LONDON TAXIS or BLACK CABS

7 million people live in London. Some of them like travelling by taxi.

You can stop a taxi when the orange light is on.

London Taxis are black. There are 19,000 black taxis

or cabs in London.

TAXI DRIVERS

Taxi drivers take a test called “the Knowledge of London” before they are taxi drivers.

They have been studying for two years to pass this test.

The driver has to know all of the 25,000 streets within 10 km of the centre of London.

London driver must know all about the capital and its hotels, stations, restaurants, parks, public buildings, hospitals and so on, as well as the shortest way to get to any of them.

In the streets of London you can see cabs painted in different colours.

They look old-fashioned and clumsy, but in fact they are comfortable and speedy.

Black cabs are special taxis that have a lot of room for passengers and their luggage.

Like the buses, black cabs are also being modernised and many are non painted other colours with advertising.

The CONGESTION CHARGE

All cars (but not BLACK TAXIS) in London pay £ 5.00 a day (called “the congestion charge”) to drive into the centre.

USE YOUR COMPUTER

Go to the Internet site http:// www. activityvillage. co.uk. and paint the London taxi picture.

Ask the taxi driver the way to Buckingham Palace.

Vocabulary Check List What is it in

Russian? Find out!

Traffic Congestion; The congestion

charge; Take a test; The knowledge; The orange light is

on.

QUIZ: ROAD SAFETY Question 1.What’s the average

stopping distance of a car going at 30 mph?

A: 6 car lengths B: 3 car lengths C: 9 car lengths

1C

Question 2.

What MUST you do before crossing the road?

A: Listen, look and cross

B: Stop, look and listen

C: Cross anywhere you like

2B

Question 3.

What’s the most dangerous time of year for road accidents?

A: Winter B: Summer C: Autumn

3A

Question 4.

Where do most child pedestrian accidents happen?

A: Near school B: Near the park C: Near home

4C

Question 5.

When is the worst time of the day for road accidents involving children?

A: As they are going to and coming from school

B: As they are going to get lunch

C: Late at night

5A

Question 6.

The first car was made in 1908. It was very expensive. What was the first chip model?

A. the model T from Ford; B. the Rolls Royce; C. the Karl-Benz

6A

Question 7.

A limousine is a very long car. How long is the longest limousine in the world?

A. 15 meters long; B. 22,5 meters long; C. 30,5 meters long

7C

IT IS INTERESTING TO KNOW…

If you are planning to drive in Britain next year you will need the following:

The speed limit in towns and built-up areas is normally 30 mph (miles per hour) although in some areas it may be 20 mph.

The speed limit on roads outside towns and villages is normally 60 mph except where it is sigh-posted as 50 mph.

The speed limit on motorways is 70 mph, but watch out for lower speed restrictions which may be sigh-posted.

Thirty miles per hour – is that approximately 50 kph?

~ I guess it is. And seventy miles

per hour – is that roughly 110 kph?

~ Round about 110, yes.

Ex. Fill the gaps with the missing words:left hand, traffic lights, get ready, car, 70, 30, motorbike, car.

1. DRIVING.

The British drive on the … … side of the road.

2. SPEED LIMITS for CAR.

a) Cities and towns … mph;

b) Motorways … mph.

3. TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Red: stop. Red and amber

together: … … but don’t move.

Green: go if the way is clear.

Amber Lights: stop.

4.PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

Always stop when the red light shows.

If there are no … … pedestrians have the right of way.

5. SEAT BELTS.

Always wear your seat belt when you travel by … . 6. CRASH HELMETS.

Always wear your crash helmet while on a …

KEYS:

1. LEFT HAND; 2a) 30, 2b) 70; 3) GET READY;

4. TRAFFIC LIGHTS; 5. CAR; 6. MOTORBIKE