21   I can talk about cars and driving

A    The car

1     bonnet

2     windscreenwiper

3     windscreen

4     boot

5     wheel

6     tyre

7     door handle

8    wing mirror

9     number plate

10   headlights

11   engine

12   steering wheel

13   speedometer

14   ignition

15   rear-view mirror

16   gear stick/lever

17   accelerator

18   brake

19   clutch

20   horn

1     Combine words below to form six more compound words.

rear-view  steering  door  windscreen  

lever  mirror  number  wing  gear  

wheel  mirror  wiper  handle  plate

rear-view mirror

________  ________  ________ 

________  ________  ________

 

steering wheel

door handle

windscreen wiper

gear lever

number plate

wing mirror

4     Test yourself. Cover the words and look at the pictures. How many things can you name? 

B    Driving tips

TIPS FOR SAFER DRIVING

• Always be prepared for bad road conditions and bad drivers.

• On wet roads, brake, steer, and accelerate gently to avoid skidding.

• Watch out for motorcyclists and cyclists; give them plenty of space when overtaking.

• In car parks, reverse into a parking space rather than drive into it.

• Keep to the speed limit and don’t drive too close to the vehicle in front.

 

Glossary

tip  a piece of practical advice.

be prepared for sth  be ready and able to deal with any problems. prepare V.

brake  go more slowly or stop a vehicle by using the brakes.

steer  control the direction a vehicle is moving in.

accelerate  go faster. OPP slow down.

skid  suddenly move sideways without control.

watch out  be careful because there is a possible danger.

overtake sb/sth  go past sb/sth that is going more slowly.

reverse  go backwards in a car.

rather than  instead of; in place of.

speed limit  the highest legal speed at which you can drive on a road.

close to sth  near sth.

 

spotlight  keep

Keep often means ‘continue or stay in a particular place or condition’.

Keep to the speed limit. (Stay below the speed limit.)

Keep left. (Stay on the left.)

7     ABOUT YOU  Write your answers, or ask another student.

1     Are these useful tips, or did you know them already? ________

2     Do you usually brake and accelerate gently? ________

3     Do you usually reverse into parking spaces in a car park? Why/Why not? ________

4     Are there times when you don't keep to the speed limit?  ________

5     Do you know what to do if your car skids? ________

6     What do you do to prepare for bad winter weather? ________

Answers from a British person

1     I know these things, but it’s useful to be reminded of them.

2     Usually I do, but I accelerate quickly to overtake.

3     No, not always. In supermarket car parks

I      go in forwards, then it’s easier to put things in the boot.

4     Yes. I’m afraid so - usually on motorways.

5     I know what I’m supposed to do, but in an emergency I might panic and forget.

6     We don’t have much snow or ice in the south of England, so I don’t make preparations for bad weather. 

8     Test yourself. Look at the glossary words and cover the meanings. What are the meanings?