Question 1
(Please note: The following questions are part of a cloze test. They are interrelated, meaning that the information provided in each question is connected to the others.)
Doug: I just saw a sign that said "Entering New York." We must have _____ somewhere.
Take a wrong turn means to go the wrong way by turning onto the wrong road. Doug sees a sign for New York, so they are lost. After must have we need a past participle: taken.
Question 2
Lynn: Oh no! You told me you knew these roads _____.
To know something like the back of your hand means to know it very well. Lynn is surprised they are lost because Doug said he knew the roads perfectly.
Question 3
Doug: I thought I did.
Lynn: I'm getting hungry anyway. Let's stop somewhere to _____, and we can ask for directions.
Grab a bite means to get something quick to eat. The clue is I'm getting hungry. Not doze off, which means to fall asleep.
Question 4
Doug: Yeah, I'd better get some coffee so I don't _____. We haven't _____ in a few hours.
Doze off means to fall asleep without wanting to. Doug wants coffee to stay awake while driving.
Question 5
Doug: Yeah, I'd better get some coffee so I don't _____. We haven't _____ in a few hours.
Make a pit stop means to stop for a short break on a trip, for example to get food, fuel or use the bathroom. After haven't we need the past participle made. Not grab a bite, because the form is wrong after haven't.
Question 6
Lynn: Let's _____ at the next exit and look for a restaurant.
Turn off here means to leave the main road, for example at an exit. Let's turn off at the next exit = let's leave the highway there.
Question 7
Doug: I can't believe we're going the wrong way. I thought we were _____. Now we're going to be late.
Make good time means to travel quickly and be on schedule. Doug thought they were fast, but now they will be late. After were we need the -ing form: making.
Question 8
Lynn: Hey, slow down! We don't want to miss the exit.
Doug: Please don't be a _____.
A backseat driver is a passenger who keeps telling the driver what to do. Lynn tells Doug to slow down, so he calls her a backseat driver. The article a shows that a noun is needed here.
Question 9
Lynn: Sorry, sometimes _____, but I'll try to _____ in the future!
I can't help myself means I can't stop myself from doing something. Lynn is saying she sometimes can't stop giving driving advice.
Question 10
Lynn: Sorry, sometimes _____, but I'll try to _____ in the future!
Bite my tongue means to stop yourself from saying something. Lynn promises to stay quiet and not give advice in the future. After try to we need the base form of the verb.
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Free worksheets for class or home
LESSON 20 – Traveling by Car
TRAVELING BY CAR
Sara and Nick are taking a car trip. Nick has taken a wrong turn, and now they need to stop and ask for directions.
Sara: Do you think we can make it to Joe and Mary’s by 7?
Nick: I hope so. It’s only 5 o’clock now and we’ve only got about 120 miles left to go. We’re making good time.
Sara: Yes, but we still need to make a pit stop. Don’t you want to stop somewhere and grab a bite?
Nick: I guess so. Let’s look for a place we can turn off.
Sara: I just saw a sign that said Route 584 North. Aren’t we supposed to be on 80 East!
Nick: Yes. We must’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere.
Sara: I thought you said you knew these roads like the back of your hand. Did you doze off or what?
Nick: We’d better stop at a gas station and ask for directions.
(at the gas station)
Sara: Hi, we’re lost. Can you tell me the quickest way to get on 80 East?
Clerk: Hang a left out of the gas station. Hop on 35 South. Take it about 10 miles and you’ll see a sign for 80 East.
Sara: Thanks a lot.
(back in the car)
Nick: Did you get the directions?
Sara: Yes. Left out of here, then 35 South to 80 East.
Nick: Got it.
Sara: Careful! You almost hit a piece of tire in the road.
Nick: Please don’t be a backseat driver!
Sara: I try to bite my tongue, but sometimes I can’t help myself.
Language Lens: Phrases with “so”
To give a positive reply, use “so” instead of “yes” after: afraid, believe, guess, hope, suppose, and think.
|
Say |
Do NOT Say |
|
I’m afraid so |
I’m afraid yes |
|
I believe so |
I believe yes |
|
I guess so |
I guess yes |
|
I hope so |
I hope yes |
|
I think so |
I think yes |
|
I suppose so |
I suppose yes |
“I’m afraid so” means “unfortunately, yes.”
Say “I guess so” or “I suppose so” to mean you are not too happy about doing something.
Examples:
◼ “Did your team lose?” – “I’m afraid so.”
◼ “Do we have next Monday off?” – “I believe so.”
◼ “Should we invite Brad to the party?” – “I guess so.”
◼ “Don’t you think we’ll have good weather?” – “I hope so.”
◼ “Will it snow tonight?” – “I think so.”
◼ “Can I borrow the car on Friday night?” – “I suppose so.”
IDIOMS
- backseat driver
→ a passenger who offers unwanted driving advice
Example: “You’re driving too close to the car in front ofus.” – “Don’t be a backseat driver!”
- (to) bite one’s tongue
→ to not say what one is really thinking; to resist saying something one wants to say
Example: Mary doesn’t like her husband’s snacking habits, but she tries to bite her tongue.
- (to) doze off
→ to fall asleep
Example: Matt stayed up so late doing his homework, he ended up dozing off in class.
- got it
→ I understand; do you understand
Example 1: “Take a right at the light and go three blocks. The restaurant will be on your right.” – “Got it.”
Example 2: “You can borrow my car, but bring it back by 9. Got it?” “Got it.”
- (to) grab a bite
→ to get something quick to eat
Example: Let’s meet at 7 o’clock and grab a bite before the concert.
- (to) hang a left / a right
→ to turn left / right
Example: Hang a right at the next stoplight and you’ll see the Whole Foods on your right.
- (to) hop on
→ to get on a road
Example: If you’re going downtown, hop on the highway. It’s the fastest way.
- (to) know something like the back of one’s hand
→ to know very well (said most often about streets or places)
Example: We don’t need to bring a map with us. I know Boston like the back of my hand.
- (to) make a pit stop
→ to make a quick stop, usually to use the bathroom or to get something to eat
Example: “Would you mind making a pit stop? After drinking so much coffee, I need to use the bathroom.”
- (to) make good time
→ to travel efficiently; to get somewhere in less time than expected
Example: It’s noon and we’re already in Pennsylvania? We’re making good time!
- (to) take a wrong turn
→ to turn where one shouldn’t have
Example: We were headed to Manhattan, but we took a wrong turn and ended up in Brooklyn.
- (to) turn off
→ to exit the highway
Example: I think we’re going the wrong way. Turn off here and we’ll check the map.
- I can’t help myself
→ I can’t stop myself; I can’t resist
Example: “Stop telling me how to drive!” -“Sorry, I can’t help myself.”