English Conversation - HITCHING A LIFT

2009-05-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

HITCHING A LIFT
Improve English Speaking through everyday conversation
Learn English as Foreign Language-45 Tutorials
I have written a detailed book English conversation for all occasions, to learn English as Foreign Language.
This tutorial has been prepared from my well known book English conversation for all occasions, which I wrote for Indian students to improve everyday conversation..
English Conversation for All Occasions is a unique book of its kind, specially written to help Indian student. A quick look at the titles of the lessons would convince the reader that the book has been prepared by visualizing all types of situational conversations which may confront any man or woman in his daily activities. Whether one converses with his family members or moves about to mix in society, he will not feel tongue-tied for want of appropriate words or expressions. In a post office or barber’s shop, at a hotel or taxi stand, every person who has read this book, will be able to speak in English fluently and with confidence.
Good knowledge and satisfactory conversation drill is important in English speaking. This Tutorial would not only prove an asset to the reader in his daily life, but also on special occasions like interviews for jobs, etc. He would be able to face the interviewers with equanimity and confidence.
All the lessons have been designed in a programmed fashion. Word-meanings, Phrases and exercises have been added at the end of every lesson to help the students master the topics.
All the lesson should be read along, not once but many times, so that the conversation comes easy to the reader when he faces real life situations. The author would feel rewarded for his labours if the book helps men and women become social relations
This Tutorial should help all those readers who find difficulty in speaking fluent English. This will be completed in 45 lessons.
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HITCHING A LIFT

Reena has been dropped off at the Regal bus stop. She stops a passing car and takes a lift to her place of work.

Reena (Thumbing down a car). Excuse me Sir, Which way are you going?
Man in the car Why? What do you want?
Reena I was wondering Sir, Whether you could. Verykindly give me a lift?
Man in the car where do you want to go?
Reena I want to be dropped at Rama’s store.
Man in the car I am not going in that direction, nor do I have the time to go out of my may to drop you.
Reena That’s all right then, sorry to have bothered you
Man in the car (Driving off and muttering under his breath). These girls these days! They just stop anyone hitching lift! Bhu! What cheek!
Reena (Stopping the next car). Excuse me sir, would you be going towards the super Market?
Car Yes, that is on my way. Do you want a lift?
Reena Yes, thank you very much Sir.
Man in second Car Get in at the back. The door is unlocked.
Reena (Getting into the car). It is very kind of you to give me a lift. Just drop me at the turning to the super Market please.
Man in second Car Do you always take lifts to get to work?
Reena Yes I do hitch quite often. You see the bus I take doesn’t take me close enough to my place of work.
Man in second car I can see that you have problem. Isn’t there another bus which could drop you within walking distance of your place of work?
Reena Yes, I guess there is a bus which goes a bit further than the bus I took today. But that bus comes very infrequently. So I find it easier and quicker to come by bus to Regal and then to take a lift to the Super Market.
Man in second car you’ve got to be very careful these days. It is very unwise to sit in a car with a stranger. How do you know that this unknown person may not kidnap you?
Reena I suppose you are right. There is some risk involved in thumbing a lift. But normally, I only stop the cars with respectable elderly looking gentleman.
Man in second car Why don’t you make it a point to stop only women drivers or cars which have women occupants?
Reena There is a difficulty in that. At this time there are very few women riding in cars. Another thing is that women drivers hardly ever stop to give lifts.
Man in second car How about the boys? Do they find it easier to hitch-hike? It is safer for them anyway.
Reena It’s the same for girls and boys. People tend to feel sorrier for a girl and are likelier to stop for a girl than for a boy. In experience, I’ve noticed that people give lift to two girls or two boys or a boy and a girl, that is, to two person at a time few people will seat four or five people in their cars.
Man in second car Well, here we are. This is the Super Market.
Reena Thank-you very much Sir.
Man in second car That’s all right. But do be careful about asking for lifts, will you?
Reena Yes Sir, I’ll do that. I’ll be cautious in future.

(B) VOCABULARY

Traffic lights round- about
Curb footpath
Traffic island signal

Phrases

Slowing down pulling up at the curb
Walking on the pavement to thumb a lift

Meanings
To hitch a lift to stop or any other vehicle and get a lift.
Thumb a lift to raise a thumb as an indication for the driver to stoop the car.
To thumb down a car to stop a car by having given the thumb signal.
A lift to move from one place to another.
Bother trouble.
Muttering grumbling in a low tone.
Walking distance a short enough distance which could be easily covered by walking.
Infrequently seldom, not often.
Kidnap steal.
Occupants persons who are sitting or filling a place.
Cheek impertinence, over smart.
Tend inclined to.
Cautions careful.
Curb raised pavement on the side of a road.

(C) Study the following responses.

1. What do you think of the attitude of the first car owner?
Response : I think that the man was quite unhelpful. On the other hand. One cannot expect a person to go out of his way and go in a direction which is opposite to his own route, just to help the person asking for a lift.

2. What, in your opinion, are the reason for lady drivers not stopping to give lifts?
Response : Perhaps, women drivers are afraid to offer lifts. If it is dangerous for a girl to take a lift with a stranger; It is equally risky for a woman to give a lift to an unknown person. It is also true that may be women do not want to go to the trouble of stopping so many times and wasting time and energy to give lifts.

(D) Make suitable responses

1. What do you understand by thumbing a lift?
Response _____________________________________
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2. Do you think that Reena ought to hitch a lift every day? Give one reason.
Response _________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
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3. How should Reena travel from the regal bus stop to Rama’s store?
Response _________________________________________
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English Conversations - HITCHING A LIFT

English Conversation - HITCHING A LIFT