Flying cars will likely be a reality in the future. At the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the impact of this type of transport and the challenges of making it a reality. This lesson is centred around the theme of Science and Technology from the IGCSE ESL curriculum, which explores the way we use technology and science in the modern world. In this lesson, we will practice our listening and reading skills by learning how companies are planning to change the future of transportation by producing the first flying car.
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Read the article. Write words under different headings.
The flying car has been talked about for many years, but now it appears that the idea is about to become a reality.
An international company has built a two-seater plane that, at the touch of a button, converts into a car, which is perfectly suitable for driving on public roads. It has been designed so that the wings fold up automatically, and it takes just 15 seconds to switch between flying and driving. With its wings fully open and the propeller spinning, the flying car can take off from an airfield. The hope is that it will eventually take off from roads, but at the moment that is still illegal.
New technology means that the inside of the plane’s cockpit is quite similar to the inside of a car. Reaching your destination can be made easier by satellite navigation systems, and weather patterns can be displayed on a simple colour screen. The lightweight engine means that it can fly up to 500 miles without the need to refuel.
It would seem that cars which can fly make complete sense. They are quicker than conventional cars for travelling from city to city, and they can run on ordinary unleaded fuel. They have another big advantage. Flying cars are cool, like something you would see in an action film.
At the moment, however, the flying car’s wheels have not left the ground. That is not because of technical reasons or problems with the design. It is because the various road and aircraft authorities simply cannot agree on whether it is a car or a plane.
“The Government and the authorities have never thought seriously about a flying car,” says Alan Price, the president of the company that has developed it. “I wanted a car that could fly and drive, but it is difficult to find an organisation prepared to insure the vehicle against accidents.”
Nevertheless, the company hopes to produce and deliver its first flying car soon. The company already has orders for 40 of them. The majority of the potential customers are older and some are retired. They have worked hard all their lives and now they can have a flying car... a form of technology that they have been promised in films and on television since they were children. There have even been orders from some people who have no pilot’s licence but are willing to learn to fly because of the excitement of owning such a vehicle.
The flying car will cost around $200,000. “For an aeroplane, that’s a very reasonable price, but for a car, it’s quite expensive,” explains Alan Price. “But it just is not possible to make a $10,000 flying car yet.”
This latest means of transport will not become a mass-market item at any time in the near future. But in the long term, it has the potential to change the way you travel. It will become no more expensive than driving your car on the motorway. Journey times could be reduced by more than half.
So the next time you are told to fasten your seat belt, it may be to prepare for taking off.
Here are the words and phrases covered in this lesson about flying cars:
- autonomous
- automaker
- capability
- elevations
- envision
- flying cars
- iconic
- important distinction
- infrastructure
- lightweight engine
- manufacturing
- mobility
- parachute
- propellers
- traffic gridlock
- vehicles
2. Write a letter to a friend about flying cars. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them.
- Customs and Traditions
- Entertainment and Leisure
- Environment and Nature
- Family and Lifestyle
- Fitness and Sports
- Science and Technology
- Shopping and Consumer Society
- Travel and Adventure
- Work and Education
Exploring the way humans and animals live, adapt and change on our planet
- City or Countryside Living
- Transport Systems
- Dangerous Spiders and Snakes
- Extreme Weather
- Taking photos
- Natural World Puzzles
- Changes in the weather
- Seas and Oceans Puzzles
- Geography Exercises
- Natural World Word Search
- Exercise 2 Weather Reports
- Exercise 3 Managing Waste
- Exercise 4 Reducing Noise Pollution
- Exercise 6 Important Developments Article
- Exercise 6 Recycling Centre Report
Explore the way we use technology and science in the modern world
- Exercise 4 Shipwrecked
- Ancient Structures
- Exercise 6 Eating Out in Berlin Travel Report
- Exercise 2 Different Cultures
- Exercise 4 Travel Writing
- Exercise 2 Time Travel
- Exercise 2 Train Journeys
- London Travel Guide
- Riding a Motorbike Listening Exercise
- Adjective Suffixes
- Exercise 5 Returning Home
- Travel Puzzles
- Great Ship Adventure Listening Exercise
- Exercise 6 Living in Different Places
- Exercise 5 Interesting Meeting
- Exercise 1 & 2 (Extended)
- Exercise 3 & 4 (Extended)
- Exercise 5 & 6 (Extended)
- Listening Questions 1-5
- Listening Exercise 3 & 4
- Listening 5 (Extended)
- Videos (Extended)
- Speaking Test
Exercise 1: Read a text and answer a series of questions.
Keeping Bees in the City
Living for 200 years
Living Stone Plants
Walking to the North Pole
Exercise 2: Read a text and answer questions, testing more detailed comprehension.
Cheating in Exams
Different Shops
Different Writers
Pizza Companies
Summer Camps
Exercise 3 - Make brief notes related to a piece of text.
- Exercise 3 Extended Video introduction
- Exercise 3 Frozen Caveman
- Exercise 3 Kite Surfing
- Exercise 3 Life in 2069
- Exercise 3 World’s Sporting Champions
- Exercise 3 Young Mountaineer
Exercise 4 - Write a summary.
Exercise 5 - Write an informal email.
- Bonfire Night
- Exercise 5 Birthday Party
- Exercise 5 Cousin Visiting (Description)
- Exercise 5 Favourite Film
- Exercise 5 Going for an Interview (Advice)
- Exercise 5 Going on Holiday
- Exercise 5 Interesting Meeting
- Exercise 5 New Attraction
- Exercise 5 Restaurant Visit (Narrative)
- Exercise 5 Returning Home
Exercise 6 - Write a report, review or article.
- Animal Sanctuary
- Becoming Vegetarian Article
- Ed Sheeran Concert Review
- Exam Advice Article
- Exercise 6 Career’s Talk Report
- Exercise 6 Dangerous Shopping Book Review
- Exercise 6 Eating Out in Berlin Travel Report
- Exercise 6 Important Developments Article
- Exercise 6 Living in Different Places
- Exercise 6 Recycling Centre Report
- Exercise 6 Subject Choices Article
- Exercise 6 Thai Restaurant Review
- Mission Impossible – Fallout Review
- Online Gaming Article
- Smartphone Review
- Snack Machine Article
- Sports Lessons Article
- Work Experience Day Report
- Working in the Summer Holidays Report
Exercise 1 (Questions 1 -4) - Short answer exercises
Exercise 2 - (Question 5) Gap-filled exercises
Exercise 5 - Gap Fill Part A
Exercise 5 - Gap Fill Part B
Here are videos to help you with the reading and wrting sections.
- Exercise 3 Extended Video introduction
- Exercise 4 How to write a Summary (Extended)
- Exercise 5 How to write an Informal Advice Email
- Exercise 5 How to write an Informal Descriptive Email
- Exercise 5 How to write an Informal Narrative Email
- Exercise 6 Becoming Vegetarian
- Exercise 6 How to write a Film Review
- Exercise 6 How to write a report
- Exercise 6 How to write a review
- Exercise 6 How to write an Event Report
- How to write a school magazine article
- Report Writing with Subheadings
Speaking Test Examples:
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