#0520 – Getting Directions and Parking Instructions, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 520 – Getting Directions and
Parking Instructions
GLOSSARY
directions –
instructions about how to go somewhere, especially when driving
* When we mail out the party invitations, should we include directions to our
house?
cross street –
the closest street that touches the street where one’s home or
office is
* The pharmacy is at 5839 Main Street, and the nearest cross street is Division
Avenue.
exit –
a road that lets cars leave a freeway or highway, slowly decreasing their
speed before they go onto slower-moving roads
* Take Interstate 5 north until you reach exit 268.
to head –
to go in a particular direction; to travel in a specific direction
* They left town about two hours ago, heading south.
bend –
a curve in the road; a part of the road that lets one change direction
without stopping first
* Our house is just past the third bend in the road.
to veer –
to change direction without stopping; to move toward the right or left
from a main road
* Go through the intersection and then veer to the left to get to the museum.
dead end –
a street that ends with no other connecting streets, so that a car has
nowhere to go and must turn around
* Many people want to live on a dead end because there’s less traffic, and it’s
safer for kids to play near the street.
one-way street –
a street where all the cars must move in the same direction
* You can’t turn right here because it’s a one-way street. You need to go up to
the next street and turn right there instead.
light –
traffic light; a box that hangs over the street with three lights: red, yellow,
and green to control traffic
* Even though we were in a hurry, we had to stop because the light was red.
1
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2009). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 520 – Getting Directions and
Parking Instructions
street parking –
the act of parking on the edge of a street, between the moving
cars and the sidewalk
* It’s almost impossible to find street parking in this part of downtown Los
Angeles.
valet parking –
the act of stopping one’s car in front of a business and giving
one’s keys to a person (valet) who then drives the car away and parks it, bringing
it back when one is ready to leave
* The city’s most expensive restaurants offer valet parking for their customers.
to validate –
for a business to put a mark on a piece of paper, showing that it will
pay for a customer to park in a specific location
* The store validates up to one hour of parking for anyone who makes a
purchase.
meter –
a machine next to a street that one can put coins (metal pieces of
money) into to buy a certain amount of time when one will be allowed to park in a
particular spot
* Did you put enough coins into the meter? We’re going to be inside for at least
50 minutes.
side street –
a street that is connected to the main street, but has less traffic and
is less important
* Rent for stores is less expensive on side streets than on the main street.
to circle the block –
to go around a group of buildings by making three right
turns or three left turns
* They couldn’t find a parking spot, so he circled the block slowly while she was
inside the store, making her purchase.
to count on –
to assume or believe that something will happen; to rely on
something
* You can count on me to help you clean up after the conference. I won’t forget.
to hunt –
to seek; to search; to look for
* She spent all afternoon hunting for a book that she’s been wanting to read.
2
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2009). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 520 – Getting Directions and
Parking Instructions
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Which of these would have the least traffic?
a) A cross street.
b) A dead end.
c) A one-way street.
2. What does the receptionist mean when she says, “we don’t validate”?
a) The company won’t pay for Asha’s parking.
b) The company thinks $12 is too much to pay for parking.
c) The company doesn’t recommend street parking.
______________
WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?
bend
The word “bend,” in this podcast, means a curve in the road, or a part of the road
that lets one change direction by turning slowly without stopping first: “Don’t
cross the road at a bend! The cars might not see you there.” A “bend” can also
describe a wide turn in a river: “They built a vacation home next to a beautiful
river bend.” The phrase “to bend over” means to move one’s upper body at the
waist so that one is closer to the floor: “He bent over to pick up the clothes on the
floor.” Finally, the phrase “to bend the truth” means to not tell the whole truth:
“Are you really only 29 years old, or are you bending the truth?”
to count on
In this podcast, the phrase “to count on” means to assume or believe that
something will happen, or to rely on something: “It’s nice to know I can count on
you to help me in difficult times.” The phrase “to count (one’s) blessings” means
to feel thankful or happy for all the good things in one’s life: “You should count
your blessings! You have a good job, a beautiful home, a loving wife, and two
healthy children.” The phrase “to count (one’s) chickens before they hatch”
means to believe that something good will happen and make plans for it, even
though it might not happen: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch! It
might be months before your house sells, or it might sell for a lower price than
you expect.”
3
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2009). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 520 – Getting Directions and
Parking Instructions
CULTURE NOTE
In many American cities, it can be almost impossible to find street parking. If you
do see an “empty spot” (a space without a car) along the side of a street, be sure
to look for “signs” (large, painted pieces of metal or wood with written
information) about parking “restrictions” (limitations).
Most city streets have signs “indicating” (showing) whether parking is allowed
and, if so, at which times. Obviously you cannot park in a “fire lane” (space that
fire-emergency vehicles need for fighting fires), which are indicated with red color
paint; in front of “driveways” (short routes leading from a street to a building or
garage); or any place where there is a painted yellow line on the “curb” (the
raised piece of concrete next to a road).
Where parking is allowed, parking signs indicate the “time limit,” or the amount of
time a car can be parked there without getting a “ticket” (a piece of paper
showing that one has done something against the law) and having to pay a “fine”
(money paid because one has done something wrong). Some signs indicate
“permit-only parking,” which means that the driver must have a special “permit”
(written permission) to park there, usually because he or she works or lives
nearby.
Sometimes there are “exceptions” (times when a rule does not apply) to the
regular parking restrictions. When there are parades or other special events,
parking usually isn’t allowed on certain streets. Parking is also restricted during
“street cleaning” (when a large truck puts water on the streets to clean them).
Some parking signs state that “violators” (people who do not follow a law) will be
“towed” (with one’s car being pulled away by a special truck). If you park in one
of those areas, you’ll have to pay money to get your car back from the towing
company!
______________
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – a
4
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2009). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 520 – Getting Directions and
Parking Instructions
COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 520: Getting
Directions and Parking Instructions.
This is English as a Second Language Podcast number 520. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Our website is eslpod.com. Go there to download a Learning Guide for this
episode to help you improve your English even faster. To download the Learning
Guide, you can become a Learning Guide member of ESL Podcast. Your
membership helps support this podcast. Or, if you’d prefer to make a donation,
you can do that on our website as well.
This podcast is a dialogue between a “receptionist” (somebody who answers the
phone at a business) and Asha. It’s about giving someone “directions” (how to
arrive at a certain place), as well as instructions on parking. Let’s get started.
[start of dialogue]
Receptionist: So the meeting is set for 2:00 on Thursday. Do you know how to
get to our offices?
Asha: No, I don’t. Could you give me directions?
Receptionist: Certainly. We’re located on Main Street. The cross street is Udall.
If you’re taking the freeway, the best exit to take is Udall East. Once you’re on
Udall, head east for about two miles and when you reach the bend, veer right. If
you veer left, you’ll run into a dead end. After you veer right, you’ll be on Monroe
Avenue and it’s a one-way street. Our building is on the right-hand side, past the
light. If you pass Elm Street, you’ve gone too far.
Asha: Okay, I think I’ve got all that. Is there parking available?
Receptionist: Unfortunately, there’s only street parking. There is valet parking
for the building next door, but they charge $12 and we don’t validate. There are
meters on the street and on the side streets, but you may need to circle the block
a few times to find an available meter.
Asha: All right, and thanks for the information. I guess I need to leave early to
have plenty of time to find the building and to find parking.
5
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2009). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]