Staying safe in Australia
Thursday, June 02, 2011, 17:59 GMT+7
PRE-READING:
Look at the title and predict the main ideas of the article. Then, write down three (3) Wh-questions about the text.
Ex: What should and shouldn’t you do when travelling in Australia?
Read the short introduction below. Can you predict the regulations or laws about travelling in Australia? Write down at least five (5) of your ideas then check them after reading the article.
Although Australia is a very safe country generally, sometimes things are very different from your home country and you can have problems, get sick or have an accident if you don't know what you should do in some everyday situations. English Australia has prepared this information to help you stay safe while you are studying in Australia. Regular text gives suggestions; bold italic text is the law!
Make the most of your time here but be a little more careful in Australia than in your home country.
WHILE READING:
Set a time limit to read this article. An average reader can read at the speed of 250 words per minute. Note down your reading speed regularly to check your progress.
SKIMMING:
Within the time limit, read and summarize the main ideas of the paragraphs with your own words. Do not worry about unfamiliar vocabulary.
STAYING SAFE IN AUSTRALIA
Get Around Safely
Australians drive on the left. Be very careful of cars if you are walking. Cross the road at lights or pedestrian crossings.
Walk Safely
* Walk on the left hand side of the footpath.
* When you want to cross the road, look RIGHT then left.
* Never carry a lot of cash with you. Carry a 'dummy' wallet with a small amount...
* At night, don't use headphones or walk alone. Avoid dark places.
* Leave your credit cards and passport at home.
* Look around you before you use an ATM to make sure there is no suspicious person nearby.
Cycle Safely
You MUST:
* wear a helmet when you are riding a bike (or a motorcycle).
* ride on the road or cycle path (not on the footpath).
* ride on the same side of the road as the traffic.
* wear pale-coloured clothes and carry a clip-on light so people can see you.
* lock your bike to a fence or a pole - make sure the lock goes through the frame AND the front wheel.
Drive Safely
* You must have a driver's licence to drive in any Australian state or territory. An international driving permit is OK. Check with the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) to see if a licence from your country is valid in Australia.
* Make sure you know the road rules, especially about speed limits. Get information from the RTA
* You must wear a seatbelt, wherever you are sitting, in all cars, taxis etc.
* DO NOT drive if you have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
* DO NOT try to give police officers money.
Word count: 284 words
SCANNING:
Use your notes to identify where you can find the answers to the questions you made in the pre-reading stage.
POST-READING:
Glossary:
Pay attention to how the word is combined with other words in context. Do not learn the meaning of the word without sentences. Vietnamese should be the last resort after you have tried all the learning strategies.
• Pedestrian (noun): a person who goes or travels on foot (Người đi bộ)
• Pedestrian crossing = a special place in a road where traffic must stop to allow people to walk across. Lối băng qua đường cho người đi bộ
• Footpath (noun): a narrow path or way for pedestrians only; a footway (Lề đường cho người đi bộ)
• Dummy (noun): an imitation of a real or original object; a substitute (Đồ giả, đồ nhái (‘dummy’ wallet with a small...: bóp / ví dỏm với ít tiền)
• Suspicious (adj.): questionable, distrustful nature (Đáng nghi, đáng ngờ)
• Pale-colored (adj.): whitish in complexion; having high lightness in color (Có màu nhạt)
• Fence (noun): a structure that encloses or forms boundaries around an area (Hàng rào)
• Territory (noun): an area of land under the ownership of a government or person (Lãnh thổ)
• Seatbelt (noun): a strap or harness designed to hold a person securely in a seat, as in a motor vehicle or aircraft (Dây an toàn)
Grammar:
Look at the conjunctions or linkers in the list below. How many of them are you familiar with? Do you know how they are used in a sentence? What are their functions?
|
TIME |
CAUSE & EFFECT |
OPPOSITION |
CONDITION |
For |
|
after |
because |
although |
if |
And |
|
before |
since |
though |
unless |
Nor |
|
when |
now that |
even though |
only if |
But |
|
while |
as |
whereas |
whether or not |
Or |
|
since |
in order that |
while |
even if |
Yet |
|
until |
so |
|
in case (that) |
So |
Let us look at some of the safety points from the article. Complete the sentences by writing your thoughts and ideas after the conjunctions or linkers in boldface.
1. Walk on the left hand side of the footpath when ...
2. Never carry a lot of cash with you because ...
3. Carry a 'dummy' wallet with a small amount so that ...
4. At night, don't use headphones or walk alone since ...
5. Avoid dark places as ...
6. Leave your credit cards and passport at home unless ...
7. Lock your bike to a fence or a pole so ...
8. Make sure you know the road rules, especially about speed limits before ... 9. You must wear a seatbelt while ...
10. DO NOT try to give police officers money even if ...
Discussion:
Find a study friend and talk about the road rules in your country. Write a summary of the Dos and the Don’ts when getting around in Vietnam. Try to use the vocabulary learned in the article in speaking and writing your summary.This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).
