The island without cars

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: The island without cars

Warm-up

Have you ever been to an island? (Yes, I have been to...)

Vocabulary Match

explore •• stopped
frightened •• scared
banned •• quieter
fudge •• carts
calmer •• look
carriages •• soft candy

Vocabulary Answers

explorelook
frightenedscared
bannedstopped
fudgesoft candy
calmerquieter
carriagescarts

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

Mackinac Island is a quiet place in Lake Huron, off the coast of Michigan. While Michigan is known for car companies like Ford and General Motors, this island ________ cars in 1900. A car once made a loud noise and ________ the horses, so the island chose a slower, ________ way of life.

Today, about 600 people live there year-round, along with around 600 horses. Horses pull ________, deliver packages, and even collect rubbish. Visitors arrive by ferry and ________ the island by bicycle, on foot, or in a horse-drawn taxi.

Popular activities include eating the island's famous ________, riding around the coast, and visiting historical sites.

Mackinac Island is a quiet place in Lake Huron, off the coast of Michigan. While Michigan is known for car companies like Ford and General Motors, this island banned cars in 1900. A car once made a loud noise and frightened the horses, so the island chose a slower, calmer way of life.

Today, about 600 people live there year-round, along with around 600 horses. Horses pull carriages, deliver packages, and even collect rubbish. Visitors arrive by ferry and explore the island by bicycle, on foot, or in a horse-drawn taxi.

Popular activities include eating the island's famous fudge, riding around the coast, and visiting historical sites.

Quiz

  1. Where is Mackinac Island located?
  2. Why were cars banned on the island?
  3. How do visitors arrive on the island?
  4. What is one popular activity on the island?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. In Lake Huron, off the coast of Michigan.
  2. Because a car made a loud noise and frightened the horses.
  3. By ferry.
  4. Eating the island's famous fudge.

True or False

  1. Mackinac Island allows cars today. T F
  2. There are about 600 horses on Mackinac Island. T F
  3. Visitors can explore the island by bicycle. T F

True or False Answers

  1. False
  2. True
  3. True

Conversation

A:Hey, did you hear about the car ban on Mackinac Island?
B:Yeah, sounds like they did it for the horses!
A:I think it's nice to have a peaceful place like that.
B:Agreed! Plus, I love the idea of horse-drawn taxis.
A:And don't forget the fudge! That's a must-try.
B:Absolutely, let's plan a trip there!

Discussion

  1. Have you ever been on a ferry?
  2. Would you like to live in a place without cars?
  3. Do you enjoy riding bicycles?
  4. What is your favorite type of candy?

Further Reading

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250425-the-us-island-where-cars-are-banned

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