The Amphibus

The Amphibus

Language Features and Functions

Vocabulary: Public vehiclesGrammar: PrepositionFunction: Expressing feelings and ideas I think/ In my opinion,Language Skills

Speaking:To answer the question about the story.

Reading:To read for comprehension and answer.

Writing: To write and share the opinion about the story

Answer 1. c2. e3. d4. h5. f6. b7. g8. i 9. aVocabularypropeller (n.)

When a helicopters propeller turns, its sound is loud.

Vocabularyhalf (n.)

Half of us would like to go to a waterfall in Kanjanaburi next month.

Vocabularywaterproof (adj.)

I will use this camera on Songkarn Day because its waterproof.

Vocabularytourist (n.) There are many tourists on Songkarn Day in Thailand.

Vocabularyamphibious (adj.)

Frog is a kind of amphibious animals.

Vocabularyunusual (adj.)

The food that I bought yesterday has an unusual smell. I think I cant eat it.

Vocabularycruise (v.)

I love travelling by ship. I have a dream to cruise to some countries with my family.

Vocabularyshore (n.)

The shore is the land along the edge of a sea, lake or wide river.

Vocabularyturn into (v.)

The water turned into ice when the temperature is 0C degree.

Pre-reading1 How do tourists travel around your city or town?

Pre-reading2 What do you think is the best way to travel around your city or town? Why?

Pre-reading3 Do you know any vehicles that can travel on both land and water? What are they?

The AmphibusIf you visit Ottawa, Canada, you might see something very unusual. You might see a boat cruising on the river. If you keep watching, the boat might cruise up to the shore, and drive up onto the road! This is Ottawas Amphibus, an amphibious tourist vehicle. When its on the roads its a bus, and when its on the river its a boat. Since May 1999, the Amphibus has been taking tourists on a 45-minute drive through the streets, and then a 45-minute cruise on the Ottawa River.

The Amphibus was invented by Daniel Beauchesne in 1998. Daniel had built many vehicles before, but he had never built a boat. It took him sixteen months to build the Amphibus. He started with a standard school bus, and turned the bottom half of the bus into a boat. The most difficult part was making the engine waterproof. Daniel also put a propeller at the back of the Amphibus to push it through the water. Finally, Daniel put forty aeroplane seats into the Amphibus.

Stefano Marinetti, a tourist from Italy, loves the Amphibus. Its great fun, and a good way to see Ottawa, he says. Its very exciting. When the bus drove into the water, I thought it was going to sink! Stefano also says the big aeroplane seats are very comfortable.

There are amphibious tourist vehicles like the Amphibus in cities all over the world, such as San Francisco, London and Sydney, with its popular Aussie Duck. Would you like to see one in your city?

Post - readingVocabulary A1. waterproof2. propeller3. tourists4. standard5. halfPost - readingB1. able to go on land and in water2. strange3. travelling on water4. where the land meets the water5. made me becomePost - readingIn other wordsA3 - To describe an unusual bus in Ottawa.

B1. Paragraph 32. Paragraph 13. Paragraph 2

Post - readingGeneral understanding1. F2. F3. F4. T

Post - readingIn detail1. Since May, 1999.2. Sixteen months.3. The most difficult part was making the engine waterproof.4. They were aeroplane seats. 5. He thought it was going to sink.6. Sydney.