The Reading / Listening - Oxford Street - Level 3

One of London's most famous shopping streets has been pedestrianized. This means no cars, buses, trucks, or motorbikes can enter it. The street is called Oxford Street. It is well known all over the world. It used to be full of traffic. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, decided to make it pedestrian-only. Around one kilometre of the street is off limits to vehicles. However, delivery trucks can use the area between midnight and 7 am. Mayor Khan hopes the pedestrianization will bring more shoppers back to the area. He called it a very important event for London. Mr Khan also plans to plant more trees along the street, create public squares, and add more seats and tables.

There have been mixed reactions to the pedestrianization of Oxford Street. Many people support the plan. They are happy that the area will be less polluted. Khan said a traffic-free Oxford Street would "unlock the full potential" of an important area of London and help make a better, greener, and richer London. Around half a million people visit the street every day. However, many Londoners are unhappy that the street has been closed to traffic. Local official Tim Barnes said: "Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm." The Spectator magazine warned that life for car drivers would be harder. It wrote: "London is now officially the world's slowest city."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Oxford Street - Level 0,  Oxford Street - Level 1   or  Oxford Street - Level 2

Sources
  • https://news.sky.com/story/londons-oxford-street-pedestrianised-in-truly-momentous-occasion-for-capital-13603905
  • https://spectator.com/article/pedestrianising-oxford-street-is-part-of-the-war-on-common-sense/
  • https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/10/26/London-Oxford-Street-predestrianized/7591793021561/


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. SHOPPING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about shopping. 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?
       London / shopping street / cars / traffic / delivery truck / trees / public squares / seats
       mixed reactions / polluted / potential / environmental harm / car drivers / city
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO CARS: Students A strongly believe there should be no cars on shopping streets; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SHOPPING STREETS: What are the shopping streets in your town like for the things below? How could they be made better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What They Are Like

Improvements

Trees/Plants

 

 

Seating areas

 

 

Bicycle parking

 

 

Rubbish bins/Trash cans

 

 

Pedestrian-friendliness

 

 

Events and festivals

 

 
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. TRAFFIC: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "traffic". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SHOPS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best shops at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Clothes shops
  • Book stores
  • Charity shops
  • DIY stores
  • Stationery shops
  • Grocery stores
  • Mobile phone shops
  • Sports shops

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. pedestrianized a. Things such as cars, buses and motorbikes that people use to travel.
      2. enter b. Cars, buses and other vehicles on roads.
      3. traffic c. To go into a place.
      4. off limits d. People who buy things in shops.
      5. vehicles e. Closed to cars and other vehicles, so people can walk there.
      6. delivery trucks f. Not allowed to go into or use a place.
      7. shoppers g. Large vehicles that bring goods to shops and other places.

    Paragraph 2

      8. reactions h. Dirty or harmful to the air, water or land.
      9. polluted i. A person who works for an organisation, often the government, and has a position of responsibility.
      10. unlock j. Damage or problems caused to someone or something.
      11. potential k. To open something so it can be used or seen.
      12. official l. Related to money, jobs and business.
      13. economic m. The chance to do something or become better in the future.
      14. harm n. The ways people feel or act when something happens.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. London's most famous shopping street has been pedestrianized.     T / F
  2. The UK's leader decided to pedestrianize the street.     T / F
  3. No vehicles at all are allowed to drive on the street.     T / F
  4. The London mayor wants to plant more trees on the street.     T / F
  5. Some people like the pedestrianization, and others don't.     T / F
  6. London's mayor said the pedestrianized will make London greener.     T / F
  7. About 500,000 people visit the shopping street every day.     T / F
  8. A magazine called London the world's fastest city.     T / F

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

  1. famous
  2. traffic
  3. pedestrians
  4. area
  5. create
  6. reactions
  7. support
  8. potential
  9. harm
  10. car drivers
  1. neighbourhood
  2. power
  3. responses
  4. well known
  5. damage
  6. back
  7. vehicles
  8. make
  9. motorists
  10. people on foot

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

  1. no cars, buses, trucks, or motorbikes
  2. It is well known all
  3. It used to be full
  4. delivery
  5. bring more shoppers
  6. There have been mixed reactions
  7. They are happy that the area will be less
  8. unlock the full
  9. half a million people
  10. life for car
  1. of traffic
  2. polluted
  3. drivers would be harder
  4. back to the area
  5. to the pedestrianization
  6. can enter it
  7. visit the street
  8. trucks
  9. over the world
  10. potential

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
event
only
midnight
means
tables
trucks
known
bring

One of London's most famous shopping streets has been pedestrianized. This (1) ______________________________________________ no cars, buses, trucks, or motorbikes can enter it. The street is called Oxford Street. It is well (2) ______________________________________________ all over the world. It used to be full of traffic. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, decided to make it pedestrian-(3) ______________________________________________. Around one kilometre of the street is off limits to vehicles. However, delivery (4) ______________________________________________ can use the area between (5) ______________________________________________ and 7 am. Mayor Khan hopes the pedestrianization will (6) ______________________________________________ more shoppers back to the area. He called it a very important (7) ______________________________________________ for London. Mr Khan also plans to plant more trees along the street, create public squares, and add more seats and (8) ______________________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
greener
life
plan
officially
mixed
unhappy
full
pushed

There have been (9) ______________________________________________ reactions to the pedestrianization of Oxford Street. Many people support the (10) ______________________________________________. They are happy that the area will be less polluted. Khan said a traffic-free Oxford Street would "unlock the (11) ______________________________________________ potential" of an important area of London and help make a better, (12) ______________________________________________, and richer London. Around half a million people visit the street every day. However, many Londoners are (13) ______________________________________________ that the street has been closed to traffic. Local official Tim Barnes said: "Traffic will be (14) ______________________________________________ to the small streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm." The Spectator magazine warned that (15) ______________________________________________ for car drivers would be harder. It wrote: "London is now (16) ______________________________________________ the world's slowest city."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) This means no cars, buses, trucks, or motorbikes ______
     a.  can entrance it
     b.  can enters it
     c.  can enter it
     d.  can entry it
2)  The street is called Oxford Street. It is well known all ______
     a.  above the world
     b.  over the world
     c.  higher the world
     d.  under the world
3)  Around one kilometre of the street is off-______
     a.  limit to vehicles
     b.  remits to vehicles
     c.  limits to vehicles
     d.  limits to vehicle
4)  Mayor Khan hopes the pedestrianization will bring more shoppers back ______
     a.  to the arena
     b.  to the aura
     c.  to an area
     d.  to the area
5)  Mr Khan also plans to plant more trees ______
     a.  a long the street
     b.  along the street
     c.  a longs the street
     d.  a longing the street

6)  Khan said a traffic-free Oxford Street would "unlock ______"
     a.  the full potential
     b.  the fully potential
     c.  the pull potential
     d.  the pulled potential
7)  However, many Londoners are unhappy that the street ______
     a.  has been closed
     b.  has been closet
     c.  has been closer
     d.  has been closes
8)  Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby causing economic ______
     a.  and environment all harm
     b.  and environmental harm
     c.  end environmental harm
     d.  end environmental harms
9)  The Spectator magazine warned that life for car drivers ______
     a.  would be hardly
     b.  would be harder
     c.  would been harder
     d.  wood be harder
10)  London is now officially the ______
     a.  world's slow west city
     b.  world's slowest cities
     c.  world's slowest city
     d.  world slowest city

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

One of London's most famous shopping (1) __________________________________________________ pedestrianized. This means no cars, buses, trucks, or motorbikes can enter it. The street is called Oxford Street. It is (2) __________________________________________________ over the world. It used to be (3) __________________________________________________. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, decided to make it pedestrian-only. Around one kilometre of the street is off limits to vehicles. However, delivery trucks can use the (4) __________________________________________________ and 7 am. Mayor Khan hopes the pedestrianization will bring more shoppers back (5) __________________________________________________. He called it a very important event for London. Mr Khan also plans to plant more trees along the street, (6) __________________________________________________, and add more seats and tables.

There (7) __________________________________________________ reactions to the pedestrianization of Oxford Street. Many people support the plan. They are happy that the area will (8) __________________________________________________. Khan said a traffic-free Oxford Street would "unlock (9) __________________________________________________" of an important area of London and help make a better, greener, and richer London. Around half a million people visit the street every day. However, many Londoners (10) __________________________________________________ the street has been closed to traffic. Local official Tim Barnes said: "Traffic will be pushed to the small streets (11) __________________________________________________ and environmental harm." The Spectator magazine warned that life for car drivers would be harder. It wrote: "London is (12) __________________________________________________ world's slowest city."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where is Oxford Street well known?
  2. What does the article say Oxford Street used to be full of?
  3. What vehicles are allowed to enter Oxford Street?
  4. Who does Mayor Khan hope will go to Oxford Street?
  5. What kind of squares will London's mayor create on Oxford Street?
  6. What kind of reaction has there been to the pedestrianization?
  7. What does Mayor Khan say pedestrianization will make London?
  8. How many people visit Oxford Street every day?
  9. What did a magazine say life would be like for car drivers?
  10. What did a magazine call London?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where is Oxford Street well known?
a) in Oxford
b) in the USA
c) all over the world
d) in China
2) What does the article say Oxford Street used to be full of?
a) traffic
b) noise
c) rubbish
d) brand stores
3) What vehicles are allowed to enter Oxford Street?
a) delivery trucks
b) taxis
c) buses
d) subway trains
4) Who does Mayor Khan hope will go to Oxford Street?
a) children
b) shoppers
c) tourists
d) older people
5) What kind of squares will London's mayor create on Oxford Street?
a) garden squares
b) square ones
c) big squares
d) public squares

6) What kind of reaction has there been to the pedestrianization?
a) a healthy reaction
b) a mixed reaction
c) a positive reaction
d) no reaction
7) What does Mayor Khan say pedestrianization will make London?
a) better, greener, and richer
b) bigger, faster, and healthier
c) cheaper, smaller, and more fun
d) better, faster, and nicer
8) How many people visit Oxford Street every day?
a) just over half a million
b) exactly 500,000
c) around 500,000
d) about 5,000,000
9) What did a magazine say life would be like for car drivers?
a) better
b) cheaper
c) faster
d) harder
 
10) What did a magazine call London?
a) the world's slowest city
b) the world's healthiest city
c) the world's fastest city
d) the world's nicest city

Role play

Role  A – Clothes Shops
You think clothes shops are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shops. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): book stores, grocery stores or sports shops.

Role  B – Book Stores
You think book stores are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shops. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): clothes shops, grocery stores or sports shops.

Role  C – Grocery Stores
You think grocery stores are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shops. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): book stores, clothes shops or sports shops.

Role  D – Sports Shops
You think sports shops are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shops. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): book stores, grocery stores or clothes shops.

After reading / listening

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

'London'

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

    • and 'shopping'.

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

    • • 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:

    • famous
    • enter
    • decided
    • delivery
    • shoppers
    • create
    • mixed
    • support
    • unlock
    • half
    • pushed
    • harder

    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 - Oxford Street

    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 'London'?
    3. What do you think of shopping streets?
    4. What do you think of shopping in London?
    5. Are shopping streets better than malls?
    6. What are the best shops on shopping streets?
    7. What damage have online stores done to shopping streets?
    8. Should cars, buses, trucks, etc. be allowed on shopping streets?
    9. What do you think of the idea of pedestrianized shopping streets?
    10. Is internet shopping better than going to a shopping street?

    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 'shopping'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are your favourite shopping streets?
    5. What are your favourite stores?
    6. How could you make shopping streets better?
    7. Are there any stores on shopping streets you dislike?
    8. Who is it best to go shopping with?
    9. What advice do you have for Londoners?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mayor Khan?

    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)

    One of London's most famous shopping streets (1) ____ been pedestrianized. This means no cars, buses, trucks, or motorbikes can (2) ____ it. The street is called Oxford Street. It is well (3) ____ all over the world. It used to be full of traffic. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, decided to make it pedestrian-only. Around one kilometre of the street is off limits (4) ____ vehicles. However, delivery trucks can use the area between midnight and 7 am. Mayor Khan hopes the pedestrianization will bring more shoppers (5) ____ to the area. He called it a very important event for London. Mr Khan also plans to plant more trees along the street, create public squares, and (6) ____ more seats and tables.

    There have been (7) ____ reactions to the pedestrianization of Oxford Street. Many people support the plan. They are happy that the area will be (8) ____ polluted. Khan said a traffic-free Oxford Street would "unlock the full potential" (9) ____ an important area of London and help make a better, greener, and richer London. Around half a million people visit the street every day. However, many Londoners are unhappy that the street has been closed (10) ____ traffic. Local official Tim Barnes said: "Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby (11) ____ economic and environmental harm." The Spectator magazine warned that life for car drivers would (12) ____ harder. It wrote: "London is now officially the world's slowest city."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     is     (b)     to     (c)     has     (d)     get    
    2. (a)     enter     (b)     entry     (c)     enters     (d)     entering    
    3. (a)     known     (b)     know     (c)     knows     (d)     knowing    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     back     (c)     for     (d)     as    
    6. (a)     stick     (b)     addition     (c)     plus     (d)     add    
    7. (a)     mixture     (b)     mixes     (c)     mixed     (d)     mixing    
    8. (a)     none     (b)     small     (c)     few     (d)     less    
    9. (a)     of     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    10. (a)     at     (b)     to     (c)     of     (d)     up    
    11. (a)     causes     (b)     causing     (c)     caused     (d)     cause    
    12. (a)     do     (b)     be     (c)     have     (d)     take

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. London's most safumo shopping streets
    2. full of rfiftca
    3. the street is off limits to liecshev
    4. erviyled trucks
    5. between tmihgdin and 7 am
    6. create public seasqru

    Paragraph 2

    1. There have been mixed sreintoca
    2. people uptosrp the plan
    3. the area will be less dptluole
    4. unlock the full nitpealot
    5. mncicooe and environmental harm
    6. The Spectator anzmgaei

    Put the text back together

    (    )   a million people visit the street every day. However, many Londoners are unhappy that the street has been
    (    )   closed to traffic. Local official Tim Barnes said: "Traffic will be pushed to the small
    (    )   drivers would be harder. It wrote: "London is now officially the world's slowest city."
    (    )   happy that the area will be less polluted. Khan said a traffic-free Oxford Street would "unlock the full
    (    )   make it pedestrian-only. Around one kilometre of the street is off limits to vehicles. However, delivery trucks can
    (  1  )   One of London's most famous shopping streets has been pedestrianized. This means no cars, buses,
    (    )   potential" of an important area of London and help make a better, greener, and richer London. Around half
    (    )   shoppers back to the area. He called it a very important event for London. Mr Khan also plans to plant more
    (    )   streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm." The Spectator magazine warned that life for car
    (    )   the world. It used to be full of traffic. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, decided to
    (    )   There have been mixed reactions to the pedestrianization of Oxford Street. Many people support the plan. They are
    (    )   trees along the street, create public squares, and add more seats and tables.
    (    )   trucks, or motorbikes can enter it. The street is called Oxford Street. It is well known all over
    (    )   use the area between midnight and 7 am. Mayor Khan hopes the pedestrianization will bring more

    Put the words in the right order

    1. famous   London's   most   of   One   shopping   streets   .
    2. all   is   It   over   the   well   world   known   .
    3. full   It   of   traffic   used   to   be   .
    4. area   back   Bring   more   shoppers   to   the   .
    5. along   more   Plans   street   the   to   plant   trees   .
    6. been   pedestrianization   reactions   There   have   mixed   to   the   .
    7. area   Happy   less   that   be   will   the   polluted   .
    8. are   closed   been   Londoners   street   the   unhappy   has   .
    9. be   pushed   small   streets   to   Traffic   will   the   .
    10. car   drivers   harder   Life   for   would   be   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    One of London's most / much famous shopping streets has been pedestrianized. This means no cars, buses, trucks, or motorbikes can entry / enter it. The street is called Oxford Street. It is well known / knows all over the world. It used to be / have full of traffic. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, decided to make it pedestrian-only. Around one kilometre of the street is off limits to / at vehicles. However, delivery trucks can use the area between / among midnight and 7 am. Mayor Khan hoping / hopes the pedestrianization will bring more shoppers / shopper back to the area. He called it a very importance / important event for London. Mr Khan also plans to plant more trees along the / a street, create public squares, and add more seats and tables.

    There have been mixes / mixed reactions to the pedestrianization of Oxford Street. Many people support the plan / plant. They are happy that the area will be less / fewer polluted. Khan said a traffic-free Oxford Street would "unlock / locked the full potential" of an important area of London and help make a better, greener / greens, and richer London. Around half a million people visit the street every day / daily. However, many Londoners are unhappy that the street has been closes / closed to traffic. Local official Tim Barnes said: "Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby / nearly causing economic and environmental harmful / harm." The Spectator magazine warned that life for car drivers would be harder. It wrote: "London is now / know officially the world's slowest city."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n_  _f  L_nd_n's  m_st  f_m__s  sh_pp_ng  str__ts  h_s  b__n  p_d_str__n_z_d.  Th_s  m__ns  n_  c_rs,  b_s_s,  tr_cks,  _r  m_t_rb_k_s  c_n  _nt_r  _t.  Th_  str__t  _s  c_ll_d  _xf_rd  Str__t.  _t  _s  w_ll  kn_wn  _ll  _v_r  th_  w_rld.  _t  _s_d  t_  b_  f_ll  _f  tr_ff_c.  Th_  M_y_r  _f  L_nd_n,  S_r  S_d_q  Kh_n,  d_c_d_d  t_  m_k_  _t  p_d_str__n-_nly.  _r__nd  _n_  k_l_m_tr_  _f  th_  str__t  _s  _ff l_m_ts  t_  v_h_cl_s.  H_w_v_r,  d_l_v_ry  tr_cks  c_n  _s_  th_  _r__  b_tw__n  m_dn_ght  _nd  7  _m.  M_y_r  Kh_n  h_p_s  th_  p_d_str__n_z_t__n  w_ll  br_ng  m_r_  sh_pp_rs  b_ck  t_  th_  _r__.  H_  c_ll_d  _t  _  v_ry  _mp_rt_nt  _v_nt  f_r  L_nd_n.  Mr  Kh_n  _ls_  pl_ns  t_  pl_nt  m_r_  tr__s  _l_ng  th_  str__t,  cr__t_  p_bl_c  sq__r_s,  _nd  _dd  m_r_  s__ts  _nd  t_bl_s.

    Th_r_  h_v_  b__n  m_x_d  r__ct__ns  t_  th_  p_d_str__n_z_t__n  _f  _xf_rd  Str__t.  M_ny  p__pl_  s_pp_rt  th_  pl_n.  Th_y  _r_  h_ppy  th_t  th_  _r__  w_ll  b_  l_ss  p_ll_t_d.  Kh_n  s__d  _  tr_ff_c-fr__  _xf_rd  Str__t  w__ld  "_nl_ck  th_  f_ll  p_t_nt__l"  _f  _n  _mp_rt_nt  _r__  _f  L_nd_n  _nd  h_lp  m_k_  _  b_tt_r,  gr__n_r,  _nd  r_ch_r  L_nd_n.  _r__nd  h_lf  _  m_ll__n  p__pl_  v_s_t  th_  str__t  _v_ry  d_y.  H_w_v_r,  m_ny  L_nd_n_rs  _r_  _nh_ppy  th_t  th_  str__t  h_s  b__n  cl_s_d  t_  tr_ff_c.  L_c_l  _ff_c__l  T_m  B_rn_s  s__d:  "Tr_ff_c  w_ll  b_  p_sh_d  t_  th_  sm_ll  str__ts  n__rby  c__s_ng  _c_n_m_c  _nd  _nv_r_nm_nt_l  h_rm."  Th_  Sp_ct_t_r  m_g_z_n_  w_rn_d  th_t  l_f_  f_r  c_r  dr_v_rs  w__ld  b_  h_rd_r.  _t  wr_t_:  "L_nd_n  _s  n_w  _ff_c__lly  th_  w_rld's  sl_w_st  c_ty."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    one of londons most famous shopping streets has been pedestrianized this means no cars buses trucks or motorbikes can enter it the street is called oxford street it is well known all over the world it used to be full of traffic the mayor of london sir sadiq khan decided to make it pedestrianonly around one kilometre of the street is offlimits to vehicles however delivery trucks can use the area between midnight and 7 am mayor khan hopes the pedestrianization will bring more shoppers back to the area he called it a very important event for london mr khan also plans to plant more trees along the street create public squares and add more seats and tables

    there have been mixed reactions to the pedestrianization of oxford street many people support the plan they are happy that the area will be less polluted khan said a trafficfree oxford street would unlock the full potential of an important area of london and help make a better greener and richer london around half a million people visit the street every day however many londoners are unhappy that the street has been closed to traffic local official tim barnes said traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm the spectator magazine warned that life for car drivers would be harder it wrote london is now officially the worlds slowest city

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    OneofLondon'smostfamousshoppingstreetshasbeenpedestrianized
    .Thismeansnocars,buses,trucks,ormotorbikescanenterit.Thestreeti
    scalledOxfordStreet.Itiswellknownallovertheworld.Itusedtobefullof
    traffic.TheMayorofLondon,SirSadiqKhan,decidedtomakeitpedestria
    n-only.Aroundonekilometreofthestreetisoff limitstovehicles.Howev
    er,deliverytruckscanusetheareabetweenmidnightand7am.MayorKh
    anhopesthepedestrianizationwillbringmoreshoppersbacktothearea.
    HecalleditaveryimportanteventforLondon.MrKhanalsoplanstoplant
    moretreesalongthestreet,createpublicsquares,andaddmoreseatsan
    dtables.TherehavebeenmixedreactionstothepedestrianizationofOxf
    ordStreet.Manypeoplesupporttheplan.Theyarehappythattheareawil
    lbelesspolluted.Khansaidatraffic-freeOxfordStreetwould"unlockthe
    fullpotential"ofanimportantareaofLondonandhelpmakeabetter,gree
    ner,andricherLondon.Aroundhalfamillionpeoplevisitthestreetevery
    day.However,manyLondonersareunhappythatthestreethasbeenclo
    sedtotraffic.LocalofficialTimBarnessaid:"Trafficwillbepushedtothes
    mallstreetsnearbycausingeconomicandenvironmentalharm."TheSp
    ectatormagazinewarnedthatlifeforcardriverswouldbeharder.Itwrot
    e:"Londonisnowofficiallytheworld'sslowestcity."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All shopping streets should be for pedestrians and not cars. 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. SHOPPING STREETS: Make a poster about shopping streets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. PEDESTRIANIZATION: Write a magazine article about pedestrianizing all shopping streets. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 shopping streets. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make shopping streets better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    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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