2007年ESL之交通出行 01 Parking Instructions

01 Parking Instructions

GLOSSARY 1

kiosk – a small building where food, drinks, and newspapers are sold, or wherepeople can ask for directions or other information* Every morning I buy a newspaper at the kiosk where I wait for the bus.

compound 2 – a group of buildings that are surrounded by a wall* This military compound has stores, a school, and gym, and hundreds of offices and homes.

to find (one’s) way around – to be able to find what one is looking for in an area* Marilee has lived in New York City for ten years, but she still can’t find her way around some parts of the city without a map.

bend – curve 3; a gentle turn in a road to the right or left* Our house is the first one on the right after the bend in the road.

a fork in the road – the point where one road becomes two or more roads* When you come to the fork in the road, you can take a right to go to theuniversity, or you can take a left to go to the town.

parking structure – a building with many floors for parking cars* The local government wants to build a parking structure in the center of the city because there isn’t enough parking on the streets.

to miss (something) – to not see something; to not find something* My sister will be at the party.  You can’t miss her.  She has red hair and is oversix feet tall.

to split 4 – to become two pieces; to divide into two * This river splits 5 into two smaller ones about one mile in that direction.

to veer 6 –  to change direction* When she got to the edge of town, she veered 7 north instead of east and got lostfor an hour.

parking permit – a small piece of paper that is placed in a car’s front windowand allows a car to park in a specific area* Franz never drives to school because a university parking permit costs $100 amonth, and it’s not too inconvenient 8 to just take the bus.

visible 9 – able to be seen* What time is it?  The clock isn’t visible from where I’m sitting.

dash – dashboard; the long piece of plastic behind a car’s front window, normally 10 on top of the radio, heating 11 controls, and the displays showing information aboutspeed and the level of gas in the car* Can you please take that map off the dash?  It’s hard for me to drive with itthere because I can’t see out the window.

lot – an area of land* The parking lot next to the office was full, so I had to park five streets away.

level – a floor in a building, especially in a parking structure* Do you remember where we parked the car?  I thought it was on this level, but Idon’t see it.

space – a small area where one car can park, usually marked with painted lines* The president’s parking space is next to the front door.  All of the other workers have to park further away.

reserved –  saved for someone, so that no one else can use it* At the restaurant, we wanted to sit at the table by the window, but they said thatit was reserved for another group.

to raise – to make something move up* If you know the answer to the teacher’s question, you can raise your hand.

the arm of a gate – the horizontal 12 piece of wood or metal that goes across aroad, so that cars cannot pass by until the guard moves it* The arm of the gate is painted yellow and black, but Daniel didn’t see itbecause it was nighttime, and he accidentally 13 drove into it.

one – used for emphasis 14 to mean the important one or the only one* Ezekiel is one big joker.  He’s never serious and is always trying to makepeople laugh.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.  Why does Edyta need to ask the guard for directions?

a)  Because she forgot to bring a map.

b)  Because she doesn’t know where Mark’s building is.

c)  Because she is late for her meeting.

2.  Why does the guard give Edyta a parking permit?

a)  So that she can park in the parking structure.

b)  So that she can park in her reserved space.

c)  So that she can park in the parking lot.

______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

bendThe word “bend,” in this podcast, means a curve or a gentle turn in a road to theright or left: “Brock felt sick because there were so many bends in the mountainroad.”  There are also “bends” in rivers: “The best place to go fishing is in thatriver bend by the old farm.”  As a verb, “to bend (something)” means to movesomething so that it isn’t straight: “Jasmine accidentally bent 15 her glasses whenshe sat on them.”  Or, “In our dance class, the teacher showed us how to bendour knees while keeping our backs straight.”  The verb “to bend down” means tomove at the waist so that one’s head is lower than normal: “The man bent downto kiss his girlfriend.”

dashIn this podcast, the word “dash” means a dashboard, or the long piece of plastic behind a car’s front window: “Many taxi drivers have a ‘no smoking’ sign on top oftheir dash.”  When someone is cooking, a “dash” is a small amount of somethingthat is added to something else: “I think this soup would be better if it had a dashof lemon juice.”  A “dash” is also a short, fast race: “Darrell received first place inthe 100-meter dash.”  As a verb, “to dash” means to go somewhere very quickly:

“After work, she dashed to the grocery store to buy milk and eggs before goinghome to cook dinner.”  Or, “Could you dash over to their office to pick up thedocuments at lunch time?”

CULTURE NOTEIn the United States, as in many other countries, all cars and trucks must have“license 16 plates.”  A license plate is a rectangular 17 piece of metal that usually has six or seven numbers and letters, so that each car can be identified by police andthe government.  One license plate is put on the front of the car, and one on theback of the car.  In each state, license plates have a picture of something thatrepresents the state.  For example, in Oregon the license plates have pictures oftall, green trees.

States also sell “specialty 18” license plates.  These specialty license plates aremore expensive than normal license plates, because they are “fundraisers” (ways for an organization to get money). For example, many universities have specialtylicense plates that have the university’s “logo” (a small image or picture thatrepresents an organization or business).  The university’s “alumni” (people whohave graduated from a university) buy these specialty license plates and theextra money is given to the university for its programs. Other specialty license plates are used as fundraisers for environmental or socialgroups.  An environmental group that protects fish might have a specialty licenseplate with a picture of a fish that lives in the state’s rivers.  An organization thathelps “orphans” (children whose parents have died) might have a specialty license plate with a picture of children playing.

Some people have “personalized” license plates, sometimes called “vanity”

plates.  When a person pays for personalized license plates, he or she canchoose which numbers and letters are on the license plates.  Sometimes peoplechoose to use their names or a word that is important to them.  Other people buy personalized license plates that say “MY CAR” or “FOR MOM,” and businesses sometimes purchase personalized license plates with the name of their company for their company-owned cars.

______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers:  1 – b; 2 – a

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 235: ParkingInstructions.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 20 235.  I'm your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles in the State of California. On this podcast, we're going to talk about “Parking Instructions,” what you dowhen someone is telling you where you should park your car.  Let's get started!

[Start of story]

I arrived for my meeting at the headquarters 21 of Woon Enterprises 22 and I stoppedat the kiosk to ask for directions.  It’s a huge organization and the offices arelocated on a 30-acre compound, so it’s very hard to find your way around withoutsome help. Guard:  Good morning. Edyta:  Good morning.  I’m here for a meeting with Mark Johnson.  Could you tellme how to get to the right building?

Guard:  Sure.  Take this road and follow the bend to the right.  When you see thefork in the road, take the road on your right.  Follow that to the parking structure. You can’t miss it.

Edyta:  Okay, so when the road splits, I should veer right.

Guard:  That’s right.  Here’s a guest parking permit.  Make sure it’s visible onyour dash at all times.  Drive past the lot and go into the parking structure.  Youcan park on any level and in any space that isn’t reserved.  The building rightnext to the structure is where Mark Johnson’s office is.

Edyta:  Thanks, I think I’ve got all that. The guard raised the arm of the gate and let me through.  As I drove through thehuge compound to the parking structure, I couldn’t help thinking that this Woonmust be one very successful businessman.

[End of story]

We're parking our car in this podcast, something that is very important here inSouthern California, where most people have a car because it is very difficult toget around the city without one.

In our story, Edyta says that she arrived for a “meeting at the headquarters” - themain office - of a company called “Woon Enterprises.”  She “stopped at the kiosk to ask for directions.”  A kiosk, “kiosk,” is a small building.  Sometimes you willsee these in a downtown area where they sell newspapers, or maybe some foodor drinks.  We also use that word, kiosk, when we are talking about a smallbuilding where you can ask for information - ask for instructions or directions onhow to get somewhere.

Edyta says that the offices of Woon Enterprises are “on a 30-acre compound.”  Acompound, “compound,” is a group of buildings, usually that are part of the samebusiness, or maybe even the same house, if it's a big house, and it's oftensurrounded by a wall.

Edyta says, “it’s hard to find your way around without some help.”  To find yourway around somewhere is to be able to find what you are looking for in a city orin a building.  Well, Edyta asks the guard where she needs to go in order to haveher meeting with Mark Johnson.

The guard gives her instructions - gives her directions.  He says, “Take this roadand follow the bend to the right.”  A bend, “bend,” when we are talking about aroad or a street is a curve.  Usually, the road goes to the left or to the right, not acorner - not 90 degrees - but something less than that - something that is still sortof straight but it goes to one side or the other.  In this case, the bend goes to theright.  That word, bend, has many different meaning in English, take a look at theLearning Guide for some more information on that.

So, the guard says, “When you see the fork in the road, take the road on yourright.”  A fork, “fork,” in the road is a point where one road divides or splits andbecomes two roads.  It can sometimes look like the fork that you eat withbecause it has one handle on the fork and then it splits into two or more differentparts.  Well, this is an expression we use, a fork in the road, when a road divides into two.

The guard tells Edyta that she should take the road to the right, and “Follow thatto the parking structure.”  A parking structure is usually a building with two or more levels - two or more floors - where people park their car.  He says to Edyta,“You can’t miss it.”  This is a common expression when you are giving directions to someone and you think that it is very easy - that it will be very obvious.  Wesay, “You can't miss it,” we mean it's impossible not to see it - you'll find it easily.

Edyta says, “Okay, so where the road splits, I should veer right.”  Splits, “splits,”

is when something divides into two pieces.  In this case, the road divides into twodifferent roads.  Edyta says, “I should veer,” “veer,” “right.”  To veer means tomake a change in the direction that you are going in.  Usually we use this wordwhen we are talking about a vehicle like a car or a truck.  Sometimes people usethis expression, to veer right or to veer left, when they are talking about a politicalparty or a political candidate 24 in terms of their policies - their political philosophy. Conservative 25 would be right; liberal 26 would be left.

Well, this is not a case of politics but a case of giving directions.  So, the guardsays to Edyta that's correct - “That's right,” and then he gives her a parkingpermit.  A permit, “permit,” is a piece of paper that you are given to do something. In this case, it's a piece of paper that allows you to park in a certain place. Notice the pronunciation, permit, where the accent is on the first syllable 27.  If wesay permit with the accent on the second syllable, that makes it a verb, but as anoun, the accent is on the first syllable.  So, we say, “parking permit,” and that's what a company will give you if you are visiting them.  It gives you permission topark in their parking structures.

The guard says that Edyta should make the parking permit visible on her dash. To be visible, “visible,” means that people can see it.  The dash, “dash,” as anoun, is the front part of your car.  Usually it's the part that is right behind yourcar's front window, and it's flat - or usually flat - and you can put a piece of paperthere so people could see it by looking in through the window.

The guard says to Edyta, “Drive past the lot and go into the parking structure.”  Alot, “lot,” or a parking lot, is a place to park, but it's not inside of a building; it's aflat piece of land where you can park.  He tells Edyta she “can park on any level”

- any floor - “and in any space that isn’t reserved.”  We call the places where youpark your car, that are usually marked with some lines - white lines - that space is - that area is called a parking space.

You can have parking spaces that are reserved.  If you see a sign that says,“This space is reserved,” it means that you have to be that particular person - no one else can use it except that person.  So, it could be reserved for the president,that's where the president can park his or her car.

Parking spaces are very important in some companies - in some organizations -because if you have a good parking space that means you're very important - ifyou have a reserved parking space.  At the University of California, Berkeley,which is a famous research university here in the United States, if you win aNobel Prize, you get a reserved parking space.  If you don't win a Nobel Prize,you don't get a reserved parking space.  So, you have to be pretty important toget a reserved parking space in some places.  Usually it's not that difficult,however!

After Edyta thanks the guard, “The guard raises the arm of the gate.”  The arm ofthe gate is a piece of wood or metal that prevents people from going past theguard without stopping.  Or, sometimes you will see it as you are leaving aparking structure, and you have to pay for the time that you were there, there willbe a parking gate - an arm of a gate that will stop you from leaving until you pay. Well, the arm goes up - the piece of wood or metal goes up - and that allows you- that permits you to keep driving and leave that area.

Our story ends with Edyta saying that “this Woon” - the person who is the head ofthe company - “must be one very successful businessman.”  The use of one hereis for emphasis.  It means this is a very important or this is the only person orthing.  For example, you could say, “Tiger Woods is one great golf player,”

meaning he is one of the few - he's a very important person in that particulararea.  It's used, as I say, for emphasis.  If we say, “ESL Podcast is oneinteresting podcast,” we mean it is a very interesting podcast.  Well, I hope it's avery interesting podcast.  Not always, sometimes I forget to drink my coffee in themorning and it's not as interesting as it should be!

Now let's listen to the dialogue again, this time at a native, or normal, rate ofspeed.

[Start of story]

I arrived for my meeting at the headquarters of Woon Enterprises and I stoppedat the kiosk to ask for directions.  It’s a huge organization and the offices arelocated on a 30-acre compound, so it’s very hard to find your way around withoutsome help.

Guard:  Good morning.  

Edyta:  Good morning.  I’m here for a meeting with Mark Johnson.  Could you tellme how to get to the right building?

Guard:  Sure.  Take this road and follow the bend to the right.  When you see thefork in the road, take the road on your right.  Follow that to the parking structure. You can’t miss it.

Edyta:  Okay, so when the road splits, I should veer right.

Guard:  That’s right.  Here’s a guest parking permit.  Make sure it’s visible onyour dash at all times.  Drive past the lot and go into the parking structure.  Youcan park on any level and in any space that isn’t reserved.  The building rightnext to the structure is where Mark Johnson’s office is.

Edyta:  Thanks, I think I’ve got all that. The guard raised the arm of the gate and let me through.  As I drove through thehuge compound to the parking structure, I couldn’t help thinking that this Woonmust be one very successful businessman.

[End of story]

The script 19 for our podcast was written by Dr. Lucy Tse.

If you want to get more out of or take a better advantage of this podcast, you cango to our website at eslpod.com and download the Learning 23 Guide for this episode.

From Los Angeles, California, I'm Jeff McQuillan.  Thanks for listening.  We'll seeyou next time on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan.  This podcast is copyright 28 2006.