UNIT 5

Transport in The Future

Meet the Millers. They are a three-car family in the near future which uses electric vehicles.

Tom is similar to most commuters. He charges his car at

home overnight so it’s ready for the morning rush hour.
If he needs more electricity, there’s a ‘charging station’
in the office car park.

Jenny’s car travels about 30 kilometers on a full battery

so it’s good for short trips such as going to the shops or
visiting friends nearby. The car also has its own computer
which tells her if there are traffic jams or road works on the
road ahead.

Charlie works from home but enjoys going on a long journey in his sports car at
the weekend. Instead of going to a petrol station for petrol, he can change his
battery on the motorway or plug into a high- voltage charger. Another device in
the car’s engine stops him from going over the speed limit.

Their neighbors still use a car with a petrol engine but most cars have electric
engines. The roads are quieter and there is less pollution so life is also better for
pedestrians and cyclists!

A. Answer these questions:

a. Do you think the predictions in the texts are true?

The text above describes Tom, Jenny & Charlie as a three-car family in the near future using electric
vehicles.
b. Are any of the predictions true now?
In Indonesia, many people who already have electric cars aim to reduce air pollution.
c. Would you prefer an electric car to a petrol one? Why? / Why not?
I prefer electric cars because they can reduce pollution and reduce noise that occurs in Jakarta.

B.Vocabulary

1. Find the words in the texts for these definitions.

a. Machines with engine for transporting people, e.g. car or bus vehicle
b. People who travel to work every day commuter
c. Period in a day when lots of people travel to and from work rush hour
d. Long line of vehicles on the road traffic jam
e. Construction or maintenance on part of a road road works
f. Place to fill your car with petrol petrol station
g. The maximum speed you can legally drive speed limit
h. People on foot in a town or a city pedestrian