and thus need to be repaired or replaced. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the airbags open too / much quickly on impact, which can cause / causation broken glass or shards of metal to be propelled into / onto the face of the driver or passenger. The bags are fitted into 11 different modes / models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in US history. It follows a thread / string of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Honda. The faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injures / injuries.

The US Department for Transportation pleased / welcomed the airbag recall. A spokesman said: "Today is a major stair / step forward for public safety. The department…is taking the proactive / provocative steps necessary to ensure / insure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are phoned / addressed first." Meanwhile, Takata's CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are pleasure / pleased to have reached / reach this agreement…which represents a clear path forward." The company will obviously take a huge financial smack / hit. The recall will cost / costing the company and its customers up to $5 billion. Despite this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to rake / make a profit this year.

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_r_t__s _n th_ _S_ _r_ r_c_ll_ng _ r_c_rd 34 m_ll__n c_rs b_c__s_ _f s_f_ty c_nc_rns _v_r th_ __rb_gs f_tt_d _n th_m. Th_ m_n_f_ct_r_r _f th_ __rb_gs h_s _dm_tt_d th_t m_ch_n_sms _ns_d_ th_ b_gs _r_ d_f_ct_v_ _nd th_s n__d t_ b_ r_p__r_d _r r_pl_c_d. _ sp_k_sm_n fr_m th_ c_mp_ny T_k_t_ s__d th_t th_ __rb_gs _p_n t__ q__ckly _n _mp_ct, wh_ch c_n c__s_ br_k_n gl_ss _r sh_rds _f m_t_l t_ b_ pr_p_ll_d _nt_ th_ f_c_ _f th_ dr_v_r _r p_ss_ng_r. Th_ b_gs _r_ f_tt_d _nt_ 11 d_ff_r_nt m_d_ls _f c_r _nd th_ r_c_ll c_nst_t_t_s th_ b_gg_st _n _S h_st_ry. _t f_ll_ws _ str_ng _f _th_r r_c_lls, fr_m J_p_n_s_ m_n_f_ct_r_rs T_y_t_ _nd H_nd_. Th_ f__lty __rb_gs h_v_ b__n l_nk_d t_ s_x d__ths _nd m_r_ th_n 100 _nj_r__s.

Th_ _S D_p_rtm_nt f_r Tr_nsp_rt_t__n w_lc_m_d th_ __rb_g r_c_ll. _ sp_k_sm_n s__d: "T_d_y _s _ m_j_r st_p f_rw_rd f_r p_bl_c s_f_ty. Th_ d_p_rtm_nt…_s t_k_ng th_ pr__ct_v_ st_ps n_c_ss_ry t_ _ns_r_ th_t d_f_ct_v_ _nfl_t_rs _r_ r_pl_c_d w_th s_f_ _n_s _s q__ckly _s p_ss_bl_, _nd th_t th_ h_gh_st r_sks _r_ _ddr_ss_d f_rst." M__nwh_l_, T_k_t_'s C__ Sh_g_h_s_ T_k_d_ s__d: "W_ _r_ pl__s_d t_ h_v_ r__ch_d th_s _gr__m_nt…wh_ch r_pr_s_nts _ cl__r p_th f_rw_rd." Th_ c_mp_ny w_ll _bv___sly t_k_ _ h_g_ f_n_nc__l h_t. Th_ r_c_ll w_ll c_st th_ c_mp_ny _nd _ts c_st_m_rs _p t_ $5 b_ll__n. D_sp_t_ th_s, Mr T_k_d_ s__d h_ _xp_cts th_ c_mp_ny w_ll st_ll b_ _bl_ t_ m_k_ _ pr_f_t th_s y__r.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

authorities in the usa are recalling a record 34 million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fitted in them the manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanisms inside the bags are defective and thus need to be repaired or replaced a spokesman from the company takata said that the airbags open too quickly on impact which can cause broken glass or shards of metal to be propelled into the face of the driver or passenger the bags are fitted into 11 different models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in us history it follows a string of other recalls from japanese manufacturers toyota and honda the faulty airbags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries

the us department for transportation welcomed the airbag recall a spokesman said "today is a major step forward for public safety the department…is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible and that the highest risks are addressed first" meanwhile takata's ceo shigehisa takada said "we are pleased to have reached this agreement…which represents a clear path forward" the company will obviously take a huge financial hit the recall will cost the company and its customers up to $5 billion despite this mr takada said he expects the company will still be able to make a profit this year

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AuthoritiesintheUSAarerecallingarecord34millioncarsbecauseofsaf
etyconcernsovertheairbagsfittedinthem.Themanufactureroftheairb
agshasadmittedthatmechanismsinsidethebagsaredefectiveandthus
needtoberepairedorreplaced.AspokesmanfromthecompanyTakatas
aidthattheairbagsopentooquicklyonimpact,whichcancausebrokengl
assorshardsofmetaltobepropelledintothefaceofthedriverorpasseng
er.Thebagsarefittedinto11differentmodelsofcarandtherecallconstit
utesthebiggestinUShistory.Itfollowsastringofotherrecalls,fromJapa
nesemanufacturersToyotaandHonda.Thefaultyairbagshavebeenlin
kedtosixdeathsandmorethan100injuries.TheUSDepartmentforTran
sportationwelcomedtheairbagrecall.Aspokesmansaid:"Todayisama
jorstepforwardforpublicsafety.Thedepartment…istakingtheproactiv
estepsnecessarytoensurethatdefectiveinflatorsarereplacedwithsafe
onesasquicklyaspossible,andthatthehighestrisksareaddressedfirst.
"Meanwhile,Takata'sCEOShigehisaTakadasaid:"Wearepleasedtoha
vereachedthisagreement…whichrepresentsaclearpathforward."The
companywillobviouslytakeahugefinancialhit.Therecallwillcosttheco
mpanyanditscustomersupto$5billion.Despitethis,MrTakadasaidhee
xpectsthecompanywillstillbeabletomakeaprofitthisyear.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Cars are the safest form of transport. 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 airbags. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. AIRBAGS: Make a poster about airbags. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. CAR SAFETY: Write a magazine article about car safety. Include imaginary interviews with people who think cars are safe and with people who think they are dangerous.

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 cars. Ask him/her three questions about airbags. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make cars safer. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	concerns	a.	worries
2	admitted	b.	confessed
3.	defective	c.	broken
4.	propelled	d.	launched
5.	linked	e.	connected
6.	welcomed	f.	greeted
7.	major	g.	important
8.	replaced	h.	exchanged
9.	path	i.	course
10.	expects	j.	anticipates

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	34 million
2.	The airbag company Takata
3.	The bags open too quickly
4.	11
5.	Over 100
6.	Transportation
7.	As quickly as possible
8.	A clear path forward
9.	Up to $5 billion
10.	A profit

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

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 airbag recall (22nd May, 2015)

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