Note: This is an ESL version. The original article is available here.
NEW SUBWAY TRAINS IN TORONTO
Toronto is getting some new subway trains.
The new ones look nicer. They will also have more room inside. And they will have new, light-up signs that tell you what stop you’re at.
There will be 70 new trains, with six cars each. They will cost about $1-billion.
In every train, all six cars will be open inside. So you will be able to see (or walk) all the way from the front of the train, to the back. The cars will be joined by a flexible strip of floor that you can walk on.
The old trains used to have poles in the middle of each car. The new cars do not. That will give riders more room to move around. There will still be lots of poles on the sides to hold onto.
The new trains will begin running on the Yonge line in December of January. Riders may see some trains being tested in the tunnels before then. The old cars will be moved to the Bloor line.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Writing/Discussion Prompt
Why do you think it is important for a city to have a public transit system?
If you were in charge, is there anything else you would add to make the new subway cars better?
How much is 1 billion? Use drawings, numbers or manipulatives to show this amount.
Reading Prompt
When we read, we often make pictures in our minds in order to understand. This is called visualization.
After reading the article, draw a picture of what you think the new subway car will look like. Label your picture to show all of the new parts of the subway car.
Primary and Junior
Identify a few reading comprehension strategies and use them before, during, and after reading to understand texts, initially with support and direction (OME, Reading: 1.8)
Grammar Feature: Noun
A noun is a part of speech. It can be a person, place or thing. Some nouns that are in the article are: subway (thing), Toronto (place), floor (thing).
Circle 5 “thing” nouns and 3 “place” nouns in today’s article.
