English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language and Culture in the U.S. » Review: Units 1–3

Vocabulary

Fill in the blanks. Use the words below.

  • sale
  • apply
  • rush hour
  • yard
  • skip
  • fine
  • tricky
  • platform
  • sunroof
  • fare
  1. Hey, let’s go to the mall today. There’s a great _____ , so we should be able to get some vacation clothes at a really good price.
  2. There’s Bob, working in his _____ again. He’s always cutting the grass and watering the flowers.
  3. The train for New York will depart from _____ number 4.
  4. I need to _____ for a New Jersey driver’s license.
  5. I love a car with a(n) _____ I can open, but my wife complains it messes up her hair and gives her a bad hair day!
  6. Dad, can you help me with my math homework? This problem is really _____ ; I just don’t understand it.
  7. Let’s take the bus; I’m not sure I have enough cash for the taxi _____ .
  8. The worst time to drive around a city is during _____ . There are too many cars and buses crowding the streets.
  9. I’m so hungry; I was late getting up this morning and had to _____ breakfast so I wouldn’t be late for work.
  10. I got stopped by the police for speeding, and now I have to pay a _____ .
Informal Language

Can you explain these expressions? Try using them in a sentence.

  1. headed: ___________
    _____________
  2. drive someone nuts: ___________
    _____________
  3. hang around: ___________
    _____________
  4. fed up: ___________
    _____________
  5. pull over: ___________
    _____________
  6. change your mind: ___________
    _____________
  7. catch the bus: ___________
    _____________
  8. see the sights: ___________
    _____________
  9. a nightmare: ___________
    _____________
  10. hail a cab: ___________
    _____________
Grammar

Choose the correct answer.

  1. Hi, how _____ doing?
    • a. you are
    • b. are you
    • c. you is
    • d. is you
  2. What time _____ the bus come?
    • a. is
    • b. do
    • c. are
    • d. does
  3. What time _____ you go to school?
    • a. is
    • b. does
    • c. do
    • d. has
  4. You’ll _____ to take bus number three.
    • a. to have
    • b. having
    • c. have
    • d. nothing needed
  5. I’m sure it _____ rain tomorrow.
    • a. don’t
    • b. doesn’t
    • c. won’t
    • d. isn’t
  6. Do you like coffee?
    • a. Yes, I do.
    • b. Yes, I am.
    • c. No, I do.
    • d. No, I aren’t.
  7. Does your husband like coffee?
    • a. No, he don’t.
    • b. No, he doesn’t.
    • c. No, he isn’t.
    • d. No, he does.
  8. It _____ cold near the equator.
    • a. isn’t
    • b. doesn’t
    • c. don’t
    • d. won’t
  9. A luxury car is usually _____ than a compact car.
    • a. big
    • b. biggest
    • c. bigger
    • d. more big
  10. Many cars are more economical, but a big luxury car is _____ of all for a long drive.
    • a. the more comfortable
    • b. most comfortable
    • c. the comfortablest
    • d. the most comfortable
Answer Key
Vocabulary
  1. sale
  2. yard
  3. platform
  4. apply
  5. sunroof
  6. tricky
  7. fare
  8. rush hour
  9. skip
  10. fine
Informal Language
  1. headed: going
    Hi, John. Sorry I can’t stop; I’m headed to class right now
  2. drive someone nuts: doing something very annoying (or being annoyed)
    My husband never puts the top back on the toothpaste. It’s driving me nuts.
  3. hang around: spend time with friends with no special activity, or just wait around
    - I love just hanging around with my friends at the mall.
    - I hate hanging around the doctor’s office, waiting for my turn.
  4. fed up: tired of something
    I’m really fed up with getting up at 6 a.m. for my job.
  5. pull over: move the car to the side of the road
    I didn’t think I was driving too fast, but the police car’s flashing lights meant I should pull over anyway.
  6. change your mind: make a different decision from your first one
    I was going to cut my hair really short, but I changed my mind because it looks better long.
  7. catch the bus: get on a bus
    I catch the bus every morning at 7 a.m.
  8. see the sights: visit attractions in a new place
    I love to see the sights when I visit a new town.
  9. a nightmare: a very bad situation
    The traffic in this city is a real nightmare; there are too many cars.
  10. hail a cab: signal that you want a taxi
    If you want to hail a cab, put out your hand and shout, “Taxi!”
Grammar
  1. b
  2. d
  3. c
  4. c
  5. c
  6. a
  7. b
  8. a
  9. c
  10. d
Answer Key
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