Unit 4
Lessons 3, 4, 5 and 6
Student’s Book pages 36, 37, 38, 39
Before reading
Guess.
What does the picture show?
It shows cycling.
While reading
Cycling: past, present and future
Amman at 7:30 am on a day in spring, 2014 CE: People are on their way to work. Some are driving; some are walking and some are cycling along a cycle route.
Ten years ago, cycling in Jordan was almost unheard of. Nowadays, cyclists are everywhere; cycling is fast becoming both a popular hobby and a useful mode of transport. Organisations such as Cycling Jordan have been set up to promote the ecological and health benefits of the sport. These have been a great success, with bicycle-hire businesses starting up, and cycling tours of the country becoming more and more common.
The cycling movement has grown to include school children, teenagers, families and aspiring athletes. Cycling is one of the most flexible forms of transport, for a long-distance journey through the mountains or a quick trip to the shops!
Despite this, there is still work to be done if more people are to take up cycling. The roads are still not safe enough, and knowledge about how to cycle safely is not yet widespread.
Share the Road, a branch of Cycling Jordan, is working to spread awareness of how to cycle safely, both in the city and on long-distance bike rides. It offers advice to motorists on how to drive with cyclists on the road, and advice to cyclists – of which the most important must be ‘Wear a helmet at all times’. Hopefully, as awareness of how to cycle safely spreads, more and more people will join the cycling revolution!
The text talks about:
- The main difference, according to the article, between a street in Amman in 2004 CE and the same street in 2014 CE.
- The writer of the article calls cycling a ‘useful’ mode of transport.
- The two main problems that remain for road cyclists in Jordan.
- Share the Road is doing enough to increase awareness of the sport.
- The advantages and disadvantages of a city where private transport, such as cars and private taxis, is banned.
After reading
What is he main difference, according to the article, between a street in Amman in 2004 CE and the same street in 2014 CE?
Ten years ago, cycling in Jordan was almost unheard of. Nowadays, cyclists are everywhere; cycling is fast becoming both a popular hobby and a useful mode of transport.
What have been set up? Why?
Organisations such as Cycling Jordan have been set up to promote the ecological and health benefits of the sport.
Have these organisations been a success? Explain.
These have been a great success, with bicycle-hire businesses starting up, and cycling tours of the country becoming more and more common.
How much has the cycling movement grown?
The cycling movement has grown to include school children, teenagers, families and aspiring athletes.
Is the cycling movement quite enough? Why?
There is still work to be done if more people are to take up cycling. The roads are still not safe enough, and knowledge about how to cycle safely is not yet widespread.
What are the two main problems that remain for road cyclists in Jordan?
The roads are still not safe enough, and knowledge about how to cycle safely is not yet widespread.
Share the Road is doing enough to increase awareness of the sport. How?
It offers advice to motorists on how to drive with cyclists on the road, and advice to cyclists – of which the most important must be ‘Wear a helmet at all times’. Hopefully, as awareness of how to cycle safely spreads, more and more people will join the cycling revolution!
What is the most flexible form of transport? Why?
Cycling is one of the most flexible forms of transport, for a long-distance journey through the mountains or a quick trip to the shops!
Share the Road, a branch of Cycling Jordan, is working to spread awareness of how to cycle safely, both in the city and on long-distance bike rides. It offers advice to motorists on how to drive with cyclists on the road, and advice to cyclists – of which the most important must be ‘Wear a helmet at all times’. Hopefully, as awareness of how to cycle safely spreads, more and more people will join the cycling revolution!
WHICH refers to advice to cyclists