Ten Commandments for motorists

Date: Jun 22, 2007

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THE ARTICLE

The Roman Catholic church has taken a break from moral and ethical concerns to issue its own rules of the road for drivers around the world. A 36-page document called "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" contains the do’s and don’ts of good motoring. The Ten Commandments cover everything from road rage, avoiding rude gestures and angry language, being considerate to pedestrians, and looking after your vehicle. The Vatican warns that: "Cars tend to bring out the 'primitive' side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant results". It is strange that a state such as the Vatican, which has almost no traffic problems and a 30 kph speed limit has produced this document. There are just 1,000 cars in the Vatican and the last traffic accident was in 2005.

Most of the world’s motorists will happily abide by the suggestions, although driving fanatics will be less enthusiastic, especially in motor-mad Italy. The section titled "Vanity and personal glorification" is sure to make Ferrari owners furious. The document's Fifth Commandment reads: "Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin". The Vatican’s Cardinal Renato explained a potential evil, saying: "Cars particularly lend themselves to being used by their owners to show off, and as a means for outshining other people and arousing a feeling of envy." He also pointed out the document was intended to save lives, stating: “1.2 million people die each year on the roads…. That's a sad reality, and at the same time, a great challenge for society and the church."

WARM-UPS

1. DRIVING: Walk around the class and talk to other students about driving. Are you happy with it? Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

churches / rules / drivers / documents / do’s and don’ts / rage / rude gestures / fanatics / enthusiasm / sin / evil / envy / deaths on the roads / challenges

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. 10 COMMANDMENTS: In pairs / groups, discuss what you think of the Vatican’s commandments:

1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.

4. I’M A FERRARI: Imagine life as a Ferrari. Walk around the class and talk to the other “Ferraris” about your life.

5. CATHOLIC CHURCH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the Catholic Church. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. QUICK DEBATE: Students A think the driving Commandments are a fantastic idea. Students B think the opposite. Change partners often. Share your findings.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	The Catholic Church has issued 10 Commandments for motorists.	T / F
b.	The Commandments look at all aspects of good and bad driving.	T / F
c.	The Church says cars bring out the primitive side of people.	T / F
d.	There have been countless accidents in the Vatican in recent years.	T / F
e.	A majority of the world’s motorists will dislike the suggestions.	T / F
f.	Ferrari owners will be especially happy with the guidelines.	T / F
g.	The Vatican says cars are used to bring out feelings of envy.	T / F
h.	One point two million people die in traffic accidents every year.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a.	concerns	jealousy
b.	avoiding	signals
c.	rage	obey
d.	gestures	enthusiasts
e.	primitive	refraining from
f.	abide by	prompting
g.	fanatics	issues
h.	expression	uncivilized
i.	arousing	demonstration
j.	envy	fury

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.	taken a break from moral	other people
b.	the do’s and	to pedestrians
c.	being considerate	by the suggestions
d.	Cars tend to bring out the 'primitive'	domination
e.	motorists will happily abide	being used by their owners to show off
f.	driving fanatics will be less	and ethical concerns
g.	an expression of power and	side of human beings
h.	Cars particularly lend themselves to	don’ts of good motoring
i.	a means for outshining	on the roads
j.	people die each year	enthusiastic

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Ten Commandments for motorists

The Roman Catholic church has taken a ________ from moral and ethical concerns to ________ its own rules of the road for drivers around the world. A 36-page document called "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" contains the ________ and don’ts of good motoring. The Ten Commandments cover everything from road rage, avoiding ________ gestures and angry language, being considerate to pedestrians, and looking after your vehicle. The Vatican warns that: "Cars tend to bring out the '________ ' side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant ________ ". It is strange that a ________ such as the Vatican, which has almost no traffic problems and a 30kph speed limit has produced this document. There are just 1,000 cars in the Vatican and the last ________ accident was in 2005.		results rude issue traffic break primitive state do’s
Most of the world’s motorists will happily ________ by the suggestions, although driving fanatics will be less enthusiastic, especially in motor-________ Italy. The section titled "Vanity and personal glorification" is ________ to make Ferrari owners furious. The document's Fifth Commandment reads: "Cars shall not be for you an ________ of power and domination, and an occasion of sin". The Vatican’s Cardinal Renato explained a ________ evil, saying: "Cars particularly ________ themselves to being used by their owners to show off, and as a means for outshining other people and ________ a feeling of envy." He also pointed out the document was intended to save lives, stating: “1.2 million people die each year on the roads…. That's a sad ________, and at the same time, a great challenge for society and the church."		mad lend expression reality abide arousing sure potential

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Ten Commandments for motorists

The Roman Catholic Church has taken _________________________ and ethical concerns to issue its own rules of the road for drivers around the world. A 36-page document called "Guidelines ________________________ Road" contains the do’s and don’ts of good motoring. The Ten Commandments cover everything _________________________ gestures and angry language, being considerate to pedestrians, and looking after your vehicle. The Vatican warns that: "Cars tend _________________________ side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant results". It is strange _________________________ Vatican, which has almost no traffic problems and a 30kph speed limit has produced this document. There are just 1,000 cars in the Vatican and the last traffic accident was in 2005.

Most of the world’s motorists _________________________ suggestions, although driving fanatics will be less enthusiastic, especially in motor-mad Italy. The section titled "Vanity and personal glorification" is sure to make Ferrari owners furious. The document's Fifth Commandment reads: "Cars _________________________ of power and domination, and an occasion of sin". The Vatican’s Cardinal Renato explained a potential evil, saying: "Cars particularly _________________________ by their owners to show off, and as a means for outshining other people and arousing a feeling of envy." He also pointed out the document _________________________, stating: “1.2 million people die each year on the roads…. That's a sad reality, and at the same time, _________________________ the church."

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘road’ and ‘rage’.

road

rage

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:

moral do’s pedestrians primitive state last

happily mad sure lend arouse sad

STUDENT DRIVING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about DRIVING in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What do you think about the Vatican’s Ten Commandments for driving?
3. Do you think religions should issue more guidelines on how we can live better, healthier, safer lives?
4. What are drivers like in your country?
5. What angry gestures do drivers make in your country make?
6. In what ways do cars bring out the ‘primitive’ side in people?
7. Does your character change when you are behind the wheel?
8. Do you think there should be more laws to keep courtesy on the roads?
9. Would you like to see people stick to a 30kph speed limit?
10. How dangerous are the roads in your country?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. Do you think most of the world’s motorists will like the Commandments?
3. Do you think Italians are more car-mad than other nationalities?
4. Do you think governments should limit the speed cars can go to that of national speed limits?
5. In what ways do you think cars can be used for sinful purposes?
6. Do men and women change in different ways when they are behind the wheel?
7. What car best suits your personality?
8. Do you know anyone who shows off with his/her car?
9. Do you think the Commandments will reduce traffic deaths?
10. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
2. Was there a question you didn’t like?
3. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
4. What did you like talking about?
5. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

STUDENT TEN COMMMANDMENTS:

With your partner(s), write the “Ten Commandments For Being A Good Student”. Write notes on how far you follow these Commandments. Ask your partner and write notes on their comments in the right hand column.

Commandment	Me	Partner
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Change partner(s) and compare your notes.

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Ten Commandments for motorists

The Roman Catholic Church has taken a break (1) ____ moral and ethical concerns to issue its own rules of the (2) ____ for drivers around the world. A 36-page document called "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" contains the do’s and don’ts of good motoring. The Ten Commandments cover (3) ____ from road rage, avoiding rude gestures and angry language, being considerate (4) ____ pedestrians, and looking after your vehicle. The Vatican warns that: "Cars tend to bring (5) ____ the 'primitive' side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant results". It is strange that a (6) ____ such as the Vatican, which has almost no traffic problems and a 30kph speed limit has produced this document. There are just 1,000 cars in the Vatican and the last traffic accident was in 2005.

Most of the world’s motorists will (7) ____ abide by the suggestions, although driving fanatics will be less enthusiastic, especially in motor-mad Italy. The section titled "Vanity and personal glorification" is (8) ____ to make Ferrari owners furious. The document's Fifth Commandment reads: "Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of (9) ____ ". The Vatican’s Cardinal Renato explained a potential evil, saying: "Cars particularly (10) ____ themselves to being used by their owners to show off, and as a means for outshining other people and arousing a feeling (11) ____ envy." He also pointed (12) ____ the document was intended to save lives, stating: “1.2 million people die each year on the roads…. That's a sad reality, and at the same time, a great challenge for society and the church."

1.	(a)	from	(b)	for	(c)	with	(d)	by
2.	(a)	drive	(b)	driving	(c)	road	(d)	ride
3.	(a)	all	(b)	everything	(c)	whole	(d)	entire
4.	(a)	when	(b)	by	(c)	for	(d)	to
5.	(a)	down	(b)	over	(c)	out	(d)	in
6.	(a)	status	(b)	state	(c)	stately	(d)	statement
7.	(a)	happily	(b)	happy	(c)	happiness	(d)	happier
8.	(a)	surely	(b)	sore	(c)	shore	(d)	sure
9.	(a)	sin	(b)	sinful	(c)	sign	(d)	signals
10.	(a)	borrow	(b)	lend	(c)	rent	(d)	hire
11.	(a)	for	(b)	without	(c)	with	(d)	of
12.	(a)	up	(b)	down	(c)	out	(d)	in

WRITING:

Write about driving for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about the Vatican’s Ten Commandments. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. WORLD DRIVING: Make a poster on different driving rules around the world. Show your posters to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about road safety in your town. Describe what you think it’ll be like twenty years from now.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to the Vatican. Ask them three questions about the Ten Commandments. Give them three suggestions about what else they can do to make roads safer. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. T

b. T

c. T

d. F

e. F

f. F

g. T

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	concerns	issues
b.	avoiding	refraining from
c.	rage	fury
d.	gestures	signals
e.	primitive	uncivilized
f.	abide by	obey
g.	fanatics	enthusiasts
h.	expression	demonstration
i.	arousing	prompting
j.	envy	jealousy

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	taken a break from moral	and ethical concerns
b.	the do’s and	don’ts of good motoring
c.	being considerate	to pedestrians
d.	Cars tend to bring out the 'primitive'	side of human beings
e.	motorists will happily abide	by the suggestions
f.	driving fanatics will be less	enthusiastic
g.	an expression of power and	domination
h.	Cars particularly lend themselves to	being used by their owners to show off
i.	a means for outshining	other people
j.	people die each year	on the roads

GAP FILL:

Ten Commandments for motorists

The Roman Catholic Church has taken a break from moral and ethical concerns to issue its own rules of the road for drivers around the world. A 36-page document called "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" contains the do’s and don’ts of good motoring. The Ten Commandments cover everything from road rage, avoiding rude gestures and angry language, being considerate to pedestrians, and looking after your vehicle. The Vatican warns that: "Cars tend to bring out the 'primitive' side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant results". It is strange that a state such as the Vatican, which has almost no traffic problems and a 30kph speed limit has produced this document. There are just 1,000 cars in the Vatican and the last traffic accident was in 2005.

Most of the world’s motorists will happily abide by the suggestions, although driving fanatics will be less enthusiastic, especially in motor-mad Italy. The section titled "Vanity and personal glorification" is sure to make Ferrari owners furious. The document's Fifth Commandment reads: "Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin". The Vatican’s Cardinal Renato explained a potential evil, saying: "Cars particularly lend themselves to being used by their owners to show off, and as a means for outshining other people and arousing a feeling of envy." He also pointed out the document was intended to save lives, stating: “1.2 million people die each year on the roads…. That's a sad reality, and at the same time, a great challenge for society and the church."

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - a

2 - c

3 - b

4 - d

5 - c

6 - b

7 - a

8 - d

9 - a

10 - b

11 - d

12 - c

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