The UK’s transport secretary recently said that we might see driverless cars on the roads by the end of 2026. He even mentioned that by then, people who own these cars might not have to pay attention to the road while driving. The government wants to make new laws to allow automated driving in the UK, but some people worry that if the technology isn’t ready, it could cause serious accidents.

The transport secretary thinks it’s really important to have rules in place to keep everyone safe. He’s seen driverless cars being used in California and thinks they’re pretty cool. He hopes that the new laws will be ready by the end of 2024, and that by 2026, we’ll start seeing cars that can drive themselves. He also thinks this technology could make the roads safer for everyone.

In the US and China, they’ve been testing cars that can drive themselves for a while now. But in the UK, we’ve been more careful about using this technology. Some cars have a feature that helps the driver stay in their lane and follow traffic, but the driver still has to keep their hands on the wheel and watch the road. Only one car, the Ford Mustang Mach E, lets drivers take their hands off the wheel on certain parts of the motorway, but they still have to keep their eyes on the road.

When someone from Ford was asked if we could have a car that drives us home from the pub, they said it’s not possible yet. They think the technology, software, and rules need to get better, and we also need to think about if people will accept and be able to afford these cars.

In summary, the UK government wants to have driverless cars on the roads by the end of 2026. The transport secretary thinks this technology can make the roads safer, but we need to make sure it’s safe before we use it. They’re working on making new laws for this, but we still have a lot of things to figure out before we can have cars that drive themselves.

Original news source: Driverless cars: Tech possible for UK motorways by 2026, transport secretary says (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a copy of the article. Have them read the article together and then summarize the main points in a short news report. Each group can then present their news report to the class.

– Mind Map
Instructions: Write the topic “Driverless Cars” on the board and ask students to brainstorm related words, phrases, and ideas. Encourage them to make connections and add more branches to their mind maps. After a few minutes, have students share their mind maps with a partner or the whole class, explaining their thought process and connections.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select 10-15 key vocabulary words from the article and write them on separate pieces of paper. Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of vocabulary words. One student from each group will pick a word and draw a picture to represent the word, while the other students in the group try to guess the word. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Pair up the students and give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 5 minutes and have the students take turns summarizing the article to their partner. After the 5 minutes are up, ask the students to switch roles and summarize again, this time trying to be more concise. Repeat this process one more time, challenging the students to summarize the article in just 1 minute.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a copy of the article. Ask each group to discuss the pros and cons of driverless cars, based on the information in the article. After a few minutes, have each group share their ideas with the class and facilitate a class discussion on the topic. Encourage students to support their arguments with evidence from the article.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the UK’s transport secretary say about driverless cars?
2. Why does the government want to make new laws for automated driving in the UK?
3. What does the transport secretary think about driverless cars being used in California?
4. How long have they been testing cars that can drive themselves in the US and China?
5. What feature do some cars have to help the driver stay in their lane and follow traffic?
6. Which car lets drivers take their hands off the wheel on certain parts of the motorway?
7. What did someone from Ford say about having a car that drives us home from the pub?
8. What does the UK government want to achieve by the end of 2026?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The UK’s transport (1)______ recently said that we might see driverless cars on the roads by the end of 2026. He even mentioned that by then, people who own these cars might not have to pay attention to the road while (2)______. The government (3)______ to make new laws to allow automated driving in the UK, but some people worry that if the technology isn’t ready, it could cause (4)______ accidents.

The transport secretary thinks it’s really important to have rules in place to keep everyone safe. He’s seen driverless cars being used in (5)______ and thinks they’re pretty cool. He hopes that the new laws will be (6)______ by the end of 2024, and that by 2026, we’ll (7)______ seeing cars that can drive themselves. He also thinks this (8)______ could make the roads safer for everyone.

In the US and China, they’ve been testing cars that can drive themselves for a while now. But in the UK, we’ve been more careful about using this technology. Some cars have a feature that helps the driver stay in their lane and follow (9)______, but the driver still has to keep their (10)______ on the wheel and watch the road. Only one car, the Ford Mustang Mach E, lets drivers take their hands off the wheel on (11)______ parts of the motorway, but they still have to keep their eyes on the road.

When someone from Ford was (12)______ if we could have a car that drives us home from the pub, they said it’s not possible yet. They think the technology, software, and (13)______ need to get better, and we also need to think about if people will accept and be able to afford these cars.

In summary, the UK government wants to have driverless cars on the roads by the end of 2026. The transport secretary thinks this technology can make the roads (14)______, but we need to make sure it’s safe before we use it. They’re (15)______ on (16)______ new laws for this, but we still have a lot of things to figure out before we can have cars that drive themselves.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a driverless car?
2. How would you feel if you saw a car driving itself on the road?
3. Do you think driverless cars will become popular in the future? Why or why not?
4. How do you think driverless cars could make the roads safer?
5. What are some potential benefits of having driverless cars?
6. How do you think driverless cars could change the way we live and work?
7. Do you like the idea of having a car that can drive itself? Why or why not?
8. What are some concerns or risks associated with driverless cars?
9. How do you think driverless cars could impact the job market?
10. Have you ever seen a driverless car in your country? If yes, what was your reaction?
11. How do you think driverless cars could affect the environment?
12. Do you think driverless cars will be affordable for most people? Why or why not?
13. What do you think needs to happen before driverless cars can be safely used on the roads?
14. Would you trust a driverless car to take you to your destination? Why or why not?
15. How do you think driverless cars could change the way we travel and commute?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. automated
2. accidents
3. legislation
4. cautious
5. feature
6. motorway
7. technology
8. software
9. affordable
10. summary
11. secretary
12. implement
13. regulations
14. acceptance
15. infrastructure

Meanings:
(A) The willingness to accept or tolerate something
(B) Programs and other operating information used by a computer or electronic device
(C) A special or useful part of something
(D) Being careful to avoid potential problems or dangers
(E) The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry
(F) Unfortunate events that happen unexpectedly and cause damage or injury
(G) Something that is priced so that people can afford to buy it
(H) Laws made by a government
(I) A high-ranking official in a particular department or organization
(J) Rules or directives made and maintained by an authority
(K) Machines or systems that operate on their own without human control
(L) A brief statement that gives the most important information about something
(M) A major road designed for fast travel, often with multiple lanes
(N) To put into action or use
(O) The basic physical systems and structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the UK’s transport secretary recently say about driverless cars?
(a) We might see them on the roads by the end of 2026.
(b) We will definitely see them on the roads by the end of 2026.
(c) We won’t see them on the roads until 2028.
(d) We won’t see them on the roads at all.

2. What is the government planning to do to allow automated driving in the UK?
(a) Ban driverless cars.
(b) Make new laws.
(c) Ignore the issue.
(d) Wait for other countries to make the first move.

3. What is one concern that some people have about driverless cars?
(a) They might cause serious accidents if the technology isn’t ready.
(b) They will make the roads safer for everyone.
(c) They will be too expensive for people to afford.
(d) They will be available in the UK before the US and China.

4. Where has the transport secretary seen driverless cars being used?
(a) France.
(b) Germany.
(c) California.
(d) Japan.

5. When does the transport secretary hope the new laws for driverless cars will be ready?
(a) By the end of 2026.
(b) By the end of 2028.
(c) By the end of 2024.
(d) He didn’t mention a specific date.

6. How have the US and China been using driverless cars?
(a) They have already implemented them on their roads.
(b) They have banned them.
(c) They haven’t started using them yet.
(d) They have been testing them for a while.

7. What is the current level of automation in cars in the UK?
(a) All cars can drive themselves.
(b) No cars have any automated features.
(c) Only the Ford Mustang Mach E has automated features.
(d) Some cars have a feature that helps the driver stay in their lane and follow traffic.

8. What did Ford say about the possibility of a car driving someone home from the pub?
(a) It’s already possible.
(b) It’s not possible yet.
(c) It will be possible in the next year.
(d) It will be possible in the next five years.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The UK’s transport secretary believes that driverless cars may never be seen on the roads.
2. The transport secretary doubts that the new laws will be finalized by the end of 2024.
3. The US and China have been testing self-driving cars for a longer time than the UK.
4. The transport secretary has never witnessed driverless cars being used in California and finds them unimpressive.
5. Currently, no car allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain parts of the motorway.
6. The government wants to create new laws to allow automated driving in the UK.
7. The introduction of driverless cars could potentially enhance road safety.
8. Some people are concerned that if the technology is not ready, it could lead to serious accidents.
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 did the UK’s transport secretary say about driverless cars?
2. Why do some people worry about allowing automated driving in the UK?
3. What does the transport secretary think about the safety of driverless cars?
4. How have other countries like the US and China been using driverless car technology?
5. Why do Ford think it’s not possible yet to have a car that drives us home from the pub?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did the UK’s transport secretary say about driverless cars?
The UK’s transport secretary said that we might see driverless cars on the roads by the end of 2026.

2. Why does the government want to make new laws for automated driving in the UK?
The government wants to make new laws to allow automated driving in the UK to keep everyone safe and ensure that the technology is ready before it is used.

3. What does the transport secretary think about driverless cars being used in California?
The transport secretary thinks that driverless cars being used in California are pretty cool.

4. How long have they been testing cars that can drive themselves in the US and China?
They have been testing cars that can drive themselves in the US and China for a while now.

5. What feature do some cars have to help the driver stay in their lane and follow traffic?
Some cars have a feature that helps the driver stay in their lane and follow traffic.

6. Which car lets drivers take their hands off the wheel on certain parts of the motorway?
The Ford Mustang Mach E lets drivers take their hands off the wheel on certain parts of the motorway.

7. What did someone from Ford say about having a car that drives us home from the pub?
Someone from Ford said that it’s not possible yet to have a car that drives us home from the pub. They think the technology, software, and rules need to get better, and we also need to think about if people will accept and be able to afford these cars.

8. What does the UK government want to achieve by the end of 2026?
The UK government wants to have driverless cars on the roads by the end of 2026.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) secretary
(2) driving
(3) wants
(4) serious
(5) California
(6) ready
(7) start
(8) technology
(9) traffic
(10) hands
(11) certain
(12) asked
(13) rules
(14) safer
(15) working
(16) making
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. automated
Answer: (K) Machines or systems that operate on their own without human control

2. accidents
Answer: (F) Unfortunate events that happen unexpectedly and cause damage or injury

3. legislation
Answer: (H) Laws made by a government

4. cautious
Answer: (D) Being careful to avoid potential problems or dangers

5. feature
Answer: (C) A special or useful part of something

6. motorway
Answer: (M) A major road designed for fast travel, often with multiple lanes

7. technology
Answer: (E) The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry

8. software
Answer: (B) Programs and other operating information used by a computer or electronic device

9. affordable
Answer: (G) Something that is priced so that people can afford to buy it

10. summary
Answer: (L) A brief statement that gives the most important information about something

11. secretary
Answer: (I) A high-ranking official in a particular department or organization

12. implement
Answer: (N) To put into action or use

13. regulations
Answer: (J) Rules or directives made and maintained by an authority

14. acceptance
Answer: (A) The willingness to accept or tolerate something

15. infrastructure
Answer: (O) The basic physical systems and structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the UK’s transport secretary recently say about driverless cars?
Answer: (a) We might see them on the roads by the end of 2026.

2. What is the government planning to do to allow automated driving in the UK?
Answer: (b) Make new laws.

3. What is one concern that some people have about driverless cars?
Answer: (a) They might cause serious accidents if the technology isn’t ready.

4. Where has the transport secretary seen driverless cars being used?
Answer: (c) California.

5. When does the transport secretary hope the new laws for driverless cars will be ready?
Answer: (c) By the end of 2024.

6. How have the US and China been using driverless cars?
Answer: (d) They have been testing them for a while.

7. What is the current level of automation in cars in the UK?
Answer: (d) Some cars have a feature that helps the driver stay in their lane and follow traffic.

8. What did Ford say about the possibility of a car driving someone home from the pub?
Answer: (b) It’s not possible yet.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The UK’s transport secretary believes that driverless cars may never be seen on the roads. (Answer: False)
2. The transport secretary doubts that the new laws will be finalized by the end of 2024. (Answer: False)
3. The US and China have been testing self-driving cars for a longer time than the UK. (Answer: True)
4. The transport secretary has never witnessed driverless cars being used in California and finds them unimpressive. (Answer: False)
5. Currently, no car allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain parts of the motorway. (Answer: False)
6. The government wants to create new laws to allow automated driving in the UK. (Answer: True)
7. The introduction of driverless cars could potentially enhance road safety. (Answer: True)
8. Some people are concerned that if the technology is not ready, it could lead to serious accidents. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧