LEP - Automobiles - Estudar Inglês pela Internet

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Automobiles

From Graded English.

Since the invention of the automobile in the last decades of the 19th century, the whole world has changed a lot - communication has increased, places have become closer, and man has travelled farther.

In the 20th century, the automobile took an active part in important events, such as the First and Second World Wars. It also caused deep changes in the cities. Cars crowded the streets taking the place of the old coaches.

The 50's and the 60's represented the greatest days of the automobile. But an oil crisis occurred during the 70's. Gasoline bacame more expensive. All large automobile companies were worried about it and began to work on the "car of the future".

According to car experts, cars in the future will be more economical, lighter and smaller than they are today. They will use different forms of energy: electric, solar and many others. These new forms of energy will cause less pollution than gasoline and will be cheaper.

The weight will be another important aspect because lighter cars save more fuel.

Finally, the car of the future will have a computer in the control panel. A micro-computer will control the speed, stability, and will work as a continuous check-up of the mechanic, electric, and hydraulic systems.

Processing the Knowledge

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Text Comprehension

1) According to the first paragraph, how has the world changed since the automobile invention?

2) What were the deep changes caused in the cities, during the 20th century, due to the automobile?

3) Do you think the cities in the 21st century have got a proper structure for the amount of cars that exist nowadays? Explain your answer.

4) The text talks about the gasoline being expensive in the 70's. We know that today, 2008, the world is passing again through another oil crisis, but the difference is that nowadays there are many more people and cars around. How do you see this situation? Is the increase of vehicles a good thing, considering that the resources can be limited?

5) Think about the last paragraph and think about the cars we have today. Do you see similarities? Which ones?

Language Structure

1) List from the text:

a) all the comparative adjectives: "adjectives + er" or "more + adjectives"

b) all the superlative adjectives: "adjective + est" or "most + adjective"

c) rewrite the phrases with irregular verbs in the past tense

2) What about some free writing?

Write a paragraph with no less than 3 lines, telling about your car: what you use it for; how old it is; color; how you like it; how often you fill up your car with gas; how often the car is taken to the mechanic, etc... Write what you want about your car, but remember: use the correct verb tenses, and read your paragraph (and all the other exercises, too!) before submitting the assignment, so you can pick up eventual mistakes and correct them.

Word Study

1) Find the opposites

(01) increase	( ) less
(02) close	( ) small
(03) active	( ) cheap
(04) more	( ) equal
(05) expensive	(02) far
(06) large	( ) decrease
(07) begin	( ) first
(08) different	( ) interrupted
(09) continuous	( ) finish
(10) last	( ) passive