E-bikes are bikes that can go by themselves because they have a battery. But, some of these batteries are not good and can catch fire. This is scary because the fire can grow fast and be hard to stop. People are trying to make rules so that only good batteries are used. But, there are still many e-bikes with bad batteries.

Some places are making new rules to keep everyone safe. For example, in China and New York City, e-bikes have to meet special safety rules. They are also thinking about safe places to charge the batteries so they don’t catch fire. It’s important to be careful but not too scared. If we do things right, e-bikes can be safe and fun for everyone.

Original news source: Why the e-bike boom is raising fire fears (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down e-bike related words or phrases on small pieces of paper and put them in a bowl. One student from each team will take turns picking a paper and acting out the word or phrase without speaking. The team members must guess what it is within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a piece of paper and a marker. One student will pick an e-bike related word or phrase and draw it without speaking. The other student must guess what it is based on the drawing. They can use English words or gestures to communicate. The pair with the most correct guesses wins.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write a sentence related to e-bikes on the board but replace some of the key words with blanks. Divide the class into pairs. One student from each pair will come to the front and guess a letter. If the letter is in the sentence, write it in the correct blank. If the letter is not in the sentence, draw part of a hangman. The student has 5 chances to guess the sentence correctly. The pair with the most correct guesses wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a sheet of paper and ask them to make a list of the pros and cons of using e-bikes. They should discuss and write down as many points as they can think of. After a few minutes, each group will share their lists with the class. Encourage the students to use complete sentences and practice speaking in English during the discussion.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have each student think of two true statements and one false statement related to e-bikes. They should write them down on a piece of paper. Each student will take turns sharing their statements with the class. The rest of the class must guess which statement is the lie. This activity encourages students to practice speaking in English and learn new vocabulary related to e-bikes.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is an e-bike?
2. Why is it scary if an e-bike’s battery catches fire?
3. What are people trying to do to make sure only good batteries are used?
4. Where are some places that have special safety rules for e-bikes?
5. What are they also thinking about to keep the batteries from catching fire?
6. Why is it important to be careful with e-bikes?
7. Can e-bikes be safe and fun if we do things right?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

E-bikes are bikes that can go by themselves because they (1)______ a battery. But, some of these batteries are not (2)______ and can catch fire. This is scary because the fire can grow fast and be hard to stop. (3)______ are trying to (4)______ rules so that only good batteries are used. But, there are still many e-bikes with bad batteries.

Some places are (5)______ new rules to keep everyone safe. For example, in (6)______ and New York City, e-bikes have to meet special safety rules. They are also thinking about safe places to charge the batteries so they don’t catch fire. It’s (7)______ to be (8)______ but not too scared. If we do things right, e-bikes can be safe and fun for everyone.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is an e-bike?
2. How would you feel if you saw a bike catch fire?
3. Do you like e-bikes? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are some ways to make e-bikes safer?
5. Have you ever ridden an e-bike? How was it?
6. Do you think it’s important to have rules for e-bikes? Why or why not?
7. What do you think are some dangers of using e-bikes with bad batteries?
8. How would you feel if you had to charge an e-bike battery in a special place?
9. Do you think e-bikes can be safe and fun for everyone? Why or why not?
10. What are some things you can do to be careful while riding an e-bike?
11. How would you feel if you saw someone riding an e-bike with a bad battery?
12. What do you think are some benefits of using e-bikes?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. batteries
2. fire
3. scary
4. rules
5. safe
6. charge
7. careful
8. fun
9. grow
10. important

Meanings:
(A) When something makes you feel afraid
(B) When you make sure to not get hurt or break things
(C) When something really matters and you need to pay attention to it
(D) The do’s and don’ts that you have to follow
(E) Hot, bright, and can burn things
(F) When you are not in danger
(G) Things that make toys and other stuff work without being plugged in
(H) To make your toy or phone ready to use again by giving it power
(I) When you are happy and enjoying something
(J) To get bigger or taller, like how you do as you get older
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are e-bikes?
(a) Bikes that can fly in the sky.
(b) Bikes that can go by themselves because they have a battery.
(c) Bikes that can swim in the ocean.
(d) Bikes that can talk and sing.

2. Why is it scary if e-bike batteries catch fire?
(a) The fire can turn into ice and freeze everything.
(b) The fire can make the e-bike go faster.
(c) The fire can make the e-bike disappear.
(d) The fire can grow fast and be hard to stop.

3. What are people trying to do about the bad batteries?
(a) Make rules to ban all e-bikes.
(b) Make rules to make the batteries even worse.
(c) Make rules so that only good batteries are used.
(d) Make rules to make the batteries explode.

4. Where are e-bikes required to meet special safety rules?
(a) China and New York City.
(b) France and Germany.
(c) Australia and Brazil.
(d) Japan and Canada.

5. What are they thinking about in relation to charging the batteries?
(a) Dangerous places to charge the batteries so they can explode.
(b) Safe places to charge the batteries so they don’t catch fire.
(c) Places to charge the batteries underwater.
(d) Places to charge the batteries in outer space.

6. What is important when using e-bikes?
(a) Being careful but not too scared.
(b) Being very scared and not using e-bikes at all.
(c) Being very fast and not paying attention.
(d) Being very slow and not having any fun.

7. How can e-bikes be safe and fun for everyone?
(a) If we do things wrong.
(b) If we ignore all the rules.
(c) If we do things right.
(d) If we don’t use e-bikes at all.

8. What is the main problem with some e-bikes?
(a) They have no batteries and can’t go by themselves.
(b) They have wings and can fly away.
(c) They have no wheels and can’t move.
(d) They have bad batteries that can catch fire.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They are also thinking about safe places to charge e-bike batteries.
2. E-bikes are bikes that can go by themselves because they have a battery.
3. It’s not necessary to be careful when using e-bikes.
4. If we do things right, e-bikes can be safe and fun for everyone.
5. All e-bike batteries are good and cannot catch fire.
6. China and New York City do not have special safety rules for e-bikes.
7. People are making rules to only use good batteries for e-bikes.
8. The fire from bad e-bike batteries can grow slowly and be easy to stop.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What are e-bikes?
2. Why is it scary if the batteries in e-bikes catch fire?
3. What are some places doing to make sure e-bikes are safe?
4. Why is it important to be careful with e-bikes?
5. Can e-bikes be safe and fun if we do things right?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is an e-bike?
An e-bike is a bike that can go by itself because it has a battery.

2. Why is it scary if an e-bike’s battery catches fire?
It is scary because the fire can grow fast and be hard to stop.

3. What are people trying to do to make sure only good batteries are used?
People are trying to make rules so that only good batteries are used.

4. Where are some places that have special safety rules for e-bikes?
China and New York City have special safety rules for e-bikes.

5. What are they also thinking about to keep the batteries from catching fire?
They are also thinking about safe places to charge the batteries so they don’t catch fire.

6. Why is it important to be careful with e-bikes?
It is important to be careful with e-bikes so that we can stay safe and have fun.

7. Can e-bikes be safe and fun if we do things right?
Yes, e-bikes can be safe and fun if we do things right.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) have
(2) good
(3) People
(4) make
(5) making
(6) China
(7) important
(8) careful
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. batteries
Answer: (G) Things that make toys and other stuff work without being plugged in

2. fire
Answer: (E) Hot, bright, and can burn things

3. scary
Answer: (A) When something makes you feel afraid

4. rules
Answer: (D) The do’s and don’ts that you have to follow

5. safe
Answer: (F) When you are not in danger

6. charge
Answer: (H) To make your toy or phone ready to use again by giving it power

7. careful
Answer: (B) When you make sure to not get hurt or break things

8. fun
Answer: (I) When you are happy and enjoying something

9. grow
Answer: (J) To get bigger or taller, like how you do as you get older

10. important
Answer: (C) When something really matters and you need to pay attention to it
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are e-bikes?
Answer: (b) Bikes that can go by themselves because they have a battery.

2. Why is it scary if e-bike batteries catch fire?
Answer: (d) The fire can grow fast and be hard to stop.

3. What are people trying to do about the bad batteries?
Answer: (c) Make rules so that only good batteries are used.

4. Where are e-bikes required to meet special safety rules?
Answer: (a) China and New York City.

5. What are they thinking about in relation to charging the batteries?
Answer: (b) Safe places to charge the batteries so they don’t catch fire.

6. What is important when using e-bikes?
Answer: (a) Being careful but not too scared.

7. How can e-bikes be safe and fun for everyone?
Answer: (c) If we do things right.

8. What is the main problem with some e-bikes?
Answer: (d) They have bad batteries that can catch fire.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They are also thinking about safe places to charge e-bike batteries. (Answer: True)
2. E-bikes are bikes that can go by themselves because they have a battery. (Answer: True)
3. It’s not necessary to be careful when using e-bikes. (Answer: False)
4. If we do things right, e-bikes can be safe and fun for everyone. (Answer: True)
5. All e-bike batteries are good and cannot catch fire. (Answer: False)
6. China and New York City do not have special safety rules for e-bikes. (Answer: False)
7. People are making rules to only use good batteries for e-bikes. (Answer: True)
8. The fire from bad e-bike batteries can grow slowly and be easy to stop. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧