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Survival English # 1
Taking a taxi : In this lesson, we are going to learn what to say when you need to
take a taxi.
EXERCISE 1- LISTEN CAREFULLY
Telephoning for a taxi
(Hold a phone)
Jacob: Hello, I would like a taxi to come to 511 Broadway, please.
Lucy : Where are you going?
Jacob: I am going to 1435 Park Avenue. It is in the city.
Lucy : What is your telephone number?
Jacob: My number is (215) 333-6879.
Lucy : Your taxi will arrive in 20-30 minutes. He will call you when he gets downstairs.
Going to a hotel
Jacob : Taxi!
Driver: Hey pal, where are you heading to?
Jacob : I am going uptown to 135th street at the Grand Plaza Hotel.
Driver: Get in! There is a lot of traffic. Do you want to take the highway? It has a toll
but is faster.
Jacob : How much is the toll?
Driver: $6.50.
Jacob : Okay, that’s fine. Please, hurry. I am in a rush.
Catching a taxi to the airport
Lucy : I would like to go to the airport. How much?
Driver: There is a flat rate fee to the airport of $35.
Lucy : Yes, I do. We have to make one stop before going. Please pick up my friend at 14
Court Street.
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Driver: The extra stop will be an automatic $10 fee.
Lucy : That is too expensive. Never mind, they will take their own taxi. Just take me
straight to the airport, please.
Directions to the taxi
Driver: Hello, are you Mr. Smith who called for a taxi?
Jacob : Yes, I am. I am heading to the Trump Plaza Hotel. Do you know how to get
there?
Driver: Yes sir, I do. I am going to take the FDR Drive then exit 3 to Front Street.
Jacob : I would like to avoid the highways. Please take major streets instead.
Driver: Sure thing. We will be there in a few minutes.
Scheduling a pickup
(Hold a phone)
Jacob : Hello, I want a taxi to pick me up outside of Wal-Mart.
Lucy : What time?
Jacob : I will be ready in 15 minutes.
Lucy : Will you have a lot of bags?
Jacob : Yes I will.
Lucy : We will send a SUV taxi so you can fit everything.
EXERCISE 2 – USEFUL VOCABULARY – Try to figure out the words or phrases
for the following:
Highway : A highway is basically a public main road that connects mainly major towns
or cities.
Toll : A toll charge is a charge payable for permission to use a particular bridge or road.
Flat Rate Fee : Flat rate fee refers to a pricing structure that charges a single fixed fee
for a service, regardless of usage.
Airport : An airport is a complex of runways and buildings for takeoff, landing and
maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers.
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Extra Stop : If a van operator is required to make an extra stop at either origin or
destination, other than the main pickup or delivery points then an extra amount is
charged.
Major Street : Major street is the generic street name of primary retail street of a
village or small towns in many parts of the world.
Pick Up : Picking up is the act or process of pickup.
Rush : Rush is used when there is a sudden quick movement towards something
typically by a number of people.
Suv : Suv is a term that is used for all the sports utility vehicles.
EXERCISE 3 – LISTEN AGAIN AND COMPLETE
CONVERSATION 1 – FILL IN WITH THE NUMBERS YOU HEAR.
Jacob: Hello, I would like a taxi to come to ____________ Broadway, please.
Lucy : Where are you going?
Jacob: I am going to __________________ Park Avenue. It is in the city.
Lucy : What is your telephone number?
Jacob: My number is (215) 333- ___________________ .
Lucy : Your taxi will arrive in ____________________ minutes. He will call you when
he gets downstairs.
CONVERSATION 2 – FILL IN WITH THE WORDS YOU HEAR
Jacob : Taxi!
Driver: Hey pal, where are you ___________________________ to?
Jacob : I am going _________________ to 135th street at the Grand Plaza Hotel.
Driver: Get in! There is a lot of traffic. Do you want to take the _________________? It
has a toll but is faster.
Jacob : How much is the toll?
Driver: $6.50.
Jacob : Okay, that’s fine. Please, _________________ . I am in a _________________.
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CONVERSATION 3 – PUT THE SENTENCES IN THE ORDER YOU HEAR
THEM.
Lucy : That is too expensive. Never mind, they will take their own taxi. Just take me
straight to the airport, please.
Driver: The extra stop will be an automatic $10 fee.
Lucy : I would like to go to the airport. How much?
Lucy : Yes, I do. We have to make one stop before going. Please pick up my friend at 14
Court Street.
Driver: There is a flat rate fee to the airport of $35.
CONVERSATION 4 – COMPLETE THE DRIVER’S LINES
Driver: ____________________________________________________________
Jacob : Yes, I am. I am heading to the Trump Plaza Hotel. Do you know how to get
there?
Driver: ____________________________________________________________
Jacob : I would like to avoid the highways. Please take major streets instead.
Driver: ____________________________________________________________
CONVERSATION 5 – LISTEN AND CORRECT THE MISTAKES
Jacob : Hello, I like a taxi to pick me up inside of Wal-Mart.
Lucy : When?
Jacob : I will be ready in 50 minutes.
Lucy : Will you have a lot of suitcases ?
Jacob : Yes I will.
Lucy : We will make a SUV taxi so you can sit everything.
