Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What are the most common causes of road accidents?
- What safety measures do you believe are most effective in preventing road accidents?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- acceleration /ak-sel-uh-REY-shuhn/
- interstate /in-ter-STEYT/
- respond /ri-SPOND/
- collision /kuh-LIZH-uhn/
- emphasize /EM-fuh-sahyz/
[noun] – the increase in the speed or rate of something
The car experienced rapid acceleration, reaching a high speed quickly.
[noun] – a major highway that runs between states
They decided to avoid the interstate to stay away from heavy traffic.
[verb] – to react to something that has been said or done
The police responded quickly to the emergency call.
[noun] – an accident in which two or more objects hit each other
The car was involved in a collision, but no one was seriously injured.
[verb] – to give special importance or attention to something
The teacher emphasized the need to study regularly for better results.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
An alarming incident took place on the evening of September 17, 2024, in western Minnesota. An 18-year-old auto mechanics student experienced uncontrollable acceleration while driving a car. The vehicle accelerated to 120 mph (193 kph) despite the student’s repeated attempts to slow it down using the brake pedal. The decision to stay on a quieter two-lane road was made, as it was believed to be safer than the interstate. The vehicle had been serviced previously for accelerator issues, raising suspicions about a computer malfunction. The student’s mother contacted 911, informing the operator about the vehicle’s previous problems, highlighting the critical situation.
Law enforcement responded quickly, with Deputy Zach Johnson offering instructions, although these were ineffective in stopping the car. Trooper Zach Gruver arrived and proposed a bold solution: the driver should intentionally crash into the rear of Gruver’s squad car. This calculated plan worked, as the car’s advanced crash mitigation system activated, leading to a controlled collision at 50 mph (80 kph). This maneuver significantly reduced the risk of injuries. A car company spokesperson later emphasized the importance of rigorous vehicle inspections, stressing that technological reliability remains essential to preventing dangerous incidents like this in the future.
Law enforcement responded quickly, with Deputy Zach Johnson offering instructions, although these were ineffective in stopping the car. Trooper Zach Gruver arrived and proposed a bold solution: the driver should intentionally crash into the rear of Gruver’s squad car. This calculated plan worked, as the car’s advanced crash mitigation system activated, leading to a controlled collision at 50 mph (80 kph). This maneuver significantly reduced the risk of injuries. A car company spokesperson later emphasized the importance of rigorous vehicle inspections, stressing that technological reliability remains essential to preventing dangerous incidents like this in the future.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What caused the 18-year-old student’s car to accelerate uncontrollably?
- Why did the student decide to stay on a two-lane road instead of driving on the interstate?
- What action did the student’s mother take during the emergency?
- How did Deputy Zach Johnson initially try to help the driver?
- What was the bold solution that Trooper Zach Gruver proposed to stop the car?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever experienced a car problem while driving or riding in a vehicle? If so, what happened, and how was it resolved? If not, how do you think you would react in a similar situation to the one described in the article?
- Have you ever been in an emergency situation where you had to act quickly? If so, how did you handle it? If not, what do you think would be the most important thing to remember in such situations?
- Do you agree that using the crash mitigation system was the best way to stop the vehicle?
- How could car manufacturers prevent similar incidents from happening in the future? What role should technology play in ensuring vehicle safety?
- What do you think are the risks of relying too much on technology in vehicles? How could drivers be better prepared to handle such risks?