There is a terrible traffic jam every morning at Ludford Bridge and there's nowhere to park in the centre. Because of the traffic, shoppers are going to other towns and local shops are closing down.

Exercise 2

■ Students work in pairs, studying the map and matching the words to the numbers on the map.

Answers

a) 3/4 b) 7/8 c) 5/6 d) 1/2

Exercise 3

■ Give students time to read through the expressions and the Function File and guess where the expressions fit into the sentences.

■ Students listen to the cassette and complete the Function File, checking their guesses.

Answers

1 should 2 sure 3 would 4 Why don't 5 good idea

6 how about 7 don't think 8 What about

Tapescript

Girl: So, what do you think about all these new plans for the town? Personally, I think they should build the bypass. It would get the traffic out of the town.

Boy: I'm not so sure. It would be very expensive and it would take a long time. It's also not very ecological. Think about the wildlife. Why don't they improve the bus service? It's not very good at the moment. More people would use the buses if they were cheap and came regularly, and there would be less traffic.

Girl: That's a good idea. The buses are terrible at the moment. You have to wait ages.

Boy: Mm, I know.

Girl: And how about building a shopping centre? The nearest one's miles away.

Boy: I don't think that's a very good idea. What about the local shops? What would happen to them? And anyway I hate those big shopping centres ...

Stages 1-4

■ Students follow the four stages to decide on the best plan for Ludford.

■ In pairs, students read the Strategies.

■ Students then work in pairs listing the advantages and disadvantages of the four plans (a?Cd) in Exercise 2.

■ The pairs then decide on their plan. Tell students that their plan can include their own ideas as well as the ones given in Exercise 2.

■ In groups of four, the pairs tell each other about their plans and try to agree on a solution. Remind students to use the expressions from the Function File.

Talkback

■ The groups report back to the class. Encourage students to use the board to illustrate their plans for the town if they wish.

■ The class then discusses which of the solutions are the most ecological.

■ Ask students if they had any language difficulties when they were working out their solutions. Was there anything they wanted to say but didn't know how to say?

Writing: A Report