General Listening Quiz

Listen to the recording on driving road tests and driving schools, and read along with the conversation. Review the key vocabulary and the sample sentences.

Driving Officer: Okay. Mr. Smith. Let’s begin your road test.

Mr. Smith: Oh. I know I’m ready. I’ve been practicing in my driveway all week.

Driving Officer: Okay. Mr. Smith. As I’m sure you are aware, you will not only be tested on your knowledge of the rules of the road, but on your behavior toward other motorists.

Mr. Smith: Okey-dokey.

Driving Officer: Okay. Now you can start your car.

Mr. Smith: Yeah, right. Here we go!

Driving Officer: Whoa! Take it easy. The speed limit in this business district is only 25 miles an hour. [Oh]. All right. Now, turn right at the next corner . . . [This corner?] Na, not here! Wow! You forgot to signal too!

Mr. Smith: Gosh. I didn’t see that one, and . . . Ah, Could you grab my cell phone under my seat? [Huh?] Nah, I’ll get it.

Driving Officer: Oh, Mr. Smith. Keep your eyes on the road!

Mr. Smith: Oh yeah.

Driving Officer: Okay. Now, pull over here and show me that you can parallel park.

Mr. Smith: Sure. Wait. Hey bud. Move your car. I was here first!

Driving Officer: Ah. Forget it. Just keep driving.

Mr. Smith: So, how am I doing? Can I take a peek at your notes?

Driving Officer: No! And, uh, watch out. Mr. Smith. Now you’re tailgating the vehicle in front of us.

Mr. Smith: Oh, yeah. I’m just so excited about getting my license today. [Right.].

Driving Officer: Okay. Now carefully, CAREFULLY turn right here, and wait, wait, WAIT . . .STOP!! You almost hit that pedestrian. How in the world did you pass the written test anyway? [Well . . .] You have to give way to any pedestrians crossing the street. Jeez!

Mr. Smith: Oh. sorry about that. It won’t happen again.

[Car screeching to a stop . . .]

Driving Officer: Whoa! Get out! [What?] Get out! I’m driving back to the office.

Mr. Smith: Does this mean I didn’t pass the test?

Driving Officer: Look, Mr. Smith. Could you do me a favor? When you come back to take the test again, plan on coming on Friday.

Mr. Smith: Again? Why? Is it less crowded that day?

Driving Officer: No. It’s my day off.

• driveway (noun): a small road leading up to a private house 
  – My car is parked in the driveway.
• motorists (noun): a person who operates a motor vehicle (car, motorcycle)
  – Nowadays, more and more motorists are deciding to use public transportation to commute to work.
• Okey-dokey (exclamation): informal for “Okay”
  – Okey-dokey. Let’s begin the driving test.
• district (noun): area
  – The speed limit in most residential districts is 25 miles per hour.
• grab (verb): to take hold of something
  – The woman grabbed the running child before he ran out into the road.
• bud (noun): informal, sometimes used in a hostile or unfriendly manner when speaking to a man whose name is unknown 
  – Hey bud. Watch where you’re driving. You almost hit that tree.
• peek (verb): to take a short look at something
  – This car looks nice. Hey, take a peek inside to check how many miles it has.
• tailgate (verb): to drive too close to the vehicle in front of you that might make it impossible to avoid hitting in case of an emergency 
  – Tailgating too closely is the cause of many accidents.
• pedestrian (noun):a person who walks, particularly where motor vehicles travel 
  – You should pay careful attention to pedestrians when making turns on busy streets.
• jeez (interjection): an expression to show mild annoyance, frustration, or disappointment
  – Jeez. You should have told me you didn’t have money for gas.