Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 29 December 2015
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN π
Smog Causes Driving Ban in Italy
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- smog: smoke and other pollution combined with fog
- ban: a rule or law that disallows an action or prevents the use of something
- license plate: the numbers and letters that identify a vehicle’s owner
- exempt: not required to obey a rule or law that applies to others
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Smog Causes Driving Ban in Italy
Comprehension Questions
- Why are drivers in Milan and Rome facing driving restrictions this week?
- What types of vehicles are exempt from the driving ban?
- Why does the report mention Beijing?
Discussion Question: Should driving be banned in major city centres around the world? Why or why not?
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Smog Causes Driving Ban in Italy
Heavy smog has resulted in major driving restrictions in two of Italy’s largest cities. In Milan, a 6-hour driving ban was put in place on Monday with further restrictions to follow. In Rome, drivers must check their license plate numbers to see when they are allowed to drive on Monday and Tuesday. Hybrid and other environmentally-friendly vehicles are exempt from the ban in Rome. An anti-smog public transit ticket with a reduced price has been offered in Milan. The smog has worsened in these cities this week due to calm, dry weather. Similar driving restrictions were put in place in Beijing this month due to severe pollution alerts.
- Drivers in Milan and Rome are facing driving restrictions this week due to high levels of smog.
- Hybrid and other environmentally-friendly vehicles are exempt from the driving ban.
- The report mentions Beijing because this city has also had severe pollution alerts this month that have resulted in driving restrictions.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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