Set the Scene:
Let’s start with some engaging questions to connect your everyday life to the subject of Japan’s high-speed bullet train. Have you ever traveled by train? What was your experience like? Have you heard about Japan’s bullet train before? What do you think makes it so special? How do you think the bullet train has impacted Japan’s transportation system and economy?
Featured Image Analysis & Prediction:
Look at the featured image of the bullet train. What do you see in the image? What do you think this activity will be about based on this image? Do you think the train is moving at high speed in the image? What features of the train can you identify from the image?
Introduction:
Read the introduction to the activity about Japan’s high-speed bullet train. Take note of the key points mentioned, such as the train’s speed, design, and impact on Japan’s transportation system.
Video Engagement:
Watch the video associated with the activity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA4aaSzqT9s. Pause the video at the following points:
- When the video mentions the design of the bullet train’s wheels
- When the video discusses the issue of “hunting oscillation”
- When the video talks about the earthquake warning system
For each pause point, reflect on or discuss the following questions:
- What do you think is the significance of the bullet train’s wheel design?
- How do you think the issue of “hunting oscillation” is addressed in the bullet train’s design?
- What do you think is the importance of the earthquake warning system in the bullet train’s operation?
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Output Requirements:
Ensure that you have completed all the tasks and reflected on the questions posed throughout the activity. Review the key vocabulary and grammar focus sections to reinforce your understanding of the topic.
Key Vocabulary:
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet Train | A high-speed train capable of reaching speeds of nearly 300 kilometers per hour. | The Japanese bullet train is a remarkable feat of engineering, with a rich history and innovative design. |
| Conical Wheels | Wheels with a conical shape, critical for high-speed travel and navigation around curves. | The conical wheels of the bullet train allow for smooth navigation around curves, but require an optimal cone angle to balance stability. |
| Hunting Oscillation | A phenomenon where a vehicle rocks from side to side, potentially causing derailment at high speeds. | The bullet train’s design reduces hunting oscillation, allowing for smoother and faster travel. |
| Coiled Springs | A type of spring used to absorb energy and dampen sideways movement, improving stability and comfort. | The bullet train uses coiled springs to absorb energy and dampen sideways movement, allowing it to run smoothly at high speeds. |
| Pantograph | A device used to collect electrical power from overhead lines, powering the train. | The bullet train is powered by electricity from overhead lines through a pantograph, providing a reliable source of energy. |
| Multiple Unit System | A system where multiple carriages have their own motors, improving traction and stability. | The bullet train features a multiple unit system, where fourteen of its sixteen carriages have their own motors, each driving two wheels. |
| Earthquake Warning System | A system that detects seismic activity and provides an early warning, allowing for protective measures to be taken. | The bullet train is equipped with an earthquake warning system, which detects seismic activity and provides an early warning, ensuring safe operation during earthquakes. |
| Seismometers | Instruments used to detect and measure seismic activity, providing data for earthquake warning systems. | The earthquake warning system uses linked seismometers to detect seismic activity, providing an early warning and allowing for protective measures to be taken. |
| Centrifugal Force | A force that acts on a vehicle when it is moving in a circular path, potentially causing instability or derailment. | The bullet train’s design takes into account centrifugal force, using techniques such as leaning into turns to reduce the force and improve stability. |
| Traction | The force that allows a vehicle to move, generated by the interaction between the wheels and the track. | The bullet train’s multiple unit system improves traction, allowing it to accelerate and maintain speed more efficiently. |
Grammar Focus:
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action described by the verb. In technical descriptions, such as those found in the text about Japan’s high-speed bullet train, the passive voice is often used to focus on the process or action rather than the doer of the action.
Grammar Quiz:
Choose the correct form of the sentence in the passive voice:
- The bullet train ____________________ with a focus on safety and comfort.
- A) is designing
- B) was designed
- C) has been designing
- D) is being designed
- The wheels of the train ____________________ to be conical to allow for navigation around curves.
- A) are
- B) were
- C) have been
- D) are being
- The earthquake warning system ____________________ to detect seismic activity and provide early warnings.
- A) is being used
- B) has been used
- C) is used
- D) was used
- The assembly process of the bullet train ____________________ to involve attaching wheels to axles.
- A) is
- B) was
- C) has been
- D) is being
- The train’s speed ____________________ to be reduced in case of an earthquake.
- A) is being
- B) has been
- C) was
- D) can be
Answer Key:
- B) was designed
- A) are
- C) is used
- A) is
- A) is being