2011年ESL之旅行交通购物 13 Taking the Driving Test

13 Taking the Driving Test

GLOSSARY

driving test – an exam that must be passed to receive permission to drive,where one drives a car while the examiner sits in the passenger seat, givinginstructions and observing how well one drives

* Nick hit a stop sign during his driving test and didn’t pass.

license – legal permission to do or have something

* How long have you had a license to carry a gun?

play-by-play – detailed information, describing what is happening as it occurs orevery step in a process

* Teenage girls love to share the play-by-play of their dates with each other.

to freak out – to be very worried or nervous about something, thinking about itall the time and not being able to control one’s emotions and/or actions

* If the client doesn’t sign the contract soon, our boss is going to freak out.

to fasten (one’s) seat belt – to pull the long piece of fabric across one’s chestand upper legs while sitting in a car or an airplane and connect the metal pieceon the end with the metal piece attached to the seat so that one is attached tothe car or airplane and will not move very much

* Karina refuses to start the car until everyone has fastened their seat belt.

block – in a city, the square area and all the buildings in it surrounded by fourcrossing streets

* The pharmacy is on the same block as the library.

stop sign – a red 8-sided sign with the word “STOP” printed on it in white letters,letting drivers know they need to stop before going through an intersection (twocrossing streets)

* Did you see that other car? The driver didn’t stop at the stop sign and droveright through the intersection. She could have killed someone!

traffic signal – a box with lights that tell drivers when they can drive through anintersection (two crossing streets) and when they need to stop, usually with a redlight, a yellow light, and a green light

* Is this traffic signal working? It seems like we’ve been stopped here with a redlight forever.

freeway – a wide road with many lanes where cars drive very quickly and do notneed to stop because there are no intersections (two crossing streets)

* Normally cars move quickly on this freeway, but yesterday there was anaccident, so everyone had to drive really slowly.

onramp – a short road that joins a freeway at an angle so that cars can increasetheir speed until they are going the same speed as the cars on the freeway andthen they can enter the freeway lanes and drive with the rest of the cars

* If an onramp is too short, it can be difficult for drivers to make their cars go fastenough before they reach the faster cars on the freeway.

to merge – for two lanes to join, so that drivers have to make room for eachother so that all the cars can be in one lane

* In rural areas, drivers are more likely to slow down and make room for othercars to merge onto the freeway.

to change lanes – to move one’s car from one lane to another one going in thesame direction, usually so that one can drive more quickly or more slowly

* If you want to go faster, change lanes and drive in the passing lane.

to accelerate – to increase one’s speed; to make something go faster

* Can electric cars accelerate as quickly as gasoline-powered cars?

to signal – to make colored lights on the front and back of one’s car turn on andoff repeatedly to show other drivers that one wants to turn or change direction

* According to the law, we’re supposed to signal about 100 feet before we makea turn.

speed limit – the maximum allowed speed; the fastest speed one can legallydrive at

* The speed limit on many residential streets is just 20 or 25 miles per hour.

to parallel park – to park on the side of a street so that one is parallel to the carsthat are moving, with one car in front and another car behind, so that one has todrive backward and forward several times to fit into the space

* Teraz hates parallel parking, so he spends a lot of time looking for parking lotswith standard parking spaces that he can turn into.

behind the wheel – driving a car; sitting in the driver’s seat of a car

* Do you think most 16-year-olds are responsible enough to be behind thewheel?

to have (got) someplace to be – a phrase used to show that one should besomewhere else at a certain time, without providing any details, often used whenone is lying and simply does not want to do whatever the other person is talkingabout

* - Can you watch the kids tonight?

* - Uh, no, sorry, I’ve got someplace to be.

______________

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Why is May worried about the driving test?

a) Because she doesn’t have enough money to pay for it.

b) Because she doesn’t have enough experience driving.

c) Because she doesn’t know anyone who has passed it.

2. When should a driver signal?

a) When fastening his or her seat belt.

b) When stopping at a stop sign.

c) When changing lanes.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

license

The word “license,” in this podcast, means legal permission to have or dosomething: “How much does a fishing license cost?” Or, “Is it difficult to get abusiness license from the city?” Sometimes the word “license” refers to the smallcard or other piece of paper that proves one is allowed to do something: “Mariahad to show a copy of their marriage license when she wanted to change her lastname.” When talking about software, a “license” is permission for one person touse the software: “The software company charges an upfront cost of $15,000,plus a license fee of $45 per user.” Finally, the phrase “poetic license” or “artisticlicense” refers to one’s ability to use imagination and change the truth a little bitfor artistic or creative reasons: “Francesca writes historical fiction, but she takessome artistic license to make the stories more interesting.”

to signal

In this podcast, the verb “to signal” means to make colored lights on the front andback of one’s car turn on and off repeatedly to show other drivers that one wantsto turn or change direction: “Norman got a ticket for turning without signalingfirst.” The verb “to signal” can also mean to indicate or imply that something istrue: “Rising food prices can signal inflation.” The verb “to signal” can also mean to communicate something without words: “At an airport, workers use coloredsticks and flags to signal when it is safe for pilots to move airplanes closer to thegate.”

______________

CULTURE NOTE

Common Reasons for Failing the Driving TestMost people who study their state’s “driver’s manual” (a small book describing allthe laws for driving in a particular state) are able to pass the written test withouttoo much trouble, but some of them “struggle” (have difficulty) to pass the “drivingtest” (an exam where one drives a car while someone sits in the front seat andobserves how well or poorly one drives).

Sometimes people “fail” (do not pass) the driving test because they are not“observant” (watching and paying attention to what is happening around oneself).

They might not use the “side-view” (mirrors on each side of the car) and “rearview”

(a mirror on the windshield inside the car) mirrors enough to be aware ofthe cars around them, or they might not be looking in all directions beforepassing through an “intersection” (where two or more streets meet or cross).

Other people fail the driving test because they “speed” (drive more quickly thanallowed by law). Sometimes the speed limit isn’t “posted” (written on a sign fordrivers to see), but drivers are expected to know the maximum speed limit for“residential” (in an area with many homes) and “commercial” (in an area withmany businesses and office buildings) “zones” (areas). Some people fail whenthey drive through a “school zone” (the area around a school) without slowingdown to 15 or 20 miles per hour, as is required by law.

Finally, some people fail their driving test because they cannot follow theexaminer’s specific instructions. For example, if the driver is not able to parallelpark well, the examiner might think that the driver does not have enoughexperience to have a driver’s license.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – c

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 726: Taking theDriving Test.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 726. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at eslpod.com. Download this episode’s Learning Guide, an 8-to 10-, maybe 12-page Learning Guide that gives you additional help inimproving your English. Trust me, it will help!

This episode is called “Taking the Driving Test,” about taking a test to get yourdriver’s license for a car. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Cesar: I just took the driving test. See this? That’s my new license.

May: You have to give me the play-by-play. I’m taking the test next week andI’m freaking out.

Cesar: There’s nothing to worry about. It was easy.

May: I’m not worried about the written test. It’s the driving test I’m worried about.

I haven’t had a lot of practice. What did you have to do?

Cesar: Well, we got into the car and I fastened my seat belt. The examiner hadme drive around the block, checking to see that I stopped at the stop signs andtraffic signals.

May: That sounds okay. Did you have to drive on the freeway?

Cesar: Yeah, I went on the onramp and merged into traffic. She had me changelanes and accelerate to pass another driver. Just don’t forget to signal and don’tgo over the speed limit.

May: Did you have to parallel park? That’s what I’m most worried about.

Cesar: Yeah, I parallel parked, but it was easy. Why are you so worried aboutthe test?

May: I told you. I haven’t had very much practice.

Cesar: Exactly how many times have you been behind the wheel?

May: Well, a few times…maybe two times, and that was around a parking lot.

Cesar: Wow, you’d better get more practice if you’re going to take the test nextweek.

May: Could you…?

Cesar: Uh, sorry, but I’ve got someplace to be.

[end of dialogue]

We begin with Cesar saying to May, “I just took the driving test,” meaning I tookthe test recently. A “driving test” is an examination that you have to take in orderto get your driving license. In most U.S. states, you need to take two exams ortwo tests. One is written; these are questions about the rules of the road, thelaws of driving in that state. Each state has slightly different laws, but they’rebasically the same. The second test is what we call a “behind the wheel test,”

where you actually have to go out with someone who gives you your score. Youhave to do certain thing driving on the street, and if you do everything correctthen you get your license – or most things correct. If you don’t hit another car orkill anyone, then you’ll probably get your license in most places. Cesar just tookhis driving test; we assume it’s the behind the wheel test. He says, “See this?

That’s my new license.” That’s his legal permission to drive, that’s what a“license” is. “License” has some other meanings in English; take a look at ourLearning Guide for those.

May says, “You have to give me the play-by-play.” “Play-by-play” is a detaileddescription of what happened. In a sports game you have different plays –different parts of the game. Each little part of the game can be called a “play,”

and on the television or radio the person who describes everything that ishappening in the game is giving the play-by-play, a detailed description. We usethe expression more generally, outside of the sports world, to mean a detaileddescription of something that happened.

May says, “I’m taking the test (the driving test) next week and I’m freaking out.”

“To freak (freak) out” is a two-word phrasal verb used informally to mean get veryworried or nervous about something, so much that it is controlling all of your thoughts and emotions. Cesar says, “There’s nothing to worry about. It waseasy.” May says, “I’m not worried about the written test. It’s the driving test I’mworried about.” So here, “driving test” refers to I called before the “behind thewheel test.” Why do we call it “behind the wheel”? Well, we are talking about theround wheel that you use to direct the car, what we would say “to steer” the car;in fact, it’s called a “steering wheel.” So, “behind the wheel” means you aresitting there with the wheel in front of you, which means you are actually in thecar driving.

Anyway, poor May is freaking out; she’s worried about the driving test or thebehind the wheel driving test. She says, “I haven’t had a lot of practice. Whatdid you have to do?” Describe what you had to do. Cesar says, “Well, we gotinto the car and I fastened my seat belt.” So he and the person – we would callhim or her the “examiner,” probably – got into the car and the first thing Cesar didwas fasten his seat belt. The “seat belt” is a long piece of material – of fabric –that goes across your chest and your waist to keep you in your seat. You wear aseat belt on an airplane when you are taking off – leaving, or landing – comingdown onto the ground. You wear a seat belt in a car. In most states, perhaps inall of them, you are required to wear a seat belt. If you don’t wear a seat belt youcan be fined; you will have to pay money if the police see you not wearing a seatbelt. It’s also, of course, just common sense; it’s good for your safety to wear aseat belt. So Cesar fastened his seat belt. “To fasten” (fasten) usually means toconnect two things together so that they will stay together. You are usuallyfastening things that can also easily come apart. We usually use it when we aretalking about rope or, in this case, a seat belt, which is a long, narrow piece ofmaterial. “The examiner had me drive around the block, checking to see that Istopped at the stop signs and traffic signals.” In a city, a “block” is a square areasurrounded by four crossing streets.

Cesar drove around the block so the examiner could check to see that hestopped at the stop signs and traffic signals. A “stop sign” is, in the UnitedStates, a red, eight-sided sign with the word “STOP” in white letters. That’s astop sign; it tells you you must stop before going forward. A “traffic signal” –sometimes called a “semaphore,” only by me I think – means a box with threelights – one is red, one is yellow, one is green – that tells you if you need to stop,that’s the red color, of course. If you can go, that’s the green color, or if you needto prepare to stop, which would be the yellow color. Well, we have traffic signalsusually where two streets cross, what we would call an “intersection,” where theycome at right angles to each other. Sometimes you can have a traffic signal infront of what’s called a “pedestrian crossing,” where people are allowed to walkacross the street. That could be in the middle of a long block, and that might also have a traffic signal in some places. But usually a traffic signal would be at anintersection, where two streets cross.

May says, “That sounds okay. Did you have to drive on the freeway?” The“freeway” is a wide road, with usually more than two “lanes,” two places wherethe cars can drive, and they drive very quickly without stopping. Cesar says,“Yeah, I went on the onramp and merged into traffic.” The “onramp” (one word)is a little road that leads from the street to the freeway; it’s how you get on afreeway. The opposite would be an “offramp.” Cesar says that he had to mergeinto traffic. “To merge” (merge) is when two lanes of traffic have to cometogether, so you have to either go in front of the car near you or behind the carthat is near you. Cesar says that the examiner had him change lanes andaccelerate to pass another driver. “To change lanes” means to move your carfrom one lane on a freeway or on a street to another, but going in the samedirection. “To accelerate” means to drive faster, to increase your speed. ThenCesar gives May some advice, “Just don’t forget to signal and don’t go over thespeed limit.” “To signal” (signal) here means to use the lights of your car toindicate that you are going to move into another lane or you are going to turnonto another street. You have a right signal and a left signal in most cars. The“speed limit” is the maximum allowed speed on a road. In the United States for afreeway in the city it’s usually 55 or 65 miles per hour; out in the country, awayfrom the big cities, it can be as high as 70 or 75 miles an hour. The word“signal,” I should mention, has some other meanings in English. You can findthose in the Learning Guide.

May says, “Did you have to parallel park?” “To parallel park” means to park yourcar between two other cars, where you have to back your car up – go in reversein order to get into a parking space in between two other cars. That’s often avery difficult thing for a beginning driver to do. May says, “That’s what I’m mostworried about.” Cesar says, “Yeah, I parallel parked, but it was easy. Why areyou so worried about the test?” May says, “I told you. I haven’t had very muchpractice.” Cesar says, “Exactly how many times have you been behind thewheel?” That is, how many times have you been out driving? May says, “Well, afew times…maybe two times, and that was around a parking lot,” a place whereyou park your car. Cesar says, “Wow, you’d better get more practice if you’regoing to take the test next week,” meaning you have to go and drive more so thatyou are ready to take the driving test. May says, “Could you…?” She doesn’tfinish her question, but she seems to be asking Cesar if Cesar would take her outdriving to give her some practice. That, of course, is a difficult thing to do sincethe beginning driver doesn’t always know what they are doing and it can be alittle dangerous for the person driving, as well as you. In the United States, if youpass the written test you can then practice behind the wheel with someone who has a driver’s license, who, the idea is will help you, tell you what to do and not todo. Cesar says, “Uh, sorry, but I’ve got someplace to be.” The expression “I’vegot someplace to be” is a phrase you use to tell the person that you are busy,you have another appointment, but you don’t give them any details. We oftenuse this when we are lying and simply don’t want to do what the other person isasking us to do. You may say, for example, “Can you watch my dog and catwhile I’m on vacation?” and I will say, “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve got someplace to be forthe next two weeks.”

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Cesar: I just took the driving test. See this? That’s my new license.

May: You have to give me the play-by-play. I’m taking the test next week andI’m freaking out.

Cesar: There’s nothing to worry about. It was easy.

May: I’m not worried about the written test. It’s the driving test I’m worried about.

I haven’t had a lot of practice. What did you have to do?

Cesar: Well, we got into the car and I fastened my seat belt. The examiner hadme drive around the block, checking to see that I stopped at the stop signs andthe traffic signals.

May: That sounds okay. Did you have to drive on the freeway?

Cesar: Yeah, I went on the onramp and merged into traffic. She had me changelanes and accelerate to pass another driver. Just don’t forget to signal and don’tgo over the speed limit.

May: Did you have to parallel park? That’s what I’m most worried about.

Cesar: Yeah, I parallel parked, but it was easy. Why are you so worried aboutthe test?

May: I told you. I haven’t had very much practice.

Cesar: Exactly how many times have you been behind the wheel?

May: Well, a few times…maybe two times, and that was around a parking lot.

Cesar: Wow, you’d better get some practice if you’re going to take the test nextweek.

May: Could you…?

Cesar: Uh, sorry, but I’ve got someplace to be.

[end of dialogue]

Her dialogues give us a play-by-play of life in the United States. That’s our ownwonderful Dr. Lucy Tse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us again here on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2011 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.