Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Bike to Work Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Bike-to-Work Day is held every year across North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is to promote the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world where global warming is a serious issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing our carbon footprint. Cycling to work is a healthy alternative to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there is not so much pressure on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends how far you live from your place of work. Cycling is also much kinder on your pocket. Another benefit of cycling is feeling more creative and full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your performance.
Bicycles are the most common form of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most popular invention ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we imagine hundreds of people cycling everywhere. Even in high-tech Japan, it is impossible not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes. Bicycles were invented in the 19th century and haven’t changed much since. Bicycles now have gears, better brakes and suspension, but the shape is the same as before. We use bicycles today for recreation, fitness, policing, Olympic competition, mail delivery and lots more. Without the bicycle, much of the world might stop working!
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
Bike-to-Work Day is
a.
our carbon footprint
2
getting to and
b.
country’s health system
3.
a perfect way of reducing
c.
feeling more creative
4.
pressure on the
d.
held every year
5.
it depends
e.
from work
6.
Another benefit of cycling is
f.
how far you live
Paragraph 2
1.
Bicycles are the most common
a.
in the 19th century
2
the most popular invention
b.
stop working
3.
Even in high-
c.
form of transport
4.
Bicycles were invented
d.
tech Japan
5.
the shape is the
e.
ever
6.
much of the world might
f.
same as before
LISTENING GAP FILL
Bike-to-Work Day is __________________ North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its __________________ the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world where global warming is a serious issue, the bicycle __________________ reducing our carbon footprint. Cycling to work is a healthy alternative to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there __________________ pressure on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends how far __________________ place of work. Cycling is also much kinder on your pocket. Another benefit of cycling is feeling more creative and full of energy __________________ work, which will improve your performance.
Bicycles are __________________ form of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes ________________ invention ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we imagine hundreds of people cycling everywhere. __________________ Japan, it is impossible not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes. Bicycles were invented in the 19th century and haven’t __________________. Bicycles now have gears, better brakes and suspension, but the shape is the same as before. We use bicycles today for recreation, fitness, policing, Olympic competition, mail __________________ more. Without the bicycle, __________________ might stop working!
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Bike-to-Work Day is held every year __________ North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its __________ is to promote the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world where global warming is a __________ issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing our carbon __________. Cycling to work is a healthy alternative to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there is not so much __________ on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends how far you live from your __________ of work. Cycling is also much kinder on your pocket. Another __________ of cycling is feeling more creative and full of energy once you get to work, which will __________ your performance.
serious footprint improve place across benefit aim pressure
Bicycles are the most common __________ of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most __________ invention ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we __________ hundreds of people cycling everywhere. Even in high-tech Japan, it is __________ not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes. Bicycles were __________ in the 19th century and haven’t changed much since. Bicycles now have __________, better brakes and suspension, but the shape is the same as __________. We use bicycles today for recreation, fitness, policing, Olympic competition, mail delivery and lots more. Without the bicycle, __________ of the world might stop working!
popular before impossible gears much form imagine invented
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Bike-to-Work Day is held / holding every year across North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is to promotion / promote the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world where global warming is a serious / seriously issue, the bicycle is a perfect way to / of reducing our carbon footprint. Cycling to work is a healthily / healthy alternative to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there is not so many / much pressure on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends / depending how far you live from your place of work. Cycling is also much kinder on your pocket. Another benefit of cycling is feeling more creative and fill / full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your performance.
Bicycles are the most common firm / form of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most popular invention every / ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we imagine hundreds of people cycled / cycling everywhere. Even in high-tech Japan, it is impossible not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers into / in the streets on their bikes. Bicycles were invented / invention in the 19th century and haven’t changed much since. Bicycles now have gears, better breaks / brakes and suspension, but the shape is the same as / was before. We use bicycles today for recreation, fitness, policing, Olympic competition, mail delivery and lots more. Without the bicycle, much / many of the world might stop working!
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Bike-to-Work Day is held (1) ____ year across North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is to (2) ____ the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world where global warming is a (3) ____ issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing our carbon footprint. Cycling to work is a (4) ____ alternative to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there is not so (5) ____ pressure on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends how far you live from your place of work. Cycling is also much kinder on your pocket. Another (6) ____ of cycling is feeling more creative and full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your performance.
Bicycles are the most common (7) ____ of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most popular (8) ____ ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we imagine hundreds of people cycling everywhere. Even in high-tech Japan, it is (9) ____ not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes. Bicycles were invented in the 19th century and haven’t changed (10) ____ since. Bicycles now have gears, better brakes and suspension, but the shape is the same as before. We use bicycles today for (11) ____, fitness, policing, Olympic competition, mail delivery and lots more. Without the bicycle, (12) ____ of the world might stop working!
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
holding
(b)
held
(c)
hold
(d)
holder
2.
(a)
promote
(b)
promotion
(c)
promoter
(d)
promoting
3.
(a)
seriously
(b)
series
(c)
serious
(d)
seriousness
4.
(a)
health
(b)
healthily
(c)
healthy
(d)
healthiest
5.
(a)
many
(b)
more
(c)
most
(d)
much
6.
(a)
beneficial
(b)
benefit
(c)
benefits
(d)
benefactor
7.
(a)
form
(b)
farm
(c)
from
(d)
forum
8.
(a)
inventor
(b)
invented
(c)
invents
(d)
invention
9.
(a)
possibility
(b)
impossible
(c)
possibilities
(d)
impossibility
10.
(a)
most
(b)
many
(c)
more
(d)
much
11.
(a)
recreation
(b)
recreate
(c)
recreational
(d)
recreates
12.
(a)
more
(b)
most
(c)
much
(d)
many
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
held every year acosrs North America
2.
Its aim is to oorptem the bicycle
3.
global warming is a ssreoui issue
4.
reducing our orbanc footprint
5.
so much esuesprr
6.
kinder on your pkceot
Paragraph 2
7.
the most omomcn form of transport
8.
the most popular onetivnin ever
9.
Even in high-tech Japan
10.
Bicycles were teeidnnv in the 19th century
11.
the apehs is the same as before
12.
the world might stop ikgwonr
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
and full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your performance.
( )
delivery and lots more. Without the bicycle, much of the world might stop working!
( )
Bicycles are the most common form of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most
( 1 )
Bike-to-Work Day is held every year across North America on the third Friday of May. It was started
( )
before. We use bicycles today for recreation, fitness, policing, Olympic competition, mail
( )
place of work. Cycling is also much kinder on your pocket. Another benefit of cycling is feeling more creative
( )
means there is not so much pressure on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends how far you live from your
( )
from work. In today’s world where global warming is a serious issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing
( )
popular invention ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we imagine hundreds of people cycling
( )
workers in the streets on their bikes. Bicycles were invented in the 19th century and haven’t changed much
( )
since. Bicycles now have gears, better brakes and suspension, but the shape is the same as
( )
our carbon footprint. Cycling to work is a healthy alternative to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society
( )
by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is to promote the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and
( )
everywhere. Even in high-tech Japan, it is impossible not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
getting a to serious and choice from of work
2.
carbon our reducing of way perfect a footprint
3.
much so not is there pressure
4.
also is Cycling pocket your on kinder much
5.
of benefit Another creative more feeling is cycling
6.
common most the transport of form
7.
we hundreds people everywhere imagine of cycling
8.
Bicycles invented the century were in 19th
9.
the is same before shape the as
10.
might working of world stop much the
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
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 more information about Bike To Work Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Bike To Work Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Bike To Work Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
