N A M E : ________________________________ DATE: ____________________

READING
How to Tavel by Bus!
Vocabulary Preview

• Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1. public
transportation A. a small piece of practical advice
2. motorized B. the place to which somebody / something is going
3. tip C. a ticket used for bus travel to many places
4. departure D. having an engine
5. destination E. a system of buses, trains, etc. used for travel
6. bus pass F. money you pay to travel
7. board G. to get on a ship, aircraft, train, or bus
8. fare H. the act of leaving a place

• Use the above words to complete the sentences. Change the forms of verbs and
nouns when necessary.

1. How much is the bus ________________ in your city? Is it expensive?

2. I need some advice about finding a job. What are some good ________________?

3. Our city needs better _________________. It needs more buses.

4. We need to hurry! Our plane _________________ time is at 3:45.

5. How long ago was the first _________________ car invented?

6. Bus fare is cheaper when you have a student _________________.

7. Where are you traveling to? What’s your _________________?

8. Should we use the front door or the back door to _________________ the bus?

• Choose any two of the above words and write your own sentences.

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________
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N A M E : _____________________ DATE: ____________________

READING
Topic: Bus / Transportation

How to
Travel by Bus!
Public transportation1 certainly has changed since the very first motorized2 bus
appeared in 1895. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that millions of people
around the world continue to use buses daily to get to where they want to go. If you
are thinking of taking a bus, here are a few useful tips3 that can help make your trip a
successful one.
Before you get on a bus
First, decide exactly when and where you want to get on a bus and, of course,
where you want to get off the bus. The easiest way to do this is to go online and
search the name of your town or city – followed by the words “bus map.” After you
fill in the departure4 and destination5 information, the website will tell you the
number of the bus that will take you to where you want to go, and the time that bus
will depart and arrive. Sometimes, if you are very lucky, you might find a bus
shelter that has a bus schedule. If you want to pay for your trip with a bus ticket, or
a bus pass6, you will need to buy one before you get on the bus. They are usually
sold at convenience stores. Make sure that you arrive at the bus stop at least a
few minutes early so you don’t miss it. And, finally, it might be a good idea to
signal to the bus driver that you want the bus to stop. You can do this by waving
your hand.
While you are on a bus
Make sure that you first let passengers get off the bus before you get on. You
should know that many buses only allow passengers to board7 through the front
doors, while the back doors are used for passengers who are getting off. After you
board, you can either put the exact fare8 into the fare box or show your pass to the
driver. You may need to ask the driver for a transfer ticket if you need to transfer to
(change to) another bus. You may also need to stand if there are no seats
available. Remember that seats closer to the front of the bus are for older people
and people with special needs.
When you get off a bus
Press a button (or pull a line) before you get to your stop – to let the driver know
you want to get off the bus. It should make a sound. Be very careful when you get
off – make sure there are no cars or other objects in your way.
What other useful bus tips can you think of?
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N A M E : ________________________________ DATE: ____________________

READING
Grammar Practice

How to Travel by Bus!

Before you get on a bus
First, decide (1)_____ when and where you want to get on a bus and, of
course, where you want to (2)_____ the bus. The easiest way to do this is to go
online and search the name of (3)_____ town or city – followed by the words
“bus map.” After you (4)_____ the departure and destination information, the
website (5)_____ you the number of the bus that will take you to where you
want to go, and the time that bus will (6)_____ and arrive. Sometimes, if you
are very (7)_____, you might find a bus shelter that (8)_____ a bus schedule. If
you want to pay for your trip with a bus ticket, or a bus pass, you will need to
buy one before you get (9)_____ the bus. They are usually (10)_____ at
convenience stores. Make sure that you arrive at the bus stop at least a few
minutes early (11)_____ you don’t miss it. And, finally, it might be a good idea
to signal to the bus driver that you want the bus to stop. You (12)_____ do this
by waving your hand.

1. 5. 9.
(A) exacts (A) will tell (A) with
(B) exactly (B) going to tell (B) on
(C) exact (C) is tell (C) at

2. 6. 10.
(A) get down (A) departs (A) sold
(B) get off (B) departure (B) selling
(C) get out (C) depart (C) sell

3. 7. 11.
(A) yours (A) luck (A) so
(B) you’re (B) lucky (B) because
(C) your (C) good luck (C) but

4. 8. 12.
(A) fill in (A) had (A) were
(B) fill (B) have (B) are
(C) filled (C) has (C) can

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N A M E : ________________________________ DATE: ____________________

READING
How to Travel by Bus!
How Much Do You Understand?

• Complete the statements.

1. Many people around the A. find out local bus information.

2. You can go online to B. the bus before you board.
3. You can buy a bus ticket or C. get off a bus.
4. You should arrive at a bus stop D. a few minutes early.
5. Let passengers get off E. world take the bus every day.
6. Be careful when you F. a bus pass before you get on a bus.

Discuss

• Discuss the following questions with your classmates.

1. How often do you take a bus? Do you like taking a bus? Why? / Why not?
2. Has anything funny or strange happened while you were on a bus?
3. How might taking a bus in the USA be different from other countries?
4. The article offers several practical tips for taking a bus. What three other
pieces of advice can you think of?

Write

• The article offers several practical tips for taking a bus. What three other pieces
of advice can you think of?

1. _____________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________

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N A M E : ________________________________ DATE: ____________________

WRITING
How to Travel by Bus!
• Imagine that you took a bus for the very first time … and that many things went
wrong! Write a funny short story about what happened. Use past tense grammar
in your story.

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Reading Lesson Topics: Bus / Transportation

Title “How to Travel by Bus!”

Grammar Focus Mixed: Imperative, Present Simple
Vocabulary 443 words
A1 words-76% / A2 words-16% / B1 words-5% / B2 words-1% /
C1 words-0% / C2 words-0% / Off List-1%
AWL Words in this text: available, finally, schedule, transfer, transportation
Vocabulary Analysis by: vocabkitchen.com
Level Intermediate to Upper Intermediate (CEFR B1 – B2)

ANSWER KEY Page 1 ANSWER KEY Page 3

• Vocabulary • Grammar
1. E 1. fare 1. B 7. B
2. D 2. tips 2. B 8. C
3. A 3. public transportation 3. C 9. B
4. H 4. departure 4. A 10. A
5. B 5. motorized 5. A 11. A
6. C 6. bus pass 6. C 12. C
7. G 7. destination
8. F 8. bus
Watch the
matching
video with
ANSWER KEY Page 4 subtitles!

• How Much Do You Understand?

1. Many people around the world (E) take the bus every day.
2. You can go online to (A) find out local bus information.
3. You can buy a bus ticket or (F) a bus pass before you get on a bus.
4. You should arrive at a bus stop (D) a few minutes early.
5. Let passengers get off the bus (B) before you board.
6. Be careful when you (C) get off a bus.

Article Sources
• Top 10 Facts about the Bus!
https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/top-10-facts/top-10-facts-about-busses/

• How to Ride a Public Transportation Bus

https://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Public-Transportation-Bus

• Bus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus

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