EnglishPod 221 - Car Trouble
EnglishPod 221 - Car Trouble
Conversation
A: Car trouble center. How may I help you?
B: My car won't start! Stupid old car!
A: Hold on, before you kick your car let's go through some possible problems.
B: Fine.
A: Ok, first of all, can you turn the key in the ignition?
B: Yeah! I am here with my friend and he thinks it may be the spark plug or the starter motor.
A: Those are possible problems, but tell me, when you turn the key, do you hear the starter motor crank?
B: Yeah, it sounds like it usually does when I start the car, but nothing else happens. The engine won't start. Should I maybe press the accelerator?
A: No. If you step on the accelerator pedal you can flood the carburetor and your car will never start.
B: So what do you think it is?
A: I know this may seem like a silly question, but does your car have gasoline?
B: Umm. yeah! Right! I got the car started! Thanks for your help! I told you to fill the tank!
Key Vocabulary
Go through: Look at (something) in a careful way
Ignition: A device to start up the car
Spark plug: Electrical device that ignites the gas by electric
Starter motor: An electric motor for starting an engine
Crank: To start (an engine, motor, etc.)
Engine: The device which helps cars getting running
Accelerator: A pedal that controls the throttle valve
Carburetor: Mixes air with gasoline vapor prior to explosion
Supplementary Vocabulary
To stall: When a car's engine will not start
Brakes: The mechanism which stops the car
Gas tank: The tank which carries the car's gasoline
Seat belt: The strap which protects from an accident
Tow truck: A service which repairs or retrieves a broken car