Unit 13: Motorsport

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Aims and Objectives

In this lesson you are going to learn vocabulary and phrases concerning cars and F1 racing. You will also practice third conditional.

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
DIANEListen Dan, I must tell you what happened to me yesterday.
DANGo ahead.
DIANEI was driving along the turnpike when I heard a loud bang.
DANSounds thrilling!
DIANEThen suddenly a cloud of white smoke came from under the hood and the engine stopped.
DANStrange, what did you do?
DIANEWell, what could I do? I picked up my phone and called for assistance, but they told me they didn't have enough cars and that I would have to wait.
DANThat's typical I suppose.
DIANEYeah, but guess what, my father in law drove by so he gave me a ride.
DANLucky you!
  1. Liz
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. There was
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Diane could do nothing but
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Diane was lucky to meet her husband's
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
GERTAI don't think you can make it in 3 hours from Prague to Budapest, Otis.
OTISWanna bet? I made it last summer.
GERTAI don't think I trust you, Otis.
OTISI even had time to stop and enjoy a tasty snack.
GERTAYou must be kidding!
OTISNo way, let my show you my automobile. It's parked in the back yard.
GERTAWow, Type-R Honda, I'm becoming less doubtful. May I try driving it?
OTISSure, but be careful, it's very stiff and sensitive.
GERTADon't worry.
  1. Gerta
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. On his way to Budapest
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. After seeing Otis' car
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Gavin's vehicle
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 3: Exposed Cloze

Use the correct word or expression from the list below to fill in the gaps in the sentences.

  • average
  • most
  • over
  • popular
  • racing
  • series
Transcript:

The most prominent championship in stock car racing is the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It is the most popular racing series in the United States, drawing over 6 million spectators in 1997, an average live audience of over 190,000 people for each race.

The ? prominent championship in stock car ? is the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It is the most ? racing ? in the United States, drawing ? 6 million spectators in 1997, an ? live audience of over 190,000 people for each race.

Exercise 4: Exposed Cloze

Use the correct word or expression from the list below to fill in the gaps in the sentences.

  • as
  • largest
  • of
  • of
  • on
  • that
Transcript:

The Daytona 500 is regarded as the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar. It is also the series' first race of the year. The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers.

The Daytona 500 is regarded ? the most important and prestigious race ? the NASCAR calendar. It is also the series' first race ? the year. The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth ? average live global TV audience ? any sporting event ? year with 20 million viewers.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Substitution

Use the text in brackets to transform each sentence.

Example:

I got stuck in the lift, so I didn't make it on time.
If I hadn't got stuck in the lift, I would have made it on time.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 2: Cloze

Put the verb in the correct form to form third conditional.

Transcript:

If you had gone (you / go) there, you would have met (you / meet) him.
If I had known (I / know) you were coming, I would have waited (I / wait) for you.
If she hadn't gone (she / not go) to the party, she wouldn't have met (she / not meet) her husband.
If Jack had eaten (Jack / eat) it, he would have been (he / be) sick.
If she had seen (she / see) him, she would have liked (she / like) him.
If they had asked (they / ask) me, I would have helped (I / help) them.

If ? (you / go) there, ? (you / meet) him.
If ? (I / know) you were coming, ? (I / wait) for you.
If ? (she / not go) to the party, ? (she / not meet) her husband.
If ? (Jack / eat) it, ? (he / be) sick.
If ? (she / see) him, ? (she / like) him.
If ? (they / ask) me, ? (I / help) them.

Exercise 3: Substitution

Use the text in brackets to transform each sentence.

Example:

I wasn't home, so I didn't watch TV.
If I had been home, I would have watched TV.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 4: Substitution

Use the text in brackets to transform each sentence.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

  7. ?

Exercise 5: Cloze

Fill in the gaps in the text below. For each gap there is only one correct answer.

Transcript:

I wish it had rained (rain) last week, my garden is so dry.
Alice wishes she had fastened (fasten) her seatbelt, she wouldn't have to be in hospital now.
Bob and Betty wish they had never got married (never / get married), they wouldn't have to argue so often.
Craig wishes he had done (do) better at the test.
Denise wishes she hadn't had (not have) her car repaired in that service.
Ernest and Eva wish they had bought cheaper house, now they have almost no money.

I wish it ? (rain) last week, my garden is so dry.
Alice wishes she ? (fasten) her seatbelt, she wouldn't have to be in hospital now.
Bob and Betty wish they ? (never / get married), they wouldn't have to argue so often.
Craig wishes he ? (do) better at the test.
Denise wishes she ? (not have) her car repaired in that service.
Ernest and Eva wish they ? cheaper house, now they have almost no money.

Dictation

Exercise 1: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

The starting grid of Formula 1 races is usually situated on a straight part of the circuit.

?

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

It is generally agreed that the newer circuits are safer then the old ones.

?

Checklist

Now, after finishing this lesson you should be able:

To talk about cars and traffic.

To understand common vocabulary and phrases concerning cars and F1 racing.

To use third conditional.

Version 2.0 (2013-01-03 13:42 CET)
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