Oxford Street Text - Pre-Intermediate (navigate textbook)

Pavement Rage

It’s Oxford Street, London, 11 a.m. The pavements are crowded with shoppers and tourists. I’m going to an appointment at 11.15 and walking as fast as I can down the street. So far, I’m on time, but a group of tourists is walking along very slowly in front of me and taking photos of the shop displays. They block my way and don’t move even when I say politely, ’Excuse me…’ I go red and feel angry. I’ve got pavement rage.

Oxford Street is one of the busiest streets in the world. Two hundred million shoppers visit it every year, and sometimes people get angry with tourists and slow pedestrians who are texting, window-shopping or talking on their phones. According to a recent newspaper article, 9 out of 10 people experience pavement rage at some time. Ever felt the same?

One solution to this problem is a pedestrian fast lane. Most pedestrians travel along Oxford Street at a speed of 1 mile per hour, but in the fast lane, the minimum speed is 3 miles per hour. People in the fast lane can’t talk on their mobiles or listen to music, and they need to know exactly where they’re going. CCTV cameras check their speed and police officers fine people not following the rules.

What street is the text talking about?

• Carnaby Street

• Oxford Street

Where does everything take place?

• England

• Great Britain, England

• the capital of the UK (Dublin)

• the capital of the UK (London)

Choose the right answer

• The pavements are fully of shoppers and tourists

• The pavements aren’t crowded with shoppers and tourists

• The pavements is with tourists and shoppers

What does make the main character blush and feel mean?

• visitors in the shop

• crazy tourists

• travelers who always ask many questions

How many shoppers visit Oxford Street?

• 2000 million

• 220 million

• 200 million

People get angry with....

• shoppers and visitors

• visitors and pedestrians

• pedestrians and tourists

Choose the minimum speed in the fast lane on the Oxford Street per hour

• 1 mile

• 2 miles

• 3 miles

Does this situation happen in the morning?

• 
• 

What is the punishment for people who violate the traffic laws?

Answer explanation

I

Choose the right answer

• People in the fast line have to listen to music

• People in the fast line must not listen to music

• People in the fast line have to listen to music and can talk on their mobile phones