VEHICLES

Vocabulary Building

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Keywords	Main Word	Example Sentence
pulling farm machinery	tractor	Farmers use tractors to pull heavy equipment in the fields.
a streetcar, electricity, runs on rails in the city	tram	Many people take the tram to work because it's faster than the bus.
an automobile, an engine and four wheels, carries a small number of passengers	car	My father drives a blue car to his office every day.
a road vehicle, two wheels, one engine, not scooter	motorcycle	His motorcycle is very fast and makes a loud noise.
a tube-railway, a subway	underground	In London, many people travel by underground to avoid traffic.
a lorry, transporting heavy loads	truck	The truck carries fruit and vegetables to the supermarket.
an electric bus, a cable above the street	trolleybus	The trolleybus is connected to electric cables above the street.
a vessel, a large boat that carries a lot of people or goods, Titanic	ship	The big ship can carry thousands of people across the ocean.
a small ship, very fast	speedboat	We rented a speedboat for a fun day on the lake.
an omnibus, not trolley-bus	bus	I take the bus to school every morning at 8 o'clock.
an aircraft, no wings, can stay in one position in the air, vertical flight	helicopter	The helicopter landed on the hospital roof with a patient.
to put out fire, firemen, pump for shooting water	fire engine	The fire engine with its loud siren arrived quickly to help.
a flying vehicle with wings and one or more engines	airplane	My aunt is arriving by airplane from Paris tomorrow.
hot air or gas, basket	balloon	We watched the colorful balloon float slowly across the sky.
a railroad engine pulling coaches, a locomotive	train	The train was late because of the snow on the tracks.
a road vehicle, 2 wheels, pedals	bicycle	Children learn to ride a bicycle when they are young.
a light motorcycle	scooter	Many teenagers in Italy ride scooters around the city.
a spacecraft, astronauts	space shuttle	The space shuttle carried astronauts to the space station.
a car, siren wailing	police car	When we heard the siren, we moved aside for the police car.
no vehicles, legs	on foot	When it's sunny, I prefer to go to the shop on foot.

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GETTING AROUND: TYPES OF VEHICLES

There are many different types of vehicles that help us travel from place to place. On farms, tractors pull heavy machinery to help farmers do their work. In cities, trams run on rails and use electricity to move people around quickly.

Most families have a car, which has four wheels and an engine. Cars can carry a small number of people and are very common. If you like speed, you might prefer a motorcycle, which has two wheels and one engine.

In big cities like London and New York, many people use the underground (also called a subway) to travel. It's a train that runs under the city. For moving heavy things, trucks are very important. They transport food, furniture, and many other heavy loads.

Some cities have trolleybuses, which are electric buses connected to cables above the street. For traveling across water, ships are necessary. These large vessels carry many people or goods across oceans. The Titanic was a famous ship. If you want to go fast on water, a speedboat is a good choice.

Buses are common in most cities and towns. They carry many passengers along regular routes. In the air, helicopters can fly without wings and can stay in one position. Fire engines are special vehicles that firemen use to put out fires.

Airplanes have wings and engines and carry people across long distances. For a slow ride in the sky, you can try a balloon filled with hot air. Trains run on railways and pull coaches from city to city.

For short distances, many people ride bicycles, which have two wheels and pedals. Scooters are like light motorcycles and are popular in cities. Astronauts travel to space in space shuttles, while police cars with sirens help catch criminals. Sometimes, the best way to travel short distances is on foot - using your legs!

Questions:

What do tractors help farmers with?
How many wheels does a car have?
Where does the underground train run?
What is special about trolleybuses?
What was the Titanic?
What vehicle do firemen use to put out fires?
What do you need to ride a bicycle?

True/False Statements:

Trams run on water.
Motorcycles have four wheels.
Trucks are used to transport heavy loads.
A speedboat is a type of airplane.
Buses carry many passengers.
Helicopters have wings like airplanes.
Bicycles have pedals that you push with your feet.

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Personal Questions

How often do you use buses | cars | trams | bicycles | trains | underground | taxis?
- Example (buses): I use buses three times a week. I take the bus to my English class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The bus stop is near my house. The journey takes about 20 minutes. I like reading on the bus.

Which do you think is better: cars | motorcycles | bicycles | buses | trams | ships | airplanes?
- Example (cars): I think cars are better than motorcycles. Cars are safer because they have more protection. You can carry more people and things in a car. Cars are comfortable in bad weather. But cars cost more money than motorcycles.
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Do you know how to drive a car | tractor | motorcycle | bus | truck | speedboat | bicycle?
- Example (car): Yes, I know how to drive a car. I got my driver's license two years ago. I drive my parents' car sometimes on weekends. I'm not very good at parking yet. I want to practice more.

What color is your favorite car | bicycle | motorcycle | bus | train | airplane | ship?
- Example (bicycle): My favorite bicycle is blue. I like blue because it's a nice color. My first bicycle was blue when I was a child. I think blue bicycles look modern. I want to buy a new blue bicycle next year.

Have you ever traveled by airplane | ship | train | motorcycle | helicopter | tram | underground?
- Example (airplane): Yes, I have traveled by airplane twice. My first flight was to Spain on vacation. I was nervous because it was my first time. The second time was last year to visit my aunt. I like looking at clouds from the airplane.

Which is the most comfortable: cars | trains | buses | airplanes | ships | motorcycles | bicycles?
- Example (trains): I think trains are the most comfortable. You can walk around on a train. The seats are usually big and soft. You can go to a restaurant car for food. Trains don't feel bumpy like buses.

What are the advantages of walking | cycling | driving | flying | sailing | taking buses | riding motorcycles?
- Example (walking): Walking has many advantages. It's free and you don't need to buy tickets. It's good exercise for your body. You can enjoy nature and fresh air. You can stop anytime you want to look at things.

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One-Minute Talking Points

Car

What is a car? (automobile, four wheels)
Types you know?
Why do people use cars?
Do you have one?
Advantages of cars?
Problems with cars?
Your ideal car?
Cars in the future?

Bicycle

What is a bicycle? (two wheels, pedals)
Types you know?
Do you own one?
When do people use bicycles?
Benefits of cycling?
Dangers of cycling?
Bicycle memories from childhood?
Bicycles versus cars?

Bus

What is a bus? (many passengers, routes)
Types you know?
How often you use buses?
Bus system in your town?
Good things about buses?
Problems with bus travel?
Memorable bus journey?
Public transport improvements needed?

Train

What is a train? (railway, coaches)
Types you know?
Your experiences with trains?
Train versus bus travel?
Advantages of train travel?
Problems with trains?
Fast trains in your country?
Train journey you'd like?

Airplane

What is an airplane? (wings, engines, flying)
Types you know?
Your flying experiences?
Fear of flying?
Advantages of air travel?
Problems with air travel?
Most interesting flight?
Future of air travel?

Ship

What is a ship? (large vessel, water)
Types you know?
Have you been on one?
Purpose of different ships?
Benefits of sea travel?
Problems with ships?
Famous ships you know?
Would you like a cruise?

Motorcycle

What is a motorcycle? (two wheels, engine)
Types you know?
Can you ride one?
Who typically rides motorcycles?
Advantages of motorcycles?
Dangers of motorcycles?
Motorcycle in movies/TV?
Would you buy one?

Underground

What is an underground? (subway, underground railway)
Cities with good systems?
Have you used one?
Compared to buses?
Benefits of underground travel?
Problems with underground?
Most interesting underground system?
Underground in your city?

Helicopter

What is a helicopter? (vertical flight, hovering)
Uses for helicopters?
Have you seen one close?
Who typically uses helicopters?
Advantages over airplanes?
Problems with helicopters?
Helicopter in emergency situations?
Would you like to fly in one?

Fire Engine

What is a fire engine? (firefighting, water pump)
What color are they usually?
Have you seen one working?
What equipment do they carry?
Why do they have sirens?
Fire engines in your area?
How do firefighters use them?
Ever wanted to ride in one?

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People should use public transport

Linkers: It's true, but..., I agree because..., I don't agree..., On the other hand..., For example...

For

Public transport is cheaper than driving a car — keywords: cheap, save money, ticket
Buses and trains make less air pollution — keywords: less smoke, clean air, environment
Fewer cars mean less traffic and faster travel — keywords: no traffic, faster, less jam
Public transport helps people who cannot drive — keywords: no license, help, elderly
Trains and buses are good for the city and reduce parking problems — keywords: park, space, city

Against

Buses and trains can be crowded and noisy — keywords: crowded, noisy, push
Routes may not go to small villages or farms — keywords: no route, rural, far
Public transport can be slow with many stops — keywords: slow, stop, time
Schedules may not fit late night work or emergencies — keywords: night, no service, emergency
Some people want privacy and space in their own car — keywords: private, alone, comfort

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