Cycling
Task 1 – Drawing dictation
Listen to your teacher and draw what he / she describes in the box below:
Task 2 – Cycling survey
Write three more questions to complete the table. Then interview six of your classmates.
Names:
Do you like cycling?
How often do you ride a bike?
Task 3 – Cycling statements: Do you agree or disagree?
Read these statements about cycling. Do you agree or disagree? Try to explain your reasons.
• Cycle helmets should be compulsory.
• All towns and cities should have cycle paths.
• Car drivers should be encouraged to start cycling.
• Cyclists are really annoying for car drivers!
• Cyclists should have to pass an exam before they use the roads.
• Cars should be banned!
• Bicycles should be banned!
• Bicycles should be cheaper or even free.
Task 4 – Pedal Power: Reading
Read the text on cycling in the UK and put the paragraph headings in the correct place.
a) Cycle friendly cities
b) Getting the look
c) On your bike
d) New bike technology
Pedal Power
1)
More people in the UK are taking to their bikes – partly to do with a fear of public transport
after various terrorist attacks, but also because we are being encouraged to lead healthier
lifestyles.
2)
Cycling England is a new government-funded body charged with promoting cycling across the
country. It is investing £17 million into a group of English ‘demonstration towns’ - Aylesbury,
Brighton, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster - to create a cycle-friendly environment,
offer safety training and generally encourage residents to take up cycling. Cycling England is
also hoping to encourage more children to cycle to school to improve their fitness; £15 million
will be spent on linking schools with existing bike lanes and training children in cycling
proficiency.
3)
Deciding to buy a bike opens up a whole new exciting world of cycling technology. Sir Clive Sinclair,
inventor of the pocket calculator and the ill-fated C5 road buggy, has just launched the A-bike. Called
the A-bike due to the shape of its frame, it is half the weight of existing fold-up bikes and half the price
(£199). The bike was launched in London and tested by a class of 11-13 year olds who said it was
‘lightweight and cool’ and ‘better than my BMX’, although it is apparently difficult to control. There is
also the electric bike for when those hills get too much. It does sound like cheating, although you can
turn the throttle off when you fancy some exercise – not sure how many people would though… As Ian,
28, from Cheshire says, ‘There seems to be an endless stream of new bikes coming out, ranging from
new hybrids of current bikes, e.g. jump bikes, through to the second coming of retro classic bikes such
as the chopper and the American cruiser.’
4)
People customise their bikes as well - from flags on choppers to spray painting, shiny wheels and even
speakers! The Guardian newspaper even offers tips for the female fashion conscious cyclist: you don’t
have to wear cycling shorts with a pointy helmet. Rounded helmets are better and apparently, ‘this is a
lucky summer for cyclists’ with the winner being culottes - ‘these ride like a trouser but walk like a skirt’.
So looks like it’s time to get on your bike!
Task 5 – Best bikes: Roleplay
Your teacher will give you a card with a role. Read the information carefully and think about what you will
say.
