1. Focus on the first two paragraphs.
a.Which part of the title does the first sentence of the article illustrate? Why?
b.Spot the numbers!
Underline or highlight all the numbers in the first two paragraphs. What does each number refer to? Work with a partner. Try to explain the meaning using words from the sentence.
c.Use clues to guess meaning.
With a partner, answer the following questions for each word:
Soaring:
- What kind of vehicle is mentioned?
- Are people buying more or fewer of them? So what mightsoaringmean?
Rolling out:
- What are car companies doing with electric trucks?
- Is this something they have always done, or something new? So what mightrolling outmean?
- Find the phrase later in the paragraph that has a similar meaning.
d.Now, use the words.
Pick eithersoaringorrolling outand write a new sentence using it.
Example: “Electric bike sales are soaring in my city.”
e.Focus on the final sentence of paragraph 2.
What is being compared in this sentence? Rephrase the main idea in simpler words.
2.Read the following sentence:“But creating a new market for pickup trucks, even electric ones, has its own climate problems.” (l. 4)
a.What does“But” at the beginning of a sentence signal?
b. What idea was developed before this sentence? What do you expect now?
3. Now, read paragraph 3.
a.Can you find the action in the sentence that shows what the “decision” is about?
b.What will happen if someone makes this decision? Who does “they” refer to?
c.Now, look at the word “However.” What does this word tell you about the sentence? Does it agree with the previous idea or change it?
d.What word do you recognize inside“electrification”?
Conclude: “Electrification” is probably about using more …
e.What do you notice in the way the word“cure-all”is formed? What kind of thing is a “cure”? Find a synonym in English. What might a“cure-all” do?
Conclude: “Electrification alone isn’t a cure-all” means ...
America's Best-Loved Truck - Writing Activity
Questions for the Author
Your mission is to write 3 questions to ask the author of the article. In order to prepare the questions, do the following exercises.
1. Think about the article.
a.What did you find interesting or confusing?
b.What do you want to know more about?
2. Work in pairsand share your thoughts.
a.Take turns to tell your partner what you found interesting or difficult in the article and what you would like to learn more about. You might want to use the Toolbox below.
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Toolbox
I wonder how much electric trucks cost. I want to ask: “How much do electric trucks cost?”
I found it interesting that ...
I was surprised to learn that ...
I didn’t know that ...
It was new to me that ...
I like that the article discusses ...
I don’t understand how ...
I found the part about ... a little difficult.
I have a question about ...
I wonder why ...
I want to know more about ...
The article says ..., but I’m not sure what it means.
I think it’s important that ...
I liked the part where ...
I didn’t understand the word ...
What did you think about ...?
Do you know why ..?
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b.Together, think about questions you want to ask the author. Use question words: who, what, when, where, why, how, how much, how often, etc. Write down 2 or 3 questions you both want to ask.
3. Write a short emailto the author.
a.Start your email with a greeting.
b.Write one or two sentences to say who you areand why you read the article.
I am a student interested in ... I read your article about ...
c.Write 3 questions you want to ask the author.
I have some questions I hope you can answer / Please could you tell me ... /I am curious about the following ...
d.Finish your email with a thank-you sentence.
Thank you for writing this interesting article / I am grateful for the information in your article / Thank you for helping me understand this better.
e.End with a polite closing.
Best regards / Best wishes
Your Name
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Toolbox
Greeting someone
Dear ...
Introducing yourself
I am a student interested in ...
I read your article about ...
Introducing your questions
I have some questions I hope you can answer
Please could you tell me ...
I am curious about the following ...
Thanking someone
Thank you for writing this interesting article
I am grateful for the information in your article
Thank you for helping me understand this better
Polite closings
Best regards
Best wishes
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