5. Vocabulary Exercises
A. Fill in the gaps with one of the words given below and read the short text about London traffic.
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comfortable decks horses models omnibuses
In London one can see many buses, cars and taxes in the streets. The English (1) ____________ are often called double-deckers, because they are very high and have seats on the upper and lower (2) ______________. The London buses first came into the streets in 1829. At first they were horse-drawn omnibuses, with three (3) ______________. They say they were imported from Paris. The double-deckers of today are speedy and (4) _______________, but they seem to be very clumsy moving slowly through the endless line of taxis and cars of all sizes and (5) ____________. Still they manage to maneuver very well without running into one another.
B. There are many specialized words connected with roads and transport. Read the clues in a box in C. ROAD SIGNS and cross out the correct word or words on the road each time.
On the Road
A. WHAT IS IT? Example:
1. It’s under your right foot. (brake) _____
2. A problem when it’s flat. _____________
3. Part of a car also worn on the foot. _____________
4. Something horrible to find on your windscreen. _____________
5. Where you carry a bike on a car. _____________
6. The fifth tyre. _____________
7. Part of a car also found on the head of a rhinoceros. _____________
B. DOUBLES
Find the second part of the following words in the box in C:
8. traffic _____________ 12. zebra _____________
9 . windscreen _____________ 13. dual _____________
10. number _____________ 14. head _____________
11. steering _____________ 15. exhaust _____________
C
.
ROAD SIGNS
Identify these road signs:
So now you should be left with the two words. If you are correct you’ll see the name of a little book that’s a bestseller! The ______________________________________
C. Sort the words below into two lists, one for types of vehicles, the other describing where you might see them. One of each has been done for you.
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ambulance
caravan
junction
ring road
bicycle
car park
lane
road
bridge
coach
lorry
roundabout
bus
crossroads
motorcycle
truck
by-pass
fire engine
motorway
van
Vehicles where you see them
ambulance bridge .
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
_______________ ______________________
Can you think of any more words to add to the lists?
Complete each sentence using the best word from the lists.
1. I usually leave my car in the town centre ________________.
2. A _________________ fare is much cheaper than a train fare.
3. Our _________________ has beds for four people.
4. Meet me at the _________________ of Broad Street and North Way.
5. Will the _________________ get her to hospital in time?
6. The next _________________ over the river is twenty miles away.
D. Choose the proper words to complete the following sentences:
advertisement multi-storey pillar box
bridge car park public
building site newspaper conveniences
bus stop vendor road sign
café park subway
department parking meter taxi rank
store pavement telephone box
kerb pedestrian tower block
lamp-post crossing traffic island
litter bin pedestrian traffic lights
precinct
1. The new ____________ for the latest breakfast cereal could be seen all over the
town.
2. The car had to stop because the ____________were red.
3. Have you got any coins for the ____________ ? Enough to stay here for an hour,
anyway.
4. Don’t throw your rubbish on the floor! Use the _____________.
5. Harrods is a very famous _____________ in London.
6. The safest way to cross a busy road is to use the _____________.
7. Is there a ____________ around here somewhere? I need to post this letter.
8. If you need to go to the toilet, the ____________ are outside the market.
9. He got stuck on the ____________ half-way across the road.
10. In some towns, pedestrians can use a _____________ to go under a busy road.