Getting Ready
Check (✓) your own answers to the questions below and compare them with a partner.
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How often do you use taxis? every day about once or twice a week not very often other: ______. |
When do you usually use taxis? when I am in a hurry when there isn’t any other way to get somewhere when it is raining other: ______. |
How is the taxi service in your city?
| excellent | very good | okay | poor |
Show answers
your own answers
Listening 1
People are talking about transportation. Listen and number the pictures.
Show answers & Transcript
a 2 b 1 c 4 d 5 e 6 F 3
Transcript
1)
A: Are all your subways this nice?
B: Yeah. The city replaced all the subway cars last year.
A: Wow!
2)
A: How much is the fare?
B: It’s $2.50. Just put your money in the box right there.
A: Oh, do you have change?
B: No, you need the exact change.
3)
A: Are you free?
B: Sure. Hop in. Where to?
A: The Central Hotel. Do you know where that is?
B: Yeah. It’s not far from here. About a 10-minute ride.
A: Okay.
4)
A: One ticket to Chicago, please.
B: Yeah. Okay. That’s $120.
A: Does this one have a dining car?
B: Yeah, there’s a dining car and a snack bar. Here’s your change.
A: Thanks.
5)
A: What time is the next shuttle flight to Boston?
B: It leaves in 30 minutes.
A: Is it too late to get a ticket?
B: No, you still have plenty of time to make it.
A: Great. And how long is the flight?
B: It’s about 45 minutes.
6)
A: Is that our ferry?
B: I think so.
A: Wow! I didn’t think it would be so big.
B: Neither did I.
Listening 2
Task 1
Four hotel guests are calling for a taxi. Are these statements true or false? Listen and check (✓) the correct answer.
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True |
False |
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1) The caller’s flight leaves in four hours. |
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2) The caller wants to go to another hotel. |
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3) The caller needs to catch a train. |
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4) The caller’s friend is going to have a baby soon. |
Show answers
1) False 2) False 3) True 4) False
Task 2
Listen again. How much will each ride cost? Circle the correct answer.
1) a $14
b $40
2) a $12
b $20
3) a $15
b $50
4) a $18
b $80
Show answers & Transcript
1) b 2) b 3) a 4) a
Transcript
1)
A: City Cabs.
B: Yes, I’d like a taxi to the airport, please. I’m at 421 Evergreen Street.
A: Certainly. For how many passengers?
B: Just one. About how much will it cost?
A: It’s $40. Your taxi number is 6889.
B: 6889. Thanks. And will the taxi be here soon? I’m in a hurry because flight leaves in two hours.
A: It’ll be in front of your hotel in five minutes.
B: Thanks.
2)
A: City Cabs.
B: Could I have a taxi to the National Museum, please?
A: Sure. How many passengers are there?
B: There are three of us.
A: Okay.
B: And about how much is it to the museum from hotel – the American Inn, on Fourth Street?
A: It’ll be about $20.
B: That’s fine. And will it take long to get there? I’m in a hurry because the museum closes in two hours.
A: No problem. We’ll have you there by 3:30.
B: Great.
A: And let me give you your taxi number: 3556
B: Thanks.
3)
A: City Cabs.
B: Yes. I need a taxi to the train station, please. I’m at 817 Iowa Avenue.
A: For how many passengers?
B: Just me.
A: Sure. And do you want it right now?
B: Yes. As soon as you can, please. I’m in a hurry. I have to catch a train.
A: What time is your train?
B: It’s at three o’clock.
A: No problem.
B: Oh, And how much is it from here by taxi?
A: It will be about $15.
B: Thanks.
A: And your taxi number will be 49178.
4)
A: City Cabs.
B: Yes I’d like a cab to the hospital, please.
A: Sure. Do you have an emergency?
B: No, but I need to get there in a hurry. friend has just had a baby. I want to take her some flowers.
A: It won’t take long to get there. Is there just one passenger?
B: Yes, that’s right. Oh, and I’m at 120 First Avenue.
A: Okay. There’ll be a taxi at your door in three minutes. The taxi number is 5399.
B: Thanks. And about how much is the fare?
A: It’ll cost you about $18.
B: Thanks.
Listening 3
Task 1
Visitors are talking about taxis. Listen and check (✓) their opinions about taxi service.
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Good |
Okay |
Not good |
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1) |
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2) |
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3) |
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4) |
Show answers
1) Not good 2) Good 3) Okay 4) Okay
Task 2
Listen again. Circle the correct answer.
1) The thing she hates the most is that the ________
a taxis aren’t air-conditioned
b drivers drive too fast
c drivers are rude
2) The thing he likes the most is ________
a the prices
b that the taxis are clean
c the drivers
3) The thing he hates the most is that the ________
a taxis are too expensive
b drivers don’t speak English very well
c taxis are not very safe
4) The thing she likes the most is that the ________
a taxis are comfortable
b drivers speak English well
c drivers take credit cards
Show answers & Transcript
1) a 2) c 3) b 4) c
Transcript
1)
I hate using taxis here. The drivers drive too fast and really dangerously. And they’re often rude. The cars are mostly in pretty poor condition. But what I hate the most is that they aren’t air-conditioned. It’s so hot here. They really need air-conditioned taxis. By the time I arrive somewhere, I feel really hot and uncomfortable.
2)
I’ve taken quite a few taxi rides recently. I’ve never had any big problems using taxis here. They’re usually clean, and the cars are pretty new. The prices are good, too. The thing I like most, though, is the drivers. They drive very carefully, and I think that’s very important.
3)
I find that taxis here are okay. They’re pretty comfortable. Most of the cars they use are new, and they keep them pretty clean. They’re a little expensive, though. I paid $75 to come from the airport. That’s too expensive. I guess the thing I hate the most, though, is that the drivers don’t speak English very well. It’s very difficult to explain to them where you want to go.
4)
The taxis here are okay, I guess. The drivers take credit cards. That’s the thing I like most about them. It’s really convenient. But the taxis are pretty old, so they’re not very comfortable. Half of them don’t have seat belts or air conditioning.
Conversation Corner: Asking about transportation
Task 1
Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words.
A: Where do you get the bus __________ ____?
B: I don’t take the bus.
A: Oh. How do you ____________?
B: I take the subway.
A: How often do you __________ ____?
B: I take it every day.
A: How much ____________?
B: It costs about $50 a month.
Task 2
Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to use the correct intonation.
Show answers & Transcript
A: Where do you get the bus toschool ?
B: I don’t take the bus.
A: Oh. How do you get to school ?
B: I take the subway.
A: How often do you takeit ?
B: I take it every day.
A: How much does it cost ?
B: It costs about $50 a month.