Uber is a company that provides car rides. They are similar to a taxi except you use the phone app to call and pay them. Uber has been testing self-driving cars. They want to have cars that can drive without a person in the future.
During an Uber test in the U.S, a woman was hit by a car. The woman was killed. She was 49 years old. This occurred in Arizona. Now, Uber has stopped testing self-driving cars in North America.
Many companies have been testing self-driving cars. This is the first death. The woman was crossing the road. She was not using a crosswalk and she suddenly stepped into the road. Uber said it was “incredibly sad news”.
The police said it would have been difficult for a person driving the car to react differently.
Difficult words
Provide: To give something that is needed
Similar: Nearly the same
Self-Driving: To drive itself
Occur: To happen
Crosswalk: A certain place made to cross the street.
Suddenly: Quickly and unexpected
Incredibly: Extremely or very
React: To respond to something
Activities
For listening practise, listen to the recorded article here:
British English:
American English:
Match the Synonym!
| 1. Provide | A. Same |
| 2. Similar | B. Crossing |
| 3. Crosswalk | C. Greatly |
| 4. Occur | D. Give |
| 5. Incredibly | E. Happen |
True or False?
1. Uber provides cars to people. T / F
2. Uber is similar to a taxi. T / F
3. A child was hit by a car. T / F
4. This is not the first death by a self-driving car. T / F
5. The woman did not use a crosswalk. T / F
Unscramble the sentence!
1. Uber / car / rides / provides / is / company / that / a
2. Uber / cars / self-driving / testing / has / been
3. Arizona / occurred / in / This
4. Many / have / testing / self-driving / companies / been / cars
5. The / road / was / crossing / the / woman
Listening and Vocabulary
Listen to the article and fill in the words OR practice vocabulary and fill in the words.
British English:
American English:
| React | Stepped | Provides |
| Occurred | Difficult | Death |
Uber is a company that ____________ car rides. They are similar to a taxi except you use the phone app to call and pay them. Uber has been testing self-driving cars. They want to have cars that can drive without a person in the future.
During an Uber test in the U.S, a woman was hit by a car. The woman was killed. She was 49 years old. This ___________ in Arizona. Now, Uber has stopped testing self-driving cars in North America.
Many companies have been testing self-driving cars. This is the first ________. The woman was crossing the road. She was not using a crosswalk and she suddenly __________ into the road. Uber said it was “incredibly sad news”.
The police said it would have been __________ for a person driving the car to _________ differently.
Conversation Questions
Take turns speaking with a partner or try to answer on your own:
| 1. Did you find this article interesting? Why or why not? |
| 2. Did you learn anything new from this article? If so, what? |
| 3. Do you think self-driving cars are the future? |
| 4. Who is at fault if a self-driving car causes a crash but there is a human operator? |
| 5. What do you know about self-driving cars? |
| 6. Are there any difficulties that self-driving cars would face in your country? |
| 7. Would you buy a self-driving car? |
| 8. Would you take a self-driving taxi? |
| 9. What other everyday tasks should be automated? |
| 10. Do you think self-driving technology will hurt jobs? |
| 11. Are there any things that you don’t think should ever be automated? |
| 12. How could you benefit from owning a self-driving car? |
| 13. Would you trust a self-flying plane? |
| 14. Some places have banned self-driving cars over job fears. Is this a good solution? |
| 15. What is your favourite mode of travel? |
| 16. Are there any ways that you would improve other forms of transport? |
| 17. Do you think it will be illegal for a person to drive a car on the road in the future? |
| 18. Should there be an equivalent to a driver’s license required when owning a self-driving car? |
| 19. Should there be a limit to where self driving cars can go? |
| 20. What would you like to ask the self-driving team at Uber? |
Learn With News 