Grammar, functions and vocabulary
UNIT 12
UNITS
13-14
Skills • Reading
Be Streetwise!
by Sophie MacDonald
How streetwise are you? Street crime happens all over
the world. I’ve only been in the UK for a short time,
but I have already seen one mugging in the centre of
London. Statistics show that in about 28 per cent of
all muggings mobile phones were stolen and half the
victims were under 18. So what can you do to protect
yourself from street crime? Well, here are my five top
tips:
1
• Mark your mobile with security markers. Mark your
phone with a permanent marker on the outside, where
it can be seen, so that it becomes less tempting to
steal it. Mark it on the inside with an ultra-violet pen,
so it can be identified later, if it is found by the police.
• Record these details and keep them safe:
• SIM card number
• serial number
• telephone number
• Even though you are probably proud of that phone
that you were given for Christmas, you should keep
it out of sight in an inside pocket!
2
Thieves are interested in other things, too, not just
mobile phones. Look after your money and other
valuables.
• Look around when you go to a cashpoint machine.
Watch out for people waiting nearby to steal your
money.
• Hide your wallet and only carry the minimum
amount of cash.
• Be careful with your handbag and keep it away
from the road – bags are often stolen by muggers
who ride around on bikes and scooters.
• Have you been given a nice, new designer watch for
your birthday? Well, leave it at home when you go
to the swimming pool or leisure centre, then it won’t
be stolen from the changing rooms.
3
It’s also important to think about where you are going
and who you’re going with.
• Don’t go out by yourself. Stay with your friends
– there’s safety in numbers.
• Even as a group, don’t get into the car of a total
stranger.
• Don’t feel you are invincible – always avoid trouble.
4
It can be dangerous to get lost when you go out,
especially if you are alone.
• Don’t go into dark or quiet streets at night.
• Plan your route carefully.
• Don’t look like you’re lost. You will look vulnerable
and be an easy target for criminals.
• Look confident and in control of your situation.
5
I know you want to be independent but it’s a good idea
to let someone know where you are.
• Always inform family and friends where you are
going and what time you will be back.
• Take your mobile with you, make sure it has enough
credit for a couple of calls and it’s been fully
charged. An emergency isn’t a good time to find
out that you should have charged your mobile last
night!
• Inform people if your plans change or you’ll be
home later than expected.
Go out with your friends and have a lot of fun but just
take these simple precautions and you won’t be caught
out! Be safe, be streetwise!
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Skills and Culture
Comprehension
Culture
There are 1.3 million mobile phone thefts in
Britain every year. That is one every 24 seconds!
Nearly a third of all robberies reported to the
police are mobile phone thefts.
3
Comprehension
1
UNITS 13–14
Leggi il testo velocemente e abbina questi
titoli al testo. Scrivi la frase nello spazio.
Vero o falso? Scrivi V o F nello spazio.
Correggi le frasi false. P
1
The majority of victims of muggings are
under 18.
2
You should keep your phone hidden.
3
You should always take lots of money
with you when you go out.
4
You are completely safe if you go out
with friends.
5
The writer says that you should always
take the shortest route home.
6
It’s a good idea to tell your parents and
friends where you’re going.
Alone or with friends?
Keep in touch!
Comprehension
4
Protect your property!
Rispondi alle domande.
1 What should you do to protect your mobile
phone?
Careful with cash
2 What should you do when you get cash from
a machine?
Know where you are going
3 Why should you carry your bag away from
the road?
Vocabulary
2
Abbina le parole dal testo alle loro traduzioni
in italiano.
1
streetwise
a borsa
2
protect
b contanti
3
tempting
c proteggere
4
proud
d stai attento a
5
out of sight
e perdersi
6
watch out for
f sveglio
7
wallet
g allettante
8
cash
h portafogli
9
handbag
i caricato
10
get lost
j non in vista
11
target
k orgoglioso
12
charged
l bersaglio
4 Why is it better to go out in a group?
5 If you get lost, why should you try to look
confident and in control?
6 What should you do if you decide to change
your plans for the evening?
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Skills and Culture
UNITS 13–14
Skills • Listening
Comprehension
5
Rachel e Nathan stanno discutendo la
questione delle preoccupazioni dei teenager
britannici. Ascolta e metti un segno di spunta
(✔) nella casella accanto alle preoccupazioni
di cui parlano. P
14
Comprehension
1 crime
2 bullying
7
3 Third World problems
14 Ascolta ancora una volta e rispondi alle
domande.
1 What are Rachel’s top three worries?
4 homelessness
5 exams
2 What are Nathan’s top three worries?
6 serious illness
7 boy/girlfriend problems
3 What exams has Rachel got to do at the end
of the year?
8 money/poverty
9 unemployment
10 the environment
4 What happened to Nathan’s bicycle?
Comprehension
6
5 Why was Nathan bullied at school?
Vero o falso? Riascolta e scrivi V o F
negli spazi. Correggi le frasi false. P
14
1
Someone once stole Rachel’s mobile
phone.
2
Rachel worries most about crime.
3
Nathan thinks that Rachel will pass her
exams.
6 Why does Nathan worry about the
environment?
Dictation
8
4
Rachel is worried about her relationship
with her current boyfriend.
5
Nathan’s top worry is crime.
2
6
Nathan used to bully other children at
school.
3
7
Nathan knows what he’s going to do
when he leaves school.
5
8
Rachel often worries about the future of
the planet.
15
Ascolta e scrivi sei frasi del dialogo.
1
4
6
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Skills and Culture
Skills • Writing
9
10
Leggi il sondaggio di cui Nathan e Rachel
stavano parlando. Numera i problemi da
1 (il più importante per te) a 10 (il meno
importante per te).
What do
UNITS 13–14
you worry about?
Adesso scrivi un breve testo (150–200 parole)
sulle cose che ti fanno paura. Includi le
P T
seguenti informazioni:
• le tre cose che ti fanno più paura
• i motivi per cui queste cose ti fanno più
paura delle altre
• dettagli di eventuali esperienze che hanno
condizionato la tua scelta
crime
bullying
Third World problems
homelessness
exams
serious illness
boy/girlfriend problems
money/poverty
unemployment
the environment
Take part in our survey about teenagers’
fears.
Number your fears from 1 to 10.
(1 is the thing you worry about most.)
When you have finished, cut out the
survey and send it to:
TeenAge Magazine
SMITH STREET
OXFORD OXF6 3JK
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