11–12 CULTURE | Forms of transport B2
1 Work in pairs. Look at the infographic. 1 Beijing, China 232 stations, 17 lines, 289 miles of railway, 3.4 billion rides per year
What do you think makes these some
of the best urban train systems from 2 London, UK 270 stations, 11 lines, 250 miles of railway, 1.27 billion rides per year
around the world?
3 UAE 47 stations, 2 lines, 46.3 miles of railway, 137.8 million rides per year
2 Read the article. Why do you think these
forms of transport are used in these 4 Sao Paulo, Brazil 61 stations, 5 lines, 43 miles of railway, 2.49 billion rides per year
countries? Do you think they are a main
form of transport in each country? 5 Paris, France 300 stations, 16 lines, 133 miles of railway, 1.5 billion rides per year
Something a little different
Dog sled, Alaska
Dog sledding (or mushing) is
now mostly a tourist activity
in Alaska, the reason being
that most Alaskans now use
snowmobiles and only drive
dogs for recreation or racing.
During the winter months it
Coco taxi, Cuba can provide an exhilarating
the experience that enables Alaska’s two million visitors to view the landscape and travel part of the
A trip to Havana or Varadero famously offers
trave l in style in an origin al Chev rolet. 1,150‑mile Iditarod National Historic Trail. With up to 16 highly trained huskies pulling the dog
opportunit y to
off the Cuban sled through the snow and scenery at high speeds, it's a memorable and adrenalin-filled ride.
However, the opportunity to hop on and
des touris ts with an
equivalent of a rickshaw provi
. Named a coco
affordable, fun and convenient alternative Tuk tuk (auto-rickshaw), India
use they resem ble the shap e of a coconut shell,
taxi beca
and the driver sits on A more affordable form of
they provide two seats for passengers
shell is built aroun d. A point transport for many people,
the moped that the fibreglass
yellow coco s are for touris ts and the tuk tuks are used widely, from
worth noting is that
are for locals . delivering milk, to dropping
black ones
the kids off at school, to
transporting tourists. Despite
DUKW, UK India’s rail network and 37,200
ed
The DUKW (pronounc miles of rail tracks, the tuk tuk’s
) is an am ph ibio us popularity means India produces
‘duck’
ma ch ine tha t wa s over 530,000 tuk tuks each year
ed
designed and develop and exports another 300,000. Sadly, the tuk tuk has been banned from parts
to function bo th on of some cities in order to keep these areas cleaner, calmer and quieter.
land and water. The
take
7.5 tonne DUKW can
roa ds
you through the city’s
that Totora reed boat, Peru
ames. The 30 pa sse ngers on board agree
and on to the River Th around the
famous lan dm ark s like the Tourism is a growing industry in Peru, and
see some of London’s l will
it is a unique way to e. coastal regions, many of your optio ns to trave
and Buckingham Palac are
Houses of Parliament be by boat. Reeds from the nativ e Totor a plant
ed, harve sted and used to build home s,
not only plant
boats . You
but local people use them for Totora reed
Bamboo train, Cambodia which is at
will see these boats around Lake Titicaca,
level and is South America’s
On a 15- to 20-minute journey each way,
the bamboo 3,800 metres above sea
train, or ‘norry’, takes its passengers from largest body of fresh wate r.
O Dambong
to O Sra Lav along what remains of the 1920
s
French‑built railway. It can carry around 10
to 15 people
and travels at speeds of up to 15 kph. It’s
now much
more of a tourist attraction than anything
else. There is
often talk that it is going to be demolished
due to the introduction of better roads
and buses, but it is still going strong after
many years. However, there might be a
few hair‑raising moments as you ride acros
s some of the rickety bridges.
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11–12 CULTURE | Forms of transport B2
3 Read the article again and choose the best OPTIMISE YOUR CULTURE
answers.
5 In pairs, or as a group, discuss the
1 Which form of transport has two variations
questions.
specifically for different types of passengers?
1 What is the best method of transport you
a) The coco taxi – tourists can only use yellow
have used?
cocos and locals use the black ones.
2 Are there any forms of transport that are very
b) The DUKW as it is used to transport people
traditional, a part of your local culture or are
on land and water.
quite unique in your country?
2 Which traditional form of transport, used by
3 Are there any similarities between how people
locals, is handmade locally?
use transport in your country and in the
a) totora reed boats countries in the article?
b) bamboo train
3 What is a key difference between taking a coco PROJECT
taxi and a tuk tuk?
a) A tuk tuk can go faster. 6 You are going to work on a project
about travel and forms of transport
b) They’re actually quite similar.
in your country and another country.
4 Which form of transport can be used by large
Read the questions and prepare your
groups of people?
project research.
a) DUKW
1 Work in small groups and choose a country.
b) coco taxi Choose three different ways that locals and
5 What do most Alaskans use for travel in place of tourists are encouraged to travel in your
mushing now? country and three from the other country you
a) snowmobiles have selected.
b) dog sleds 2 Compare and contrast the different ways
to travel within each country. Think about
6 Where does India produce more tuk tuks from?
the questions below when you do your
a) other countries research online.
b) India • Who can use it for travel?
4 Read the article carefully and answer the • What does it cost to use?
questions. There might be more than one • What is it made from and who made/makes it?
answer for some. • How easy is it to use?
1 What do the passengers on the DUKW • Is it traditional to that country? Why?
agree about? • How long has it been available/used for?
• How tourist-friendly is it? (language, cost,
2 Why do you think the bamboo train is still pressure to buy things)
going strong? • Any other useful information.
3 Which words are used to describe a breathtaking
7 Present your observations and findings
and unforgettable journey? to the class. Choose the most interesting
points and suggest whether you think these
forms of transport are here to stay or might
4 The article mentions that there are a lot of tuk
change in the near future. Add some of your
tuks on the roads in India. Why is this?
personal thoughts and experiences too.
5 Why do you think totora reed boats continue
to be made from reeds and not man-made
materials?
6 Which forms of transport do you think are
mostly used by locals and tourists in and around
Lake Titicaca?
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This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
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