The Reading / Listening - Flying Cars - Level 3

It's hard to keep up with technology these days. The latest example of science fiction becoming science fact is a flying car. For decades, we have watched movies about a future with flying cars. This week, journalists saw a real one in flight. A prototype flying AirCar completed a test flight between two cities in Slovakia. The car flew between a regional airport and an airport in the capital city Bratislava. The 90km journey took 35 minutes to complete. AirCar is from a company called Klein Vision. A founder of the company said: "AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept." He added: "Flying at [2,500 metres] at a speed of [185kph], it has turned science fiction into a reality."

AirCar is a road-legal car that transforms into an aircraft in less than three minutes. AirCar CEO Professor Stefan Klein flew and landed the vehicle on its recent test flight. After landing at Bratislava Airport, he pushed one button to transform the aircraft into a sports car. He then drove it into downtown Bratislava on the city's streets. He described the flight as "normal" and "very pleasant". His company is working on a new, more powerful model called AirCar Prototype 2. This will have a much more powerful engine that is capable of a cruising speed of 300kph and a range of 1,000 kilometres. The newer model will also be a four-seater as opposed to the two-seater that was recently tested.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Flying Cars - Level 0,  Flying Cars - Level 1   or  Flying Cars - Level 2

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/30/business/flying-car-flight-slovakia-scli-intl/index.html
  • https://uk.news.yahoo.com/science-fiction-reality-flying-sportscar-070052538.html
  • https://www.engadget.com/aircar-first-inter-city-flight-092852060.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

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?
       keep up / technology / science fiction / movies / flying cars / airport / journey / speed
       aircraft / three minutes / sports / downtown / normal / powerful / engine / two-seater
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FLYING CARS: Students A strongly believe flying cars are better than road cars; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SCIENCE FICTION: What do you think of these things from science fiction? How would they change our life? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Thoughts

Changes

Jet packs

 

 

Food pills

 

 

Anti-aging

 

 

Zero carbon energy

 

 

Language injections

 

 

Personal robots

 

 
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. SCIENCE FICTION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "science fiction". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TECHNOLOGY: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things for technology to improve at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Transport
  • Health
  • Military
  • Environment
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Farming
  • Policing

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. keep up with a. Stories or ideas about the future or about new technology, or about travelling into space.
      2. science fiction b. A first model of something, especially a machine, from which others are developed or copied.
      3. decade c. A person who writes for newspapers, magazines, or news websites.
      4. journalist d. A period of ten years.
      5. prototype e. Learn about or be aware of news or the latest things in the world.
      6. regional f. An idea about something, especially something new.
      7. concept g. About an area of a country or the world.

    Paragraph 2

      8. legal h. How fast a car, ship, or aircraft can travel (usually below its maximum) that is comfortable and economical.
      9. transform i. Allowed by law.
      10. vehicle j. Nice.
      11. downtown k. How far a vehicle or aircraft can travel without refueling.
      12. pleasant l. A thing used for moving people or goods, especially on land, such as a car, truck, or cart.
      13. cruising m. Of, in, or about the central area of a town or city.
      14. range n. Change from one thing into another.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says it is easy to be aware of technology these days.     T / F
  2. The article says we watched movies with flying cars.     T / F
  3. The flying car took 90 minutes to make its journey.     T / F
  4. The flying car reached a height of 2,500 metres.     T / F
  5. It is not legal to drive the AirCar on the roads.     T / F
  6. It takes less than three minutes for the aircraft to change into a car.     T / F
  7. The pilot CEO drove the car into the city from the airport.     T / F
  8. A new model of the car will have two seats.     T / F

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

  1. latest
  2. movies
  3. completed
  4. journey
  5. proof
  6. transforms
  7. landing
  8. pleasant
  9. model
  10. tested
  1. touching down
  2. trip
  3. version
  4. evidence
  5. films
  6. nice
  7. trialled
  8. most recent
  9. turns
  10. finished

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

  1. It's hard to keep up with
  2. science fiction becoming science
  3. movies about a future
  4. a regional
  5. it has turned science fiction
  6. a road-legal car that transforms
  7. After landing
  8. He described the flight as "normal"
  9. capable of a cruising
  10. The newer model will also be
  1. a four-seater
  2. into a reality
  3. into an aircraft
  4. at Bratislava Airport
  5. fact
  6. and "very pleasant"
  7. technology these days
  8. speed of 300kph
  9. with flying cars
  10. airport

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reality
flight
hard
journey
concept
fact
founder
regional

It's (1) _____________________ to keep up with technology these days. The latest example of science fiction becoming science (2) _____________________ is a flying car. For decades, we have watched movies about a future with flying cars. This week, journalists saw a real one in (3) _____________________. A prototype flying AirCar completed a test flight between two cities in Slovakia. The car flew between a (4) _____________________ airport and an airport in the capital city Bratislava. The 90km (5) _____________________ took 35 minutes to complete. AirCar is from a company called Klein Vision. A (6) _____________________ of the company said: "AirCar is no longer just a proof of (7) _____________________." He added: "Flying at [2,500 metres] at a speed of [185kph], it has turned science fiction into a (8) _____________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
button
recently
downtown
vehicle
cruising
transforms
flight
range

AirCar is a road-legal car that (9) _____________________ into an aircraft in less than three minutes. AirCar CEO Professor Stefan Klein flew and landed the (10) _____________________ on its recent test flight. After landing at Bratislava Airport, he pushed one (11) _____________________ to transform the aircraft into a sports car. He then drove it into (12) _____________________ Bratislava on the city's streets. He described the (13) _____________________ as "normal" and "very pleasant". His company is working on a new, more powerful model called AirCar Prototype 2. This will have a much more powerful engine that is capable of a (14) _____________________ speed of 300kph and a (15) _____________________ of 1,000 kilometres. The newer model will also be a four-seater as opposed to the two-seater that was (16) _____________________ tested.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) It's hard to keep up with technology ______
     a.  these days
     b.  them days
     c.  those days
     d.  this days
2)  The latest example of science fiction becoming ______
     a.  science tact
     b.  science fact
     c.  science pact
     d.  science act
3)  This week, journalists saw a real ______
     a.  once in flight
     b.  one in a flight
     c.  one inner flight
     d.  one in flight
4)  The car flew between a regional airport and an airport ______
     a.  in the capital
     b.  in the Capitol
     c.  in that capital
     d.  in Das Capital
5)  it has turned science fiction ______
     a.  onto a reality
     b.  unto a reality
     c.  in two a reality
     d.  into a reality

6)  a road-legal car that transforms into an aircraft in ______ minutes
     a.  lesser then three
     b.  less than three
     c.  lesser than three
     d.  bless than three
7)  AirCar CEO Professor Stefan Klein flew and landed the vehicle on its ______
     a.  recently test flight
     b.  recent tests flight
     c.  recent test flight
     d.  recent test fight
8)  he pushed one button to transform the aircraft into ______
     a.  a sports car
     b.  a shorts car
     c.  a snorts car
     d.  a sorts car
9)  His company is working on a new, more ______
     a.  powerful model
     b.  powder full model
     c.  powers full model
     d.  powered full model
10)  The newer model will also be a four-seater as ______ two-seater
     a.  opposed to the
     b.  oh posed to the
     c.  a posed to the
     d.  supposed to the

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

It's hard to (1) ____________________ technology these days. The latest example of science fiction becoming (2) ____________________ a flying car. For decades, we have watched movies about a (3) ____________________ cars. This week, journalists saw a real (4) ____________________. A prototype flying AirCar completed a test flight between two cities in Slovakia. The car flew between (5) ____________________ and an airport in the capital city Bratislava. The 90km journey took 35 minutes to complete. AirCar is from a company called Klein Vision. A founder of the company said: "AirCar is no longer just a (6) ____________________." He added: "Flying at [2,500 metres] at a speed of [185kph], it has turned science fiction into a reality."

AirCar is a (7) ____________________ that transforms into an aircraft in less than three minutes. AirCar CEO Professor Stefan Klein flew and landed the vehicle on its (8) ____________________. After landing at Bratislava Airport, he pushed one button to (9) ____________________ into a sports car. He then drove it into downtown Bratislava on the city's streets. He described the flight as "normal" (10) ____________________. His company is working on a new, more powerful model called AirCar Prototype 2. This will have a much more powerful engine that is capable of (11) ____________________ of 300kph and a range of 1,000 kilometres. The newer model will also be a four-seater (12) ____________________ the two-seater that was recently tested.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say it is hard to keep up with these days?
  2. Where did people watch flying cars before the AirCar flew?
  3. Where did the AirCar take off from?
  4. How long did the AirCar's journey take?
  5. How fast did the AirCar go?
  6. How long does it take for the AirCar to change from a car to an aircraft?
  7. How many buttons did the CEO press to transform the AirCar?
  8. Where in Bratislava did the CEO drive the AirCar to?
  9. What is the name of a more powerful AirCar?
  10. How many seats will the new AirCar have?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say it is hard to keep up with these days?
a) flying cars
b) sports teams
c) science fiction
d) technology
2) Where did people watch flying cars before the AirCar flew?
a) on the Internet
b) movies
c) in museums
d) in toy stores
3) Where did the AirCar take off from?
a) the CEO's garden
b) a farm
c) a national highway
d) a regional airport
4) How long did the AirCar's journey take?
a) 55 minutes
b) 25 minutes
c) 35 minutes
d) 45 minutes

5) How fast did the AirCar go?
a) 158kph
b) 175kph
c) 278kph
d) 185kph

6) How long does it take for the AirCar to change from a car to an aircraft?
a) exactly 3 minutes
b) just over 3 minutes
c) less than 3 minutes
d) about 3 minutes
7) How many buttons did the CEO press to transform the AirCar?
a) one
b) two
c) three
d) four
8) Where in Bratislava did the CEO drive the AirCar to?
a) a river
b) the entertainment district
c) downtown
d) the government building
9) What is the name of a more powerful AirCar?
a) Prototype X
b) Prototype 2
c) Prototype 20
d) Prototype 10
10) How many seats will the new AirCar have?
a) 4
b) 8
c) 6
d) 2

Role play

Role  A – Transport
You think the most important thing for technology to improve is transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): health, education or energy.

Role  B – Health
You think the most important thing for technology to improve is health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): transport, education or energy.

Role  C – Education
You think the most important thing for technology to improve is education. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): health, transport or energy.

Role  D – Energy
You think the most important thing for technology to improve is energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): health, education or transport.

After reading / listening

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

'flying'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'car'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • keep
    • movies
    • flight
    • capital
    • founder
    • added
    • legal
    • less
    • button
    • normal
    • cruising
    • four

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Flying Cars

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'flying'?
    3. What do you think of flying cars?
    4. Would you worry about getting into a flying car?
    5. How can we stop flying cars crashing into each other?
    6. How interested are you in science fiction?
    7. When will flying cars be as common as road cars?
    8. Would you like a jet-pack so you can fly around?
    9. How might flying cars be better for cities?
    10. What three adjectives best describe this story?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'car'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the car becoming an airplane in three minutes?
    5. Where would you go if you had an AirCar?
    6. What kind of training might you need to fly an AirCar?
    7. Do you think AirCars will mean the end of airplanes?
    8. Do you think people should be allowed to buy AirCars?
    9. What do you think of the name 'AirCar'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the AirCar boss?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    It's hard to keep (1) ____ with technology these days. The latest example of science fiction becoming science (2) ____ is a flying car. For decades, we have watched movies about a future with flying cars. This week, journalists saw a real one (3) ____ flight. A prototype flying AirCar completed a test flight between two cities in Slovakia. The car flew between a (4) ____ airport and an airport in the capital city Bratislava. The 90km journey took 35 minutes to (5) ____. AirCar is from a company called Klein Vision. A founder of the company said: "AirCar is no longer just a (6) ____ of concept." He added: "Flying at [2,500 metres] at a speed of [185kph], it has turned science fiction into a reality."

    AirCar is a road-legal car that (7) ____ into an aircraft in less than three minutes. AirCar CEO Professor Stefan Klein flew and (8) ____ the vehicle on its recent test flight. After landing at Bratislava Airport, he pushed one button to transform the aircraft into a sports car. He then drove it into (9) ____ Bratislava on the city's streets. He described the flight as "normal" and "very (10) ____ ". His company is working on a new, more powerful model called AirCar Prototype 2. This will have a much more powerful engine that is capable of a (11) ____ speed of 300kph and a range of 1,000 kilometers. The newer model will also be a four-seater (12) ____ opposed to the two-seater that was recently tested.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     on     (b)     up     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    (a)     detail     (b)     fact     (c)     info     (d)     statistic    
    (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    (a)     regions     (b)     regional     (c)     regionally     (d)     region    
    (a)     competitor     (b)     compete     (c)     compute     (d)     complete    
    (a)     prof     (b)     prove     (c)     proof     (d)     improve    
    (a)     transforms     (b)     transforming     (c)     transform     (d)     transformation    
    (a)     grounded     (b)     earthed     (c)     landed     (d)     floored    
    (a)     towns     (b)     town     (c)     townie     (d)     downtown    
    (a)     pleasant     (b)     peasant     (c)     pheasant     (d)     pleasure    
    (a)     cruising     (b)     passing     (c)     framing     (d)     boarding    
    (a)     as     (b)     has     (c)     is     (d)     was

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. keep up with clhtngooey
    2. For dcaeesd, we have watched movies
    3. journalists saw a real one in hilfgt
    4. a aenrolgi airport
    5. no longer just a proof of pcencot
    6. science iicotfn

    Paragraph 2

    1. transforms into an rfcairta
    2. Klein flew and landed the iehecvl
    3. normal and very tleansap
    4. powerful model called AirCar orytopPte 2
    5. capable of a scrnuiig speed of 300kph
    6. as osdpepo to the two-seater

    Put the text back together

    (...)  landed the vehicle on its recent test flight. After landing at Bratislava Airport, he pushed one
    (...)  between a regional airport and an airport in the capital city Bratislava. The 90km journey took
    (...)  fact is a flying car. For decades, we have watched movies about a future with flying cars. This week, journalists saw a real
    (...)  AirCar is a road-legal car that transforms into an aircraft in less than three minutes. AirCar CEO Professor Stefan Klein flew and
    (...)  more powerful engine that is capable of a cruising speed of 300kph and a range of 1,000 kilometres. The newer
    (...)  model will also be a four-seater as opposed to the two-seater that was recently tested.
    (...)  at [2,500 metres] at a speed of [185kph], it has turned science fiction into a reality."
    (...)  working on a new, more powerful model called AirCar Prototype 2. This will have a much
    (  1  ) It's hard to keep up with technology these days. The latest example of science fiction becoming science
    (...)  one in flight. A prototype flying AirCar completed a test flight between two cities in Slovakia. The car flew
    (...)  button to transform the aircraft into a sports car. He then drove it into downtown Bratislava on the city's
    (...)  streets. He described the flight as "normal" and "very pleasant". His company is
    (...)  35 minutes to complete. AirCar is from a company called Klein Vision. A founder of
    (...)  the company said: "AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept." He added: "Flying

    Put the words in the right order

    1. hard   with   It's   to   technology   nowadays   .   keep   up
    2. science   fact   .   science   of   fiction   example   becoming   An
    3. movies   cars   .   a   flying   with   future   about   Watched
    4. a   week,   This   flight   .   real   saw   in   journalists   one
    5. a   It   fiction   science   turned   has   reality   .   into
    6. three   aircraft   in   Transforms   just   an   minutes   .   into
    7. the   to   He   pushed   transform   one   button   aircraft   .
    8. powerful   on   a   It's   model   .   more   working   new,
    9. more   have   engine   .   a   will   powerful   This   much
    10. four-seater   .   model   The   also   be   will   a   newer

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    It's hard to keep down / up with technology these days. The latest example of science faction / fiction becoming science fact is a flying car. For decays / decades, we have watched movies about a future with flying cars. This week, journalists saw a real / really one in flight. A prototype flying AirCar competed / completed a test flight between two cities in Slovakia. The car flew between / among a regional airport and an airport in the capital city Bratislava. The 90km journey took 35 minutes to complete. AirCar is at / from a company called Klein Vision. A founder / flounder of the company said: "AirCar is no longer just a proof of / to concept." He added: "Flying at [2,500 metres] at a speed of [185kph], it has turned science fiction into a reality / real."

    AirCar is a road-legal car that transfers / transforms into an aircraft in less than three minutes. AirCar CEO Professor Stefan Klein flew and landed the vehicle on / at its recent test flight. After landing at Bratislava Airport, he pushed once / one button to transform the aircraft onto / into a sports car. He then drove it into town / downtown Bratislava on the city's streets. He described the flight as "normal" and "very pleasant / peasant". His company is working on a new, more powerfully / powerful model called AirCar Prototype 2. This will have a much / many more powerful engine that is capable to / of a cruising speed of 300kph and a range of 1,000 kilometres. The newer model will also be a four-seater as opposed to the two-seater that was recently / recent tested.

    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)

    _t's  h_rd  t_  k__p  _p  w_th  t_chn_l_gy  th_s_  d_ys.  Th_  l_t_st  _x_mpl_  _f  sc__nc_  f_ct__n  b_c_m_ng  sc__nc_  f_ct  _s  _  fly_ng  c_r.  F_r  d_c_d_s,  w_  h_v_  w_tch_d  m_v__s  _b__t  _  f_t_r_  w_th  fly_ng  c_rs.  Th_s  w__k,  j__rn_l_sts  s_w  _  r__l  _n_  _n  fl_ght.  _  pr_t_typ_  fly_ng  __rC_r  c_mpl_t_d  _  t_st  fl_ght  b_tw__n  tw_  c_t__s  _n  Sl_v_k__.  Th_  c_r  fl_w  b_tw__n  _  r_g__n_l  __rp_rt  _nd  _n  __rp_rt  _n  th_  c_p_t_l  c_ty  Br_t_sl_v_.  Th_  90km  j__rn_y  t__k  35  m_n_t_s  t_  c_mpl_t_.  __rC_r  _s  fr_m  _  c_mp_ny  c_ll_d  Kl__n  V_s__n.  _  f__nd_r  _f  th_  c_mp_ny  s__d:  "__rC_r  _s  n_  l_ng_r  j_st  _  pr__f  _f  c_nc_pt."  H_  _dd_d:  "Fly_ng  _t  [2,500  m_tr_s]  _t  _  sp__d  _f  [185kph],  _t  h_s  t_rn_d  sc__nc_  f_ct__n  _nt_  _  r__l_ty."

    __rC_r  _s  _  r__d-l_g_l  c_r  th_t  tr_nsf_rms  _nt_  _n  __rcr_ft  _n  l_ss  th_n  thr__  m_n_t_s.  __rC_r  C__  Pr_f_ss_r  St_f_n  Kl__n  fl_w  _nd  l_nd_d  th_  v_h_cl_  _n  _ts  r_c_nt  t_st  fl_ght.  _ft_r  l_nd_ng  _t  Br_t_sl_v_  __rp_rt,  h_  p_sh_d  _n_  b_tt_n  t_  tr_nsf_rm  th_  __rcr_ft  _nt_  _  sp_rts  c_r.  H_  th_n  dr_v_  _t  _nt_  d_wnt_wn  Br_t_sl_v_  _n  th_  c_ty's  str__ts.  H_  d_scr_b_d  th_  fl_ght  _s  "n_rm_l"  _nd  "v_ry  pl__s_nt".  H_s  c_mp_ny  _s  w_rk_ng  _n  _  n_w,  m_r_  p_w_rf_l  m_d_l  c_ll_d  __rC_r  Pr_t_typ_  2.  Th_s  w_ll  h_v_  _  m_ch  m_r_  p_w_rf_l  _ng_n_  th_t  _s  c_p_bl_  _f  _  cr__s_ng  sp__d  _f  300kph  _nd  _  r_ng_  _f  1,000  k_l_m_t_rs.  Th_  n_w_r  m_d_l  w_ll  _ls_  b_  _  f__r-s__t_r  _s  _pp_s_d  t_  th_  tw_-s__t_r  th_t  w_s  r_c_ntly  t_st_d.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    its hard to keep up with technology these days the latest example of science fiction becoming science fact is a flying car for decades we have watched movies about a future with flying cars this week journalists saw a real one in flight a prototype flying aircar completed a test flight between two cities in slovakia the car flew between a regional airport and an airport in the capital city bratislava the 90km journey took 35 minutes to complete aircar is from a company called klein vision a founder of the company said aircar is no longer just a proof of concept he added flying at 2500 metres at a speed of 185kph it has turned science fiction into a reality

    aircar is a roadlegal car that transforms into an aircraft in less than three minutes aircar ceo professor stefan klein flew and landed the vehicle on its recent test flight after landing at bratislava airport he pushed one button to transform the aircraft into a sports car he then drove it into downtown bratislava on the citys streets he described the flight as normal and very pleasant his company is working on a new more powerful model called aircar prototype 2 this will have a much more powerful engine that is capable of a cruising speed of 300kph and a range of 1000 kilometres the newer model will also be a fourseater as opposed to the twoseater that was recently tested

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    It'shardtokeepupwithtechnologythesedays.Thelatestexampleofscie
    ncefictionbecomingsciencefactisaflyingcar.Fordecades,wehavewat
    chedmoviesaboutafuturewithflyingcars.Thisweek,journalistssawar
    ealoneinflight.AprototypeflyingAirCarcompletedatestflightbetween
    twocitiesinSlovakia.Thecarflewbetweenaregionalairportandanairpo
    rtinthecapitalcityBratislava.The90kmjourneytook35minutestocom
    plete.AirCarisfromacompanycalledKleinVision.Afounderofthecomp
    anysaid:"AirCarisnolongerjustaproofofconcept."Headded:"Flyingat
    [2,500metres]ataspeedof[185kph],ithasturnedsciencefictionintoar
    eality."AirCarisaroad-legalcarthattransformsintoanaircraftinlesstha
    nthreeminutes.AirCarCEOProfessorStefanKleinflewandlandedtheve
    hicleonitsrecenttestflight.AfterlandingatBratislavaAirport,hepushe
    donebuttontotransformtheaircraftintoasportscar.Hethendroveitint
    odowntownBratislavaonthecity'sstreets.Hedescribedtheflightas"no
    rmal"and"verypleasant".Hiscompanyisworkingonanew,morepower
    fulmodelcalledAirCarPrototype2.Thiswillhaveamuchmorepowerfule
    nginethatiscapableofacruisingspeedof300kphandarangeof1,000kil
    ometres.Thenewermodelwillalsobeafour-seaterasopposedtothetw
    o-seaterthatwasrecentlytested.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Flying cars will be great for society. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. OUR SCIENCE FICTION FUTURE: Make a poster about our science fiction future. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FLYING CARS: Write a magazine article about flying cars. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.
    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 flying cars. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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