English, baby!

Hang up and drive

Date: Sep 07 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Americans love to multitask. You’ll see them reading and eating or cooking and watching TV. Sometimes you see people driving and talking on the phone. Well, usually you see these people heading rapidly toward you, blabbing away, blind to the fact that you exist.

Needless to say, driving and talking on the phone can be pretty dangerous. In fact, Kevin almost died at the hands of a driver on the phone. Listen to him tell Amanda about it.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kevin

Amanda

Kevin: So I’m running the other day, and some idiot in a Chevy Suburban was on his cell and almost runs me over and then honks at me.

Amanda: How do you feel about that? Do you ever talk on our cell phone when you’re driving, ever?

Kevin: I don’t own a car.

Amanda: Oh, so I guess that’s a no. You know, I feel the same way because there’s some statistic that said when you’re on a cell phone, whether you’re holding it or you have the little Bluetooth, it’s about as bad as having three cocktails.

Kevin: Really?

Amanda: That’s how much it affects your judgment when you’re driving as far as your response time, and when you think about it that way or look at it that way, it’s pretty scary.

Kevin: And you know, you just see people doing it all the time, you know, it’s really ridiculous. Do you do it?

Amanda: Only if I’m going about 20 miles an hour or less, that’s the general rule for me. But you know what’s tough too is texting. People will keep their phone down on the fly and be texting like crazy, not looking ahead…

Kevin: Which to me seems worse because you have to be looking down at the screen, whereas if you’re talking at least you can hold it at the side.

Amanda: Absolutely. But I think the reason they’re doing that is to be stealth so that they can communicate without other drivers seeing that they’re actually on the phone.

Kevin: Might as well be reading a book.

Amanda: Pretty much. Or shaving.

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

Kevin was out running the other day when someone almost ran him over with his very large car. Then the driver had the nerve to honk at Kevin. He probably had no idea what was going on because he was on his phone the whole time.

Amanda says that according to a study, talking on the phone while driving is just as bad as drinking three cocktails and getting behind the wheel. Since drunk driving illegal and widely regarded as a very bad thing to do, Amanda and Kevin agree that talking on the phone and driving is very dangerous.

Nonetheless, Amanda talks on the phone sometimes when she’s driving, but only when she’s going really slow. But that’s not as bad as texting and driving, which is something Amanda has seen people do. She thinks they do it because unlike talking on the phone, the other drivers can’t necessarily see you texting. Kevin thinks texting and driving is much worse than talking and driving. He jokes that it’s as bad as reading a book behind the wheel. Amanda says it’s as bad as shaving on the road.

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever seen someone do while driving?

Comments

< Previous
41 through 60 of 66
Next >
1 2 3 4

liu jiao li

China

Every day around us in a variety of traffic accidents, drivers careless driving Why? ? ? I think it is important that when we are driving we should concentrate energy . it is good for the safety not only ourselves but also other people . While not the best course of…

liu jiao li

China

I think it is important that when we are driving we should concentrate energy . it is good for the safety not only ourselves but also other people . While not the best course of the phone^_

Mirko

Germany

In Germany crashed a woman in the year 2006 with 180 km/h into a police car, because she was sending a message. Two police officers died.

I think there is nothing more to say about this!!!!

shahriarheydari

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Here do any other things while driving
is illegal …

tripham

Viet Nam

calling while behind the wheel it is terrible dangerous, it may cause accident and injure people.therefore, we must not use cell phone when driving.

sweet daffodil

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

we have to ignore our bad habits as soon as possible

sweet daffodil

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

As all of our friends mentioned and every body knows for sure it is not safe to do such a thing, but there’s some thing else that we have not to forget,” action talks louder than words”....so come on, really not do it!

ekidz220

China

driving and talking at the same time should be banned. these reckless drivers obvious have no concerns for others.

shaki

Pakistan

yes obviously one can do only one thing at the same time correctly,if he/she doesn't pay attention at what he/she is doing the work would get spoild

mutawa

Ghana

talking on cell phone while driving is what i say disastrous.the life of both the driver and the pedestrian is at danger.the concentration may be lost and the subsiquent veering off road.

mutawa

Ghana

talking on cell phone while driving is what i say disastrous.the life of both the driver and the pedestrian is at danger.the concentration may be lost and the subsiquent veering off road.

Blue-Smile

Switzerland

In our country we get a heavy fine if we talking on the phone in the car!

zeus2006

Turkey

Yeah,talking on the phone and driving!!!!it’s same with to get drunk,to be mad,to get sleep.One day you will learn how it is dangerous but after to crash in to a wall!!!!!I hope I’s wall,no alives(Humans,animals and plants)!!!!!!

setayesh

Afghanistan

cool lesson , thanks

setayesh

Afghanistan

I agree with all friends here.

we can see the trend of people who talk on cell phone when they driving increased substantially.

moreover , they are not aware of the fact and needless to say driving and talking on the phone can be pretty dangerous.

naddito

Saudi Arabia

i think one shouldnt do this.if he doesnt care about his life at least he has to care about others who maybe endangered by his carelesness

grega

Uganda

Its really abominabale .it can make someone make people die.Its against the law in Uganda .

Mercie

Kenya

I find it a crime I think such drivers should be punished/penalised

Mercie

Kenya

I don't find it nice when drivers talk on the mobile while driving because they can cause accidents due to lack of road concentration

FeiFei

China

everyday i see many people driving and talking on the road.I am sure they are not realize of the fact that they could put other people in danger. Especially the bus driver, there are many passenger in the bus. If happening accident ,it have lots of passenger in hurt.So i hope the drivers don't do that to safe yourself and other people