Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice
Language: Vocab Match, New Sentences
Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions
Answers
Think Ahead: Why is Japan reducing the speed limit for cars?
a) To make small roads safer for people.
b) To reduce traffic in big cities.
c) To help drivers arrive more quickly.
Vocab List
Reading
Japan has lowered the speed limit on some narrow residential roads from 60km/h to 30km/h. A new rule applies to roads with no line in the middle and no speed sign.
These roads are common in busy Japanese cities. People on foot, including children and older people, can face serious danger when cars travel quickly. The new rule is not for every road in Japan. It is for smaller roads where cars, people and bicycles share limited space.
The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of Japan’s roads. Japan hopes the lower speed will reduce deaths and serious injuries.
Earlier “zone 30” areas showed why speed is important. After Japan introduced these areas in 2011, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.
Police information also showed that people on foot were safer when cars traveled at 30km/h or less. The risk was much higher at faster speeds.
The police are asking drivers to be especially careful on roads shared by cars, people and bicycles. The change puts safety first in the places where people live, walk and play.
Speed Limit Drop in Japan
Think Ahead: Why is Japan reducing the speed limit for cars?
a) To make small roads safer for people.
b) To reduce traffic in big cities.
c) To help drivers arrive more quickly.
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speed limit (n. phrase)
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residential road (n. phrase)
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narrow (adj.)
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serious injury (n. phrase)
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share (v.)
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risk (n.)
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on foot (phr.)
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reduce (v.)
Japan has lowered the speed limit on some narrow residential roads from 60km/h to 30km/h. A new rule applies to roads with no line in the middle and no speed sign.
These roads are common in busy Japanese cities. People on foot, including children and older people, can face serious danger when cars travel quickly. The new rule is not for every road in Japan. It is for smaller roads where cars, people and bicycles share limited space.
The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of Japan’s roads. Japan hopes the lower speed will reduce deaths and serious injuries.
Earlier “zone 30” areas showed why speed is important. After Japan introduced these areas in 2011, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.
Police information also showed that people on foot were safer when cars traveled at 30km/h or less. The risk was much higher at faster speeds.
The police are asking drivers to be especially careful on roads shared by cars, people and bicycles. The change puts safety first in the places where people live, walk and play.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Japan has (1) the speed limit on some narrow residential roads from 60km/h to 30km/h. A new rule applies to roads with no line in the middle and no speed sign.
These roads are common in busy Japanese cities. People on foot, including children and older people, can face serious (2) when cars travel quickly. The new rule is not for every road in Japan. It is for smaller roads where cars, people and bicycles share limited space.
The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of Japan’s roads. Japan hopes the lower speed will (3) deaths and serious injuries.
Earlier “zone 30” areas showed why speed is important. After Japan (4) these areas in 2011, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.
Police information also showed that people on foot were (5) when cars traveled at 30km/h or less. The risk was much higher at faster speeds.
The police are asking drivers to be especially careful on roads shared by cars, people and bicycles. The change puts safety first in the places where people live, walk and play.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- Japan lowered speeds on small shared roads to keep people safer. Correct answer
- Japan lowered speeds on all roads to make driving easier.
- Japan wants more cars and bicycles to use the same roads.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. The new 30km/h rule is for every road in Japan. TRUEFALSE False
2. The rule is for roads with no line in the middle and no speed sign. TRUEFALSE True
3. About 70% of Japan's roads are part of the change. TRUEFALSE True
4. The earlier “zone 30” areas made deaths and serious injuries go up. TRUEFALSE False
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. Why are people on foot in danger on some small roads?
a) Cars can travel quickly near them.Correct
b) Roads are closed during the day.
c) Bicycles must use the middle line.
2. What did police information show about cars traveling at 30km/h or less?
a) People on foot were safer.Correct
b) People on foot walked more quickly.
c) More people started using bicycles.
3. What do police ask drivers to do on shared roads?
a) Be especially careful.Correct
b) Drive only at night.
c) Use larger roads instead.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition, or select a word and then select its definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. speed limite) the fastest speed allowed on a road
2. residential roadd) a road in an area where people live
3. narrowc) not wide
4. riskb) the chance that something bad may happen
5. reducea) to make something less or smaller
a) to make something less or smaller
b) the chance that something bad may happen
c) not wide
d) a road in an area where people live
e) the fastest speed allowed on a road
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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The {blank} in the school parking area is 10 km/h.
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A {blank} usually has homes and small gardens along it.
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The path was too {blank} for two people to walk side by side.
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The two children {blank} one computer after class.
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Using less water can {blank} your family’s bill.
New Sentences
narrow / reduce / residential road / risk / share / speed limit
- The in the school parking area is 10 km/h.
- A usually has homes and small gardens along it.
- The path was too for two people to walk side by side.
- The two children one computer after class.
- Using less water can your family’s bill.
Discussion Builder
1) Giving a reason 2) Showing a result
Q: Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?
A:Q: Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?
A: I think 30km/h is about right for a residential road children often play near homes.
because / but / so / and
I think 30km/h is about right for a residential road because children often play near homes.
Q: Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?
A: Drivers in my area do not usually follow the speed limit because they are in a hurry. , the roads can be dangerous.
As a result / However / For example / Also
Drivers in my area do not usually follow the speed limit because they are in a hurry. As a result, the roads can be dangerous.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?
- Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?
- The article says cars, bicycles, and people share some roads. Is this common where you live?
- What can people on foot and people on bicycles do to reduce risk near traffic?
- The article says lower speeds may reduce serious injuries. Do you think drivers will accept this change? Why or why not?
- What things do you often share with other people?
- What would you like to reduce in your daily life?
Discussion Questions
- Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?
- Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?
- The article says cars, bicycles, and people share some roads. Is this common where you live?
- What can people on foot and people on bicycles do to reduce risk near traffic?
- The article says lower speeds may reduce serious injuries. Do you think drivers will accept this change? Why or why not?
- What things do you often share with other people?
- What would you like to reduce in your daily life?
Answers
Listening: (1) lowered, (2) danger, (3) reduce, (4) introduced, (5) safer
Main Idea: Japan lowered speeds on small shared roads to keep people safer.
True or False:
- False. It is only for some smaller residential roads.
- True. These are the roads named in the new rule.
- True. The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of the roads.
- False. After these areas started, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.
Multiple Choice: a, a, a
Vocabulary:
- speed limit: the fastest speed allowed on a road
- residential road: a road in an area where people live
- narrow: not wide
- risk: the chance that something bad may happen
- reduce: to make something less or smaller
New Sentences: 1. speed limit; 2. residential road; 3. narrow; 4. share; 5. reduce
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Giving a reason. 2) Showing a result.
- because
- As a result