Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. crack down on (something)
    • ex. The government is cracking down on illegal parking.
  2. a resident
    • ex. The residents asked the city to build more parking spaces.
  3. exhaust
    • ex. Electric cars do not produce engine exhaust while driving.
  4. a route
    • ex. The city plans to create new routes for tourist buses.
  5. a ban
    • ex. New bans on smoking help keep public places cleaner.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Rome is cracking down on tourist golf carts in its historic center. Hundreds of these small electric vehicles now carry visitors past famous sites. But residents say they add to traffic and often park illegally. Bookings for golf cart tours grew 147% compared with 2024, according to TripAdvisor. Rome has as many as 500 carts.

Supporters say the carts are quiet, use less road space than buses, do not release engine exhaust, and help keep old buildings cleaner. Visitors like them because they see many famous places in about three hours. However, Rome has only 4,300 regular street parking spaces, while about 50,000 vehicles enter the center each day. City officials are going to set routes, limit carts, and approve tour companies.

Operators say strict rules will hurt their new businesses. They say taxi drivers are angry because golf carts take the taxis’ customers. Authorities stopped some carts and checked drivers’ papers in August. Some operators received large fines or street bans. The city wants less traffic, but operators say the carts offer a clean way to visit Rome.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Golf Carts in a City Center

  • Would you like to take a golf cart tour in a city center? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think taxi drivers should be worried about golf carts taking their customers? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what is more important in a city center: less traffic or cleaner air? Why? Discuss.

Tourists and Local Residents

  • Would you enjoy living in a city that has many tourists? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What is one place you have visited for vacation where there were too many tourists? Discuss.
  • What can tourists and local residents do to live together peacefully? Discuss.