English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 29: On the road

Word List
  • brake n, v
  • bridge
  • crash into sth
  • damage n, v
  • direct sb
  • end up
  • get lost
  • injury
  • inside lane
  • lane (on a road)
  • main road
  • outside lane
  • overtake
  • parcel
  • parked car
  • pavement
  • pedestrian
  • pedestrian crossing
  • road sign
  • sign n
  • speed limit
  • swerve
  • traffic light(s)
  • turning
  • via
  • way [route]
  • bend n, v
Exercises

29.1 ‣ Which words are being defined?

  1. part of a road that is separated from other parts by a line
  2. people who are walking _____
  3. the place where people usually walk _____
  4. the place where people can cross the road _____
  5. the place where two roads meet _____
  6. the thing you put your foot on to stop a car _____
  7. a message or symbol beside the road that gives information _____

29.2 ‣ Complete the information for these road signs.


  1. 50 mph limit

  2. there is only one _____

  3. _____

  4. no _____

  5. end of _____

  6. low _____

  7. a _____ in the road

  8. _____

29.3 ‣ Rewrite the sentences on the left starting with the words given. Keep a similar meaning.

  1. I asked him how to get to the bank.
    I asked him the to the bank.
  2. I didn’t know where I was in the town centre.
    I got _____ in the town centre.
  3. You can ask someone to tell you how to get here.
    You can ask someone to _____ you.
  4. I went through Ledbury to get to Malvern.
    I went to Malvern _____ Ledbury.
  5. I was going to the station.
    I was on my _____ to the station.
  6. We arrived unexpectedly by the river.
    We _____ up by the river.
  7. I turned left instead of right.
    I took the wrong _____.

29.4 ‣ Complete the text.

I was on the 1 road into town today and I saw an 2_____. I was 3_____ a roundabout when the guy behind tried to 4_____ me and the driver in front of me. He was driving too fast – over the 5_____ limit – and he lost control of the car. He had to 6_____ to avoid a car on the other side of the road, and in the end he 7_____ into a tree. The car was badly 8_____, but to my surprise, the man got out of the car with no 9_____ at all.

29.5 ‣

Over to you

Answer the questions about your own country. If possible, compare your answers with someone else.

  1. Do you have a speed limit on motorways? If so, what is it?
    _____
  2. How many lanes do motorways usually have?
    _____
  3. Do drivers usually stop for pedestrians at pedestrian crossings? If not, why not?
    _____
  4. Do many people park their cars on the pavements? Why? / Why not?
    _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Roads

B ‣ Finding your way

“Yesterday, I got lost1 on my way to2 the airport. I decided to use side roads and go via3 the village of Pensford, but I took the wrong turning4 just before I got there, and I ended up5 in a supermarket car park. Fortunately I was able to ask someone the way6, and a very kind woman directed7 me to the A38, where I could then follow signs for the airport.”

1 didn’t know where I was
2 while I was going to (the airport)
3 go through somewhere to get to a destination
4 corner where one road meets another
5 found myself in a place I didn’t expect to be in
6 ask how to get to a place
7 told me how to get to a place

C ‣ An accident

“I saw an accident this morning on the main road1 into town. A pedestrian2 – a young boy – stepped off the pavement3 and into the road just as a car was approaching4. The driver braked5, but the car swerved6 and crashed into a parked car7 on the opposite side of the road. Fortunately the driver wasn’t injured but both cars were quite badly damaged. ”

1 important road
2 a person walking
3 the place where pedestrians walk
4 coming closer
5 put his foot on the brake to stop the car
6 changed direction suddenly and without control
7 a car next to the pavement, not moving

Language help

You damage a thing [harm or break it] but injure a person [hurt them]. The related nouns are damage and injury, e.g. There was a lot of damage to the bike, but the cyclist only had minor injuries.

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