A business built on the fear of bridges

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: A business built on the fear of bridges

Warm-up

Are you afraid of heights?

Vocabulary Match

proving •• fall
suffer •• showing
collapse •• feel pain
anxious •• worried
existing •• money-making
profitable •• already

Vocabulary Answers

provingshowing
sufferfeel pain
collapsefall
anxiousworried
existingalready
profitablemoney-making

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

The ________ of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge shocked people around the world. For some travellers, it made an ________ fear even worse. Many people ________ from 'gephyrophobia' — a fear of bridges. They may shake, sweat, or panic when driving high above water. Experts say this fear is usually linked to heights, water, and feeling unable to escape.

One man has built an unusual business helping these ________ drivers. Steven Eskew, owner of Kent Island Express, drives people across Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge in their own cars. The bridge is over four miles long and nearly 200 feet high. Eskew charges around $45–$55 per trip. He gives 6,000 rides a year, ________ that fear can be a very ________ business.

The collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge shocked people around the world. For some travellers, it made an existing fear even worse. Many people suffer from 'gephyrophobia' — a fear of bridges. They may shake, sweat, or panic when driving high above water. Experts say this fear is usually linked to heights, water, and feeling unable to escape.

One man has built an unusual business helping these anxious drivers. Steven Eskew, owner of Kent Island Express, drives people across Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge in their own cars. The bridge is over four miles long and nearly 200 feet high. Eskew charges around $45–$55 per trip. He gives 6,000 rides a year, proving that fear can be a very profitable business.

Quiz

  1. What happened to the Francis Scott Key Bridge?
  2. What is 'gephyrophobia'?
  3. Who is Steven Eskew?
  4. How long is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. It collapsed.
  2. A fear of bridges.
  3. He is the owner of Kent Island Express.
  4. Over four miles long.

True or False

  1. Steven Eskew drives people across the Francis Scott Key Bridge. T F
  2. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is nearly 200 feet high. T F
  3. Steven shakes, sweats and panics when driving high above water. T F

True or False Answers

  1. False
  2. True
  3. False

Conversation

A:Hey Steven, how's business on the bridge today?
B:Busy as usual! People really don't like driving over it.
A:I bet! The Bay Bridge is so high.
B:Yeah, but it's great for my wallet!
A:True, you must be the richest bridge driver around.
B:Haha, yeah. Let's just hope this one doesn't collapse!

Discussion

  1. Would you pay Steven to drive you across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?
  2. Would you like to have Steven's job?
  3. What things are you afraid of?
  4. If you could start a small business helping people with a simple problem, what would it be?

Further Reading

https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/bridge-phobia-key-bridge-collapse-has-intensified-fear-in-some-travelers/

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