Advanced English Conversations - Robert Allans, Ahmet Mustafaoglu, Metin Emir 2019

Set (73) - He’s panic-stricken after he got a sideswipe!

Dialogue

Steven: The design of this car appeals to me. I wonder whether it is roadworthy!

Mark: Actually, it has some wear and tear, but it is in pretty good shape.

Steven: Well, I must confess that I’m kind of a road hug, but I never smacked into someone or had a fender-bender.

Mark: Speaking of roads - the other day I was riding Albert with me. He wiped me out by his observations. In short, he’s such a backseat driver.

Steven: That’s right. He’s panic-stricken after he got a sideswipe!

Mark: Yeah. As far as I remember he used to love speeding up as well.

Steven: the truth is driving fast takes its toll on the car engine. I’m not a big fan of that.

Vocabulary

Appeal to: to resonate with one's specific interests or feelings.

Roadworthy: (adj) (of a motor vehicle or bicycle) fit to be used on the road.

Wear and tear: normal deterioration and minor damage from frequent use.

In good shape: in a good condition.

A road hug: person who takes too much room on the road.

Smack into: to collide; to hit.

Fender-bender: a dent in the fender. A minor accident.

Backseat driver: a passenger who tell you how to drive.

Panic-stricken: (adj) affected with panic; very frightened.

Sideswipe: to hit the side of the car.

Take its toll on: to affect, especially negatively; to damage or degrade.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the correct phrases;

appeal to

roadworthy

wear and tear

in good shape

a road hug

smack into

fender-bender

backseat driver

panic-stricken

sideswipe  

take its toll on

a. That style of architecture just doesn't .......... me.

b. ........... princes wrote to them for political assistance or pecuniary aid.

c. She was going too fast and .......... a parked car.

d. Heavy smoking and drinking will .......... a person's health.

e. Daisy is such a .........., she needs to stop interfering - no one asked for her advice

f. This would be the first practical, .......... car that could run on solely renewable energy

g. I wasn't looking where I was going and walked .......... a lamppost.

h. This sofa shows a lot of ..........; we should replace it.

i. This car isn't.......... I'd like to have one that's in better condition.

j. Why don’t you stick with one side? You are such a ..........

k. The new one was a .......... item, and Jenny could push it around the grounds.