B2 – Upper Intermediate
In the UK, there is a strong demand for the ministers to launch a strict crack down on ghost plates.
Some plates suppliers do not register with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and do not comply with the ministry’s requirements.
This, in turn, has lead to a heightened problems with ghost plates and cloning.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the pressure on UK ministers to take urgent action to tighten the regulations on ghost number plates.
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/ministers-crack-down-ghost-plates
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is a “fringe issue”? “She said, ‘Dodgy number plates are no longer a fringe issue. They’re everywhere and they’re undermining the rule of law on our roads.’ Use this term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “unscrupulous” mean? “Far from being the tightly regulated industry it should be, number plates are increasingly being sold by unscrupulous below-the-radar suppliers using non-compliant, untraceable materials.“ Use this word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “below-the-radar” mean? “Far from being the tightly regulated industry it should be, number plates are increasingly being sold by unscrupulous below-the-radar suppliers using non-compliant, untraceable materials.“ Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Share your thoughts on the increasing dodgy number plates in the UK.
- What are the problems associated with these illegal plates?
- Is there a similar problem in your country? Talk about it.
- What are the laws against ghost plates in your country?
- What is the importance of ensuring that all number plates are displayed correctly and legally on the roads?