Marco's Busy Morning
- englishiseasierwithamal.com
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Marco's Busy Morning
Marco had an important job interview at 10:00 AM. He knew he had to leave early because the subway can sometimes run late. He walked to the bus stop and checked his transit app to see when the bus would show up.
When the bus arrived, Marco used his Presto card to tap on. He heard a loud beep and saw a red light; his balance was too low! "Don't worry," the driver said. "You can top up your card at the station." Marco paid the fare with exact change and took a paper transfer so he wouldn't have to pay again for the subway.
He sat down and watched the stops. He had to get off at Main Street. When he arrived at the station, he went to a kiosk to load twenty dollars onto his card. He then got on the northbound train. Suddenly, an announcement came over the speakers: "Attention passengers, there is a mechanical delay. This train will short-turn at Bloor Station."
Marco started to worry. He didn't want to miss his interview. He decided to get out of the station and call an Uber. A car arrived to pick him up five minutes later. The driver was very fast and managed to drop him off right in front of the office building at 9:50 AM. Marco took a deep breath, got out of the car, and headed inside.
I. Match the words to their meanings:
1. Run late a. To leave someone at their destination.
2. Show up b. To collect someone from a location.
3. Tap on c. To exit a small vehicle (car, taxi).
4. Balance d. When a vehicle finishes its route earlier than planned.
5. Top up/load e. A hold-up caused by a broken machine or engine.
6. Fare f. To enter a large vehicle (bus, train).
7. Exact Change g. To exit a large vehicle (bus, train).
8. Transfer h. A proof of payment used to change vehicles for free.
9. Get off i. The specific amount of coins/bills required.
10. Get on j. The cost of a single trip.
11. Mechanical Delay k. To add more money to a transit card.
12. Short-turn l. he amount of money available on your card.
13. Get out of m. To touch your card to a sensor to pay or validate.
14. Pick up n. To arrive (usually at a scheduled place).
15. Drop off o. To be behind schedule.
II. Answer these based on the story "Marco’s Busy Morning" and your knowledge of transit.
1. True or False: Marco used a taxi for his entire journey.
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2. Why did Marco decide to leave his house early?
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3. What happened when Marco tried to tap on the bus?
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4. Why did the bus driver allow Marco to stay on the bus even though his card failed?
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5. What did Marco use to pay the fare when his card didn't work?
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6. What is the purpose of the transfer Marco received?
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7. Where did Marco go to load money onto his card?
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8. Which vehicle did Marco get on after leaving the bus?
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9. Explain what a mechanical delay means in your own words.
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10. If a train short-turns, does it go to the very last station on the map?
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11. Why did Marco get out of the subway station before reaching his destination?
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12. How did Marco get to the office after leaving the subway?
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13. What time did Marco finally arrive at his destination?
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14. In the story, who picked Marco up?
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15. If Marco’s balance was $0.00, could he have used the subway without adding money?
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III. Choose the best word or phrasal verb from the lesson to complete the sentence.
1. I have to ___________ the bus at 4th Avenue and walk two blocks.
2. My Presto card is empty; I need to ___________ it at the machine.
3. The ___________ for a student is cheaper than the price for an adult.
4. Please ___________ the car quickly; it is starting to rain!
5. I missed my meeting because the subway started to ___________.
6. The bus didn't ___________ for 20 minutes, so I was very cold.
7. Don't forget to ___________ when you enter the station so the gates open.
8. I don't have a $5 bill, I only have ___________: three loonies and a quarter.
9. The train is broken, so we have to ___________ and wait for a shuttle bus.
10. Can you ___________ me ___________ at the airport tomorrow morning?
11. My bank account shows a $50 ___________, so I have enough for the month.
12. I was ___________ because of heavy traffic on the highway.
13. The driver had to ___________ the passengers at the wrong stop because of a parade.
14. If you change from a bus to a streetcar, you need a ___________.
15. The streetcar will ___________ at the garage because it needs repairs.
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