Reports of potholes in the UK reached a five-year high in 2023, causing significant damage and costing drivers an estimated £500 million in repairs. Scientists warn that climate change will exacerbate the problem as extreme weather conditions take a toll on road surfaces. Between January and November 2023, nearly 630,000 potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales. However, this number is likely to be much higher as data was only available from a fraction of the councils approached.

Potholes pose a serious risk to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and the current lack of funding for repairs is exacerbating the problem. Local councils acknowledge the concerns and are working to address the £14 billion backlog of road repairs. The Department for Transport has also pledged to invest an additional £8.3 billion in local road improvements, which will help resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across the country.

The impact of potholes is not limited to motor vehicle drivers; cyclists are particularly vulnerable to accidents caused by potholes. To combat this issue, scientists across the UK are researching innovative solutions. At the University of Cambridge, engineering specialists are exploring projects such as digital mapping of potholes, self-healing roads, and resilient materials. Researchers are also investigating the use of robots to make repairs and developing materials that can withstand wear and tear and self-heal.

In addition to technological advancements, researchers are trialing the use of certain reusable plastics and geothermal energy to combat the double challenge of potholes and climate change. These innovative methods aim to keep road surfaces at controlled temperatures, preventing damage caused by freezing and thawing cycles.

The link between climate change and the state of our roads is becoming increasingly clear, and concerted action is needed to address this issue. Improved road maintenance practices, innovative materials and technologies, and broader climate change mitigation strategies are essential. It is crucial to invest in the development of new and sustainable methods to ensure the safety and longevity of our road infrastructure.

Original news source: Pothole reports hit a five-year high in 2023 (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and write a summary of the main points in their own words. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think the government should invest more in road repairs?” or “Do you believe that climate change is a major factor in the increase of potholes?” Instruct the groups to discuss the questions and record their opinions. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their opinions with the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “potholes” on the board. Instruct the class to brainstorm as many words or phrases associated with potholes as possible within a certain time limit. After the time limit, go around the class and have each student or group share one word or phrase. Write all the responses on the board. Discuss the different associations and their significance.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Instruct them to sketch a visual representation of the article, focusing on the main ideas and concepts. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their sketches with the class and explain their choices.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Instruct each student to individually write down three predictions for the future of road maintenance and pothole prevention. Encourage them to think creatively and consider the potential impact of technology, climate change, and infrastructure development. After they have finished, have students pair up and share their predictions with each other. Finally, ask a few students to share their most interesting or surprising predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How many potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November 2023?
2. How much money did drivers estimate they spent on pothole repairs in 2023?
3. What is the impact of potholes on cyclists?
4. What is the current backlog of road repairs in the UK?
5. How much money has the Department for Transport pledged to invest in local road improvements?
6. What innovative solutions are researchers at the University of Cambridge exploring to combat potholes?
7. Besides technological advancements, what other methods are researchers trialing to combat potholes and climate change?
8. What actions are needed to address the link between climate change and the state of our roads?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Reports of potholes in the UK reached a five-year high in 2023, causing significant damage and costing drivers an estimated £500 million in repairs. Scientists warn that climate change will exacerbate the problem as extreme weather conditions take a toll on road surfaces. Between January and November 2023, nearly 630,000 potholes were reported to local (1)______ in England, Scotland, and Wales. However, this number is (2)______ to be much (3)______ as data was only available from a fraction of the councils (4)______.

Potholes pose a serious risk to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and the current lack of funding for repairs is exacerbating the problem. Local councils acknowledge the concerns and are working to address the £14 billion backlog of road repairs. The (5)______ for Transport has also pledged to invest an additional £8.3 billion in (6)______ road improvements, which will help resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across the country.

The impact of potholes is not limited to (7)______ vehicle drivers; cyclists are particularly vulnerable to accidents (8)______ by potholes. To combat this issue, scientists across the UK are researching (9)______ solutions. At the University of Cambridge, engineering specialists are (10)______ projects such as digital mapping of potholes, self-healing roads, and resilient materials. (11)______ are also investigating the use of robots to make repairs and developing materials that can withstand wear and tear and self-heal.

In addition to technological advancements, researchers are trialing the use of certain reusable plastics and (12)______ energy to combat the double challenge of potholes and climate change. These innovative methods aim to keep road surfaces at controlled temperatures, preventing damage caused by freezing and thawing cycles.

The link between climate (13)______ and the state of our roads is becoming increasingly (14)______, and concerted (15)______ is needed to (16)______ this issue. Improved road maintenance practices, innovative materials and technologies, and broader climate change mitigation strategies are essential. It is crucial to invest in the development of new and sustainable methods to ensure the safety and longevity of our road infrastructure.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the impact of potholes on drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians?
2. How would you feel if you had to drive on roads with many potholes?
3. Do you think the lack of funding for road repairs is a major problem? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the idea of using robots to repair potholes?
5. How do you think climate change will worsen the problem of potholes?
6. Do you think it is important for the government to invest in road maintenance practices? Why or why not?
7. What are some innovative solutions you can think of to combat the problem of potholes?
8. How would you feel if you were a cyclist and had to navigate around potholes?
9. Do you think the use of reusable plastics and geothermal energy to combat potholes is a good idea? Why or why not?
10. What do you think about the idea of roads that can self-heal?
11. How do you think the issue of potholes can be effectively addressed?
12. How would you feel if you were a pedestrian and had to walk on roads with many potholes?
13. Do you think it is important for researchers to explore new materials and technologies to combat potholes? Why or why not?
14. What is the importance of investing in sustainable methods for road infrastructure?
15. How do you think the problem of potholes can be prevented in the future?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. exacerbated
2. potholes
3. cyclists
4. pedestrians
5. backlog
6. resurface
7. innovative
8. resilient
9. robots
10. geothermal
11. thawing
12. mitigation
13. infrastructure
14. longevity
15. concerted

Meanings:
(A) The act of lessening the severity or seriousness of something, especially a problem
(B) The fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area
(C) Machines capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically
(D) The duration of a thing’s existence or usefulness
(E) People who ride bicycles, especially as a sport or for transportation
(F) Made more severe or intense, especially a problem or negative situation
(G) People traveling on foot; walkers
(H) The process of becoming liquid after being frozen
(I) Capable of withstanding or recovering quickly from difficult conditions
(J) Featuring new methods; advanced and original
(K) Holes in the road surface where the pavement has become worn or broken
(L) To overlay a new layer on an existing road surface
(M) Relating to the heat produced inside the Earth
(N) Done with cooperation and shared effort
(O) An accumulation of unfinished work or matters that need to be dealt with
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How much did drivers in the UK spend on pothole repairs in 2023?
(a) £500 million
(b) £14 billion
(c) £8.3 billion
(d) £630,000

2. How many potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November 2023?
(a) 5,000 miles
(b) £14 billion
(c) Nearly 630,000
(d) £8.3 billion

3. What is the current backlog of road repairs in the UK?
(a) £14 billion
(b) £500 million
(c) Nearly 630,000
(d) £8.3 billion

4. How much money has the Department for Transport pledged to invest in local road improvements?
(a) £14 billion
(b) £8.3 billion
(c) Nearly 630,000
(d) £500 million

5. Who is particularly vulnerable to accidents caused by potholes?
(a) Motor vehicle drivers
(b) Pedestrians
(c) Scientists
(d) Cyclists

6. What are scientists at the University of Cambridge researching to combat potholes?
(a) Reusable plastics and geothermal energy
(b) Wear and tear and self-healing materials
(c) Road maintenance practices and climate change mitigation strategies
(d) Digital mapping of potholes, self-healing roads, and resilient materials

7. What do researchers hope to achieve with the use of reusable plastics and geothermal energy?
(a) Prevent damage caused by freezing and thawing cycles
(b) Combat the double challenge of potholes and climate change
(c) Keep road surfaces at controlled temperatures
(d) All of the above

8. What is crucial in addressing the issue of potholes and climate change?
(a) Investing in the development of new and sustainable methods
(b) Improved road maintenance practices, innovative materials and technologies, and broader climate change mitigation strategies
(c) Ensuring the safety and longevity of road infrastructure
(d) All of the above

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Reports of potholes in the UK reached a five-year high in 2023.
2. Local councils in the UK have successfully addressed a £14 billion backlog of road repairs.
3. Potholes in the UK caused an estimated £500 billion in repairs for drivers.
4. Researchers in the UK are exploring innovative solutions to combat potholes, including digital mapping, self-healing roads, and resilient materials.
5. The Department for Transport has pledged to invest an additional £8.3 million in local road improvements.
6. The actual number of potholes is likely higher as data was only available from a fraction of the councils approached.
7. Climate change will not worsen the pothole problem as extreme weather damages road surfaces.
8. Nearly 630,000 potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November 2023.
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 is the estimated cost to drivers for pothole repairs in the UK?
2. How many potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November 2023?
3. What is the current backlog of road repairs in the UK?
4. What is the Department for Transport’s plan to address the issue of potholes?
5. What are some of the innovative solutions being researched by scientists at the University of Cambridge to combat potholes?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How many potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November 2023?
Nearly 630,000 potholes were reported.

2. How much money did drivers estimate they spent on pothole repairs in 2023?
Drivers estimated they spent £500 million on pothole repairs.

3. What is the impact of potholes on cyclists?
Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to accidents caused by potholes.

4. What is the current backlog of road repairs in the UK?
The current backlog of road repairs is £14 billion.

5. How much money has the Department for Transport pledged to invest in local road improvements?
The Department for Transport has pledged to invest an additional £8.3 billion.

6. What innovative solutions are researchers at the University of Cambridge exploring to combat potholes?
Researchers at the University of Cambridge are exploring projects such as digital mapping of potholes, self-healing roads, and resilient materials. They are also investigating the use of robots for repairs and developing materials that can self-heal.

7. Besides technological advancements, what other methods are researchers trialing to combat potholes and climate change?
Researchers are trialing the use of certain reusable plastics and geothermal energy to combat potholes and climate change.

8. What actions are needed to address the link between climate change and the state of our roads?
Improved road maintenance practices, innovative materials and technologies, and broader climate change mitigation strategies are needed to address the link between climate change and the state of our roads. It is crucial to invest in the development of new and sustainable methods.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) councils
(2) likely
(3) higher
(4) approached
(5) Department
(6) local
(7) motor
(8) caused
(9) innovative
(10) exploring
(11) Researchers
(12) geothermal
(13) change
(14) clear
(15) action
(16) address
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. exacerbated
Answer: (F) Made more severe or intense, especially a problem or negative situation

2. potholes
Answer: (K) Holes in the road surface where the pavement has become worn or broken

3. cyclists
Answer: (E) People who ride bicycles, especially as a sport or for transportation

4. pedestrians
Answer: (G) People traveling on foot; walkers

5. backlog
Answer: (O) An accumulation of unfinished work or matters that need to be dealt with

6. resurface
Answer: (L) To overlay a new layer on an existing road surface

7. innovative
Answer: (J) Featuring new methods; advanced and original

8. resilient
Answer: (I) Capable of withstanding or recovering quickly from difficult conditions

9. robots
Answer: (C) Machines capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically

10. geothermal
Answer: (M) Relating to the heat produced inside the Earth

11. thawing
Answer: (H) The process of becoming liquid after being frozen

12. mitigation
Answer: (A) The act of lessening the severity or seriousness of something, especially a problem

13. infrastructure
Answer: (B) The fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area

14. longevity
Answer: (D) The duration of a thing’s existence or usefulness

15. concerted
Answer: (N) Done with cooperation and shared effort
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How much did drivers in the UK spend on pothole repairs in 2023?
Answer: (a) £500 million

2. How many potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November 2023?
Answer: (c) Nearly 630,000

3. What is the current backlog of road repairs in the UK?
Answer: (a) £14 billion

4. How much money has the Department for Transport pledged to invest in local road improvements?
Answer: (b) £8.3 billion

5. Who is particularly vulnerable to accidents caused by potholes?
Answer: (d) Cyclists

6. What are scientists at the University of Cambridge researching to combat potholes?
Answer: (d) Digital mapping of potholes, self-healing roads, and resilient materials

7. What do researchers hope to achieve with the use of reusable plastics and geothermal energy?
Answer: (c) Keep road surfaces at controlled temperatures

8. What is crucial in addressing the issue of potholes and climate change?
Answer: (b) Improved road maintenance practices, innovative materials and technologies, and broader climate change mitigation strategies
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Reports of potholes in the UK reached a five-year high in 2023. (Answer: True)
2. Local councils in the UK have successfully addressed a £14 billion backlog of road repairs. (Answer: False)
3. Potholes in the UK caused an estimated £500 billion in repairs for drivers. (Answer: False)
4. Researchers in the UK are exploring innovative solutions to combat potholes, including digital mapping, self-healing roads, and resilient materials. (Answer: True)
5. The Department for Transport has pledged to invest an additional £8.3 million in local road improvements. (Answer: False)
6. The actual number of potholes is likely higher as data was only available from a fraction of the councils approached. (Answer: True)
7. Climate change will not worsen the pothole problem as extreme weather damages road surfaces. (Answer: False)
8. Nearly 630,000 potholes were reported to local councils in England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November 2023. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧