Speak English Around Town Lesson 18 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test
LESSON 18 – Renting a Car
RENTING A CAR
Peter talks to Sam at the rental car counter about renting a car. Sam tells Peter about a special offer they’re having and helps him understand how the rental fees work.
Sam: Hello. How can I help you?
Peter: I’d like to rent a car for the weekend.
Sam: What size did you have in mind?
Peter: I’d like your cheapest car, so I guess that would be a compact.
Sam: We’re running a special right now. You can rent a mid-size car for the same price as a compact. It’s $55 a day inclusive of tax, plus insurance. It’s such a great deal!
Peter: Okay, I’ll take it.
Sam: All right. Let me just print out the agreement … Here you go, read that over, please.
Peter: I can’t make heads or tails of this information. Do I really need insurance? I already have a good auto insurance plan.
Sam: Then you’ re probably all set. I do recommend the collision damage waiver.* It’s only $10 a day. That way, if you bang up the car, you won’t owe us anything.
Peter: I’m sure I won’t have an accident, but I’ll take it just in case.
Sam: Very good. If you don’t return the car with a full tank of gas, we charge $9 a gallon to refill it.
Peter: Nine bucks a gallon? That’s so expensive. It’s highway robbery!
Sam: Be sure to return the car by 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Peter: Five? That’s going to be cutting it close. The conference I’m attending ends at 4:30. What if I get it here at 6 on Sunday?
Sam: It’ll be another $65.
Peter: There’s no grace period?
Sam: There’s a 29 minute grace period. So you could return the car at 5 :29 and still be okay.
Peter: Okay, thanks. You’ve been such a big help.
Sam: You’re very welcome. Here’s the key. The car is in space A4. You’re good to go.
* collision damage waiver – with this optional coverage, the car rental company cannot hold the customer responsible for any damage to the car
Language Lens: So and Such
So and such are both used to express extremes. They are often used in exclamations (and they are so useful!).
So
=> Use “so” before an adjective (without a noun)
=> Use “so” before an adverb
Examples with so:
◼ Andy is so good at tennis! NOT: Andy is so good tennis player!
◼ Angela’s baby is so cute!
◼ Jay’s new painting is so beautiful. He’s so talented!
◼ Your house is so beautiful.
◼ That was so kind of you!
◼ John works so hard.
◼ Kristen looked so lovely in her wedding dress.
Such
=> Use “such” before an adjective + noun
=> Use “such” before a noun
Note that when the noun is singular, “a” or “an” comes after “such.”
Examples with such:
◼ That was such a scary movie! NOT: That was so scary movie!
◼ That’s such a cute baby!
◼ You are such a good friend.
◼ Phil is such a hard worker.
◼ You prepared such a delicious meal.
◼ This project is such a headache!
◼ Why do you carry such heavy bags?
IDIOMS
- all set
→ not needing anything else
Example: When the waitress asked if we needed anything else, we told her we were all set.
- (to) bang up
→ (to) damage
Example: Right after Tyler got his driver’s license, he borrowed his mother’s car and banged it up.
- (to) cut it close
→ (to) not leave enough time to get somewhere or to do something
Example: The play starts at 8:00, and you’re planning to leave the house at 7:30? That’s cutting it close.
- good to go
→ ready to go; taken care of; prepared
Example: We’ve got our tents, our flashlights, and our food. We’re good to go!
- grace period
→ a period after a deadline in which additional fees are not charged
Example: My credit card payment is due by the 15th of the month. But there’s a 2-day grace period.
- (to) have in mind
→ to be thinking about as a possibility
Example: “You’re offering me $2,500 for the car? That’s so little!” – “What did you have in mind?”
- highway robbery
→ very overpriced; a fee that is too high
Example: I really wanted a cup of coffee at the airport, but the coffee shop was charging $4 a cup. That’s highway robbery!
- inclusive of
→ including; already included in the amount
Example: The cost of the car repairs is going to be $350, inclusive of parts and labor.
- just in case
→ if something happens; because there is a small chance that (something could happen)
Example: I don’t think it’ll rain today, but you should take your umbrella just in case.
- (to) not be able to make heads or tails of
→ to be unable to interpret
Example: This apartment rental contract is so confusing. I can’t make heads or tails of it.
- (to) read over
→ to review; to take a look at, often with the goal of making edits or making sure everything is okay
Example: I’d appreciate it if you’d read over my resume.
- (to) run a special
→ to offer lower prices on something, for a certain period of time
Example: The clothing store is running a special this week. Buy one shirt and get the second at half price.
