Episode 24

EPISODE 24
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

FINDING YOUR WAY      

„John, how do I get to the nearest train station? (= how do I find the nearest train station?)”
„Go straight on (= continue in this direction) until you come to the big roundabout. Go round the roundabout and take the second exit (= turn into the second street to leave). Then keep going along that road (= stay on the same road). Take the third turning on the left (= turn left into the third street) and you will see a very big building on your right. Go past that building (= don’t stop at that building, go a little bit further) and the train station is just next to it. You can’t miss it (= You can be sure you will see it), it’s on your right.”
„Thanks I’d better go now or I will never catch my train!”

 

More contexts for the new words:

• Which is the way to the nearest train station?
  (= how do I find the nearest train station?)
• Take the second right.
  (= turn right into the second street)

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Complete each gap with one word.

How to get (1) …………………………. the nearest supermarket? It’s really easy. You have to go (2) …………………………. the church, and then go straight (3) …………………………. for 100 meters. Take the second (4) …………………………. on the right, and go (5) ………………………….  that road for 5 minutes. And there’s the supermarket. You can’t miss (6) ………………………….!

 

 

EXERCISE 2

How to get from your home to….

 

1. the nearest train station?
2. the nearest supermarket?
3. your workplace?

ENGLISH IN USE 

 

We have already studied two structures which we use to talk about things we prefer. Now let’s look at the third one:

I’d better go now or I will never catch my train.

If we use ‘I’d better’ (= I had better), we say that we should do something or it is a good idea to do it. Again, we use the basic form of the verb after ‘better.’ Look at two more examples below:

I’d better visit her tonight.
I’d better read this text again.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ Do you ever get lost in Warsaw?

B/ No, never. I’ve lived here all my life and I know it LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND.

 

If you know a place like the back of your hand, you know it very well.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

1. If you LOOK something UP, you try to find a piece of information by looking in a book or on a computer.

 

I’m not sure how to get to the station, but let me look it up for you.

If you don’t know what the word means, look it up in a dictionary.

 

2. If you WORK something OUT, you understand something or find the answer to something by thinking about it.

 

John’s directions how to get to his place were not very clear. I spent hours trying to work them out.

There will be a full investigation to work out what caused the accident.

 

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Rewrite the sentences keeping the same meaning and using the word in CAPITALS.

 

1. I know this office very well.

HAND ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. The user’s manual was very unclear. I couldn’t understand how to operate the machine.

WORK ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. I don’t remember when Shakespeare was born. I’ll check it in the encyclopedia.

LOOK ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

 

NEWS

 

GPS

The Global Positioning System, also known as GPS, is a navigation system based on satellites.  It provides accurate information on your current location, and can also be invaluable when it comes to giving directions. Used in cars, it can guide you to your destination using a screen and voice commands. Thanks to the rapid improvements in technology nowadays, these systems are becoming more and more affordable, and lots of people use them daily. So, next time you’re lost somewhere, don’t ask for directions but use sat nav instead!

 

GLOSSARY

– accurate – detailed

– invaluable – very valuable

– destination – the place where you want to get

– rapid – fast

– affordable – cheap

– sat nav – satellite navigation (= GPS)

 

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