Real-Life English Unit 21: Learning Traffic Issues and Complaints in Conversations

Learning English is not just about mastering grammar and vocabulary, but being able to use it naturally in real-life situations. However, the sentences in textbooks are often too formal and differ greatly from expressions used in actual life. To speak authentic and natural English, it's essential to get exposed to conversations in real contexts. Here, we present common English expressions used in daily life across various situations, such as social interactions, work, and travel, to help you move beyond textbook English and learn the phrases foreigners actually use. Below is the content of this issue’s Real-Life English Unit 21: Transportation Problems and Complaints. Keep practicing to make your English closer to real life! Unit 21 Transportation Problems and Complaints Part One: Expressions 1. There's another traffic jam on the highway. 2. I wonder if there was an accident. 3. Let’s put on some music. 4. Should we get out and help? 5. It’s pretty bad. 6. It looks like we’re in for a long drive. 7. That sunset is beautiful. 8. I never knew that. 9. It’s your turn to drive next week. 10. Give me a call if you can’t make it for some reason. Part Two: Dialogues 1. Traffic Jam A: Oh, damn. There’s another traffic jam on the highway. B: How can there be a traffic jam on a 16-lane highway every day? A: There are just too many people, and too many cars. B: I wonder if there was an accident. A: No, they just said too many people were trying to get off at the Capitol exits. B: Well, let’s put on some music. We’re going to be stuck in this for a while. A: All right, what do you want to listen to? B: How about some Beatles? A: Yeah, all right. 2. Car Crash A: That looks like a bad accident. B: Yeah, should we get out and help? A: No, there’s a police car behind us. He’ll stop. B: Looks like one guy lost control in all this rain, and the other one hit him. A: Yeah. It’s pretty bad, that car looks like a coke can. B: These accidents always cause traffic jams on rainy days. A: Yeah, it looks like we’re in for a long drive. B: Ah, well. Put on the news. I got up late and missed it. A: All right. 3. Pollution A: Man, that sunset is beautiful. I’ve never seen one so red. B: Yeah, it’s pretty nice, but it’s so red because of air pollution. A: Really? B: Yeah, the smog from all these cars gets into the air and turns the sunlight red. A: I never knew that. B: Yeah, more people need to take public transportation or carpool. A: Well, we’ve already done our part. B: Yeah, it’s your turn to drive next week. Don’t be late picking me up. A: Don’t worry. I’m getting more sleep these days. The baby’s finally growing up a little more. B: Well, give me a call if you can’t make it for some reason. A: Sure. Part Three: Substitution Drills 1. A: There’s another (traffic jam/ back-up/ accident) on the highway. B: How can there be? 2. A: (I wonder if/ Maybe/ Perhaps) there was an accident. B: No. 3. A: Let’s put on (some music/ the news/ a traffic report). B: O.K. 4. A: Should we get out and (help/ offer assistance/ help them out)? B: No. There’s a police car behind us. 5. A: It’s (pretty bad/ awful/ horrible). B: Yeah. 6. A: It looks like we’re in for a long (drive/ trip/ journey). B: Ah, well, put on the news. 7. A: That sunset is (beautiful/ delightful/ gorgeous). B: Yeah, it’s pretty nice. 8. A: I (never knew/ didn’t know/ would have never guessed) that. B: Yeah, well, it’s true. 9. A: It’s your turn to (drive/ pick me up/ take me to work) next week. B: I know. 10. A: Give me a call if (you can’t make it/ you’re going to be late) for some reason. B: I will. Part Four: Monologue Modern transportation revolves around cars. Americans drive everywhere, to the store, to work, to school. Everybody wants their own car. This creates a tremendous amount of traffic, which leads to many traffic accidents. In addition, all those cars release pollution into the air. Efforts have been made to get people to use public transportation and to carpool, which means sharing rides with other people. Many people believe what we really need is a cleaner car. Companies are currently working on designs that would run on water and electricity. People seem likely to buy these cars because of the money they would save on gasoline. They would help the environment a great deal because they only release water into the air. The first sales of these cars are expected in California around 2005. Part Five: Vocabulary and Phrases --traffic jam --highway --accident --stuck --get out --lose control --sunset --pollution --smog --carpool