ESLPodcast 24 - Driving on the Freeways

Question 1

Irritating; causing stress.

Answer 1

Driving in a big city like L.A. can be so stressful. It sometimes feels like I’m doing battle just to get to the grocery store, much less across town.

I have always argued that change becomes stressful and overwhelming only when you’ve lost any sense of the constancy of your life. You need firm ground to stand on. From there, you can deal with that change. –Richard Nelson Bolles

Question 2

To, toward or from the far side of (something that lies between two points of interest).

Answer 2

Driving in a big city like L.A. can be so stressful. It sometimes feels like I’m doing battle just to get to the grocery store, much less ….. town.

We rowed across the river.
Fortunately, there was a bridge across the river.
He came across the street to meet me.

Question 3

In control of a vehicle; driving.

Answer 3

What is it about …… that brings out people’s aggressive side? The most mild-mannered mother of three turns into a race car driver when she gets on the road.

If you’ve had too much to drink, don’t get behind the wheel.
Would you really want to be behind the wheel of a fighter jet?

Question 4

calm, gentle, moderate and unexcitable in attitude

Answer 4

What is it about getting behind the wheel that brings out people’s aggressive side? The most mild-mannered mother of three turns into a race car driver when she gets on the road.

mild-mannered

Question 5

A traffic control signal, traditionally consisting of three lights, colored green, yellow/amber and red, meaning proceed, prepare to stop and stop, respectively.

Answer 5

n L.A., people rely on the freeway to commute to their jobs or just to get around town. I think driving on the freeway has it’s good and bad. On the one hand, there are no ….. and the speed limit is over 55 miles per hour so you can get somewhere in a flash.

The two-word form stop light was initially more common, but its usage plateaued around 1950, whereas usage of stoplight increased continually since that year, overtaking stop light around 1970.

Question 6

he maximum speed permitted by law for vehicles on the road.

Answer 6

n L.A., people rely on the freeway to commute to their jobs or just to get around town. I think driving on the freeway has it’s good and bad. On the one hand, there are no stoplights and the …… is over 55 miles per hour so you can get somewhere in a flash.

speed limit

Question 7

Very quickly

Answer 7

n L.A., people rely on the freeway to commute to their jobs or just to get around town. I think driving on the freeway has it’s good and bad. On the one hand, there are no stoplights and the speed limit is over 55 miles per hour so you can get somewhere …….

It happened so fast that it was all over in a flash

Question 8

A disadvantage; something that detracts or takes away.

Answer 8

In L.A., people rely on the freeway to commute to their jobs or just to get around town. I think driving on the freeway has it’s good and bad. On the one hand, there are no stoplights and the speed limit is over 55 miles per hour so you can get somewhere in a flash. But, on the other hand, there are ….., too.

Poor fuel economy is a common drawback among larger vehicles.

Question 9

To speed something up.

Answer 9

But, on the other hand, there are drawbacks, too. People like to……. and cut off other cars to get ahead.

He gunned the engine.

Question 10

To swerve in front of (another car).

Answer 10

But, on the other hand, there are drawbacks, too. People like to gun their engines and …….. other cars to get ahead.

Question 11

самая быстрая полоса на дороге

Answer 11

The other day, I saw a guy in a Porsche get into the ……, race ahead of the Honda that was in front of him, and cut that person off. Then, the guy in the Honda tries to catch up to the Porsche. They’re both zipping in and out of traffic, almost causing an accident. They were speeding and changing lanes without looking or signalling. I was sure they were going to cause a big pile
up.

passing lane

Question 12

To move rapidly (in a specified direction or to a specified place) with a high-pitched sound.

Answer 12

The other day, I saw a guy in a Porsche get into the passing lane, race ahead of the Honda that was in front of him, and cut that person off. Then, the guy in the Honda tries to catch up to the Porsche. They’re both …..in and out of traffic, almost causing an accident. They were speeding and changing lanes without looking or signalling. I was sure they were going to cause a big pile up.

The bullet zipped through the air.

Question 13

To exceed the speed limit.

Answer 13

The other day, I saw a guy in a Porsche get into the passing lane, race ahead of the Honda that was in front of him, and cut that person off. Then, the guy in the Honda tries to catch up to the Porsche. They’re both zipping in and out of traffic, almost causing an accident. They were ……. and changing lanes without looking or signalling. I was sure they were going to cause a big pile up.

Why do you speed when the road is so icy?

Question 14

сигналить

Answer 14

The other day, I saw a guy in a Porsche get into the passing lane, race ahead of the Honda that was in front of him, and cut that person off. Then, the guy in the Honda tries to catch up to the Porsche. They’re both zipping in and out of traffic, almost causing an accident. They were speeding and changing lanes without looking or …… I was sure they were going to cause a big pile up.

signalling

Question 15

менять полосу движения

Answer 15

The other day, I saw a guy in a Porsche get into the passing lane, race ahead of the Honda that was in front of him, and cut that person off. Then, the guy in the Honda tries to catch up to the Porsche. They’re both zipping in and out of traffic, almost causing an accident. They were speeding and …… without looking or signalling. I was sure they were going to cause a big pile up.

change lanes

Question 16

A traffic accident or collision involving multiple vehicles.

Answer 16

The other day, I saw a guy in a Porsche get into the passing lane, race ahead of the Honda that was in front of him, and cut that person off. Then, the guy in the Honda tries to catch up to the Porsche. They’re both zipping in and out of traffic, almost causing an accident. They were speeding and changing lanes without looking or signalling. I was sure they were going to cause a big……

Traffic was backed up for miles due to a twelve-car pile-up on the freeway earlier today.

Question 17

A street that is not a freeway and has at-grade intersections with other surface streets.

Answer 17

As an alternate to the freeway, I sometimes take …….. Of course, surface streets have their drawbacks, too. If you have a long commute to work or school, it can take you ages to get there. There are stop signs, stop lights, and crosswalks to deal with. And, people sometimes tailgate if they think you’re not going fast enough. Now that I think about it, there’s sometimes even more congestion on surface streets than on the freeways!

surface streets

Question 18

red sign on the side of a street instructing vehicles to stop.

Answer 18

As an alternate to the freeway, I sometimes take surface streets. Of course, surface streets have their drawbacks, too. If you have a long commute to work or school, it can take you ages to get there. There are ……, stop lights, and crosswalks to deal with. And, people sometimes tailgate if they think you’re not going fast enough. Now that I think about it, there’s sometimes even more congestion on surface streets than on the freeways!

stop sign

Question 19

Place where pedestrians can cross a street

Answer 19

As an alternate to the freeway, I sometimes take surface streets. Of course, surface streets have their drawbacks, too. If you have a long commute to work or school, it can take you ages to get there. There are stop signs, stop lights, and …… to deal with. And, people sometimes tailgate if they think you’re not going fast enough. Now that I think about it, there’s sometimes even more congestion on surface streets than on the freeways!

crosswalk

Question 20

To drive dangerously close behind another vehicle.

Answer 20

As an alternate to the freeway, I sometimes take surface streets. Of course, surface streets have their drawbacks, too. If you have a long commute to work or school, it can take you ages to get there. There are stop signs, stop lights, and crosswalks to deal with. And, people sometimes ….. if they think you’re not going fast enough. Now that I think about it, there’s sometimes even more congestion on surface streets than on the freeways!

That idiot has been tailgating me for the last five minutes.

Question 21

An excess of traffic.

Answer 21

As an alternate to the freeway, I sometimes take surface streets. Of course, surface streets have their drawbacks, too. If you have a long commute to work or school, it can take you ages to get there. There are stop signs, stop lights, and crosswalks to deal with. And, people sometimes tailgate if they think you’re not going fast enough. Now that I think about it, there’s sometimes even more ……. on surface streets than on the freeways!

congestion

Question 22

A roller skate with all wheels aligned in a single row along the sole, resembling an ice skate; inline skate.

Answer 22

There’s no getting around it living in L.A. We need better public transportation and more people to walk, bike, or …… to work. But as the famous song goes, “Nobody Walks in L.A.” [by the Missing Persons]

rollerbalde