The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Three big UK retailers, including Amazon, are advising customers to throw away hoverboards because of safety concerns. There have been reports of the toy catching fire and exploding. Consumers will get a refund if they take their hoverboard to a recycling centre for electronic equipment. Stores have asked makers to address the safety issues. Hoverboards are self-balancing, two-wheeled scooters that transport users like a skateboard, but without any physical effort. They are one of the most popular gifts this Christmas. The retailers' decision will disappoint many kids.

A consumer protection group in the UK said around half-a-million people bought a hoverboard as a Christmas gift. Another million people have it on their shopping list. Britain's largest bricks-and-mortar retailer said: "We've suspended the sale of all hoverboards, both in stores and online, as a precautionary measure." Amazon said: "We regret the inconvenience this may cause you but trust you will understand that your safety and satisfaction is our highest priority." Hoverboards are not allowed on public roads in Britain because they are not classed as vehicles.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/12052732/Get-rid-of-your-hoverboards-now-Amazon-tells-customers.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35109728
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3361995/Amazon-throw-hoverboards-away-advice-amid-safety-alert.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

Three big UK

a.

fire and exploding

2.

reports of the toy catching

b.

disappoint many kids

3.

a recycling

c.

wheeled scooters

4.

address the safety

d.

retailers

5.

self-balancing, two-

e.

centre

6.

without any physical

f.

this Christmas

7.

one of the most popular gifts

g.

issues

8.

The retailers' decision will

h.

effort



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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

A consumer protection

a.

measure

2.

Another million people have it

b.

on public roads

3.

Britain's largest bricks-

c.

on their shopping list

4.

as a precautionary

d.

as vehicles

5.

We regret

e.

our highest priority

6.

your safety and satisfaction is

f.

group

7.

not allowed

g.

and-mortar retailer

8.

not classed

h.

the inconvenience

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Three big UK retailers, including Amazon, (1) ___________________ to throw away hoverboards (2) ___________________ concerns. There have been reports of the toy catching fire and exploding. Consumers will get a refund (3) ___________________ hoverboard to a recycling centre for electronic equipment. Stores have asked makers (4) ___________________ safety issues. Hoverboards are self-balancing, two-wheeled scooters that transport users like a skateboard, (5) ___________________ physical effort. They (6) ___________________ most popular gifts this Christmas. The retailers' decision will disappoint many kids.

A consumer protection group in the UK (7) ___________________-a-million people bought a hoverboard as a Christmas gift. Another million people have (8) ___________________ list. Britain's largest bricks-and-mortar retailer said: "We've suspended (9) ___________________ hoverboards, both in store and online, as a precautionary measure." Amazon said: "We regret the inconvenience this may cause you (10) ___________________ understand that your safety and satisfaction is (11) ___________________." Hoverboards are not allowed on public roads in Britain because (12) ___________________ as vehicles.

HOVERBOARDS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about hoverboards 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.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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