STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
14
1.5
1
Some people believe that women are
better drivers than men. However, others
think that women make worse drivers. In
one survey of 3,000 male drivers in the
UK, most felt they were better drivers
than the women in their lives. The idea
that women make worse drivers is a
stereotype. It comes from a time when
women drove less than men, and driving
was seen as a man’s responsibility. There
are certainly different views on this
controversial question, although there
are a number of reasons why a woman’s
personality makes her a more competent
driver.
2
Firstly, women are more patient and
polite towards other road users, such
as pedestrians and cyclists. In stressful
situations they are more likely to stay
calm, and less likely to be involved in
‘road rage’ incidents. Secondly, female
drivers are more cautious and therefore
take fewer risks, for instance when
overtaking. Thirdly, they are more
STUDY SKILLS
MAKING NOTES WHILE READING
1
Work with a partner to discuss the following.
1
When do you need to make notes?
2
What techniques do you use when you make notes?
3
Which sources do you trust more when reading –
books or online sources?
2
a
Read the essay below. Which statements in the
essay do you disagree with?
2
b
Note-taking
Read the essay again and complete
the notes. Use one or two words in each gap.
PARAGRAPH 2 NOTES
PARAGRAPH 3 NOTES
Women drivers
2
c
Which style of note-taking in Exercise 2b –
bulleted notes or word webs – do you prefer? Which
do you think is most effective for understanding and
processing a text?
WOMEN DRIVERS
• patient and
1
to others on the
road like
2
and
3
• stay
4
in
5
situations
• road
6
incidents fewer
• cautious
• take fewer
7
when
8
• more
9
, less likely to
10
when
11
at night
Accidents
indecisive
react
12
lack
13
14
distracted
for example by
15
Research
map
16
more difficult
17
with left
and
18
more
19
accidents
poor spatial
20
Are women better drivers
than men?
responsible so they tend not to drive when
they are tired at night.
3
On the other hand, many people argue that
women cause accidents because they can
be indecisive or react slowly because they
lack confidence. In addition, they are easily
distracted, for example, by children in the car,
scenery or other drivers. Research also shows
that women find map reading more difficult
than men, and they can have problems
with the difference between left and right.
Despite the fact that women have more
accidents, they tend to be minor and so they
don’t result in expensive insurance claims. In
particular, women have more accidents when
parking. This is because women often have
poor spatial awareness. In contrast, men tend
to have more serious accidents.
4
To sum up, it can be seen that women make
safer drivers than men because of their
personality. This is supported by the fact that
women have fewer serious accidents. Overall,
it is clear that women are less competitive
and aggressive than men behind the wheel
and, therefore, they are better drivers.
