The Daily Grind
- englishiseasierwithamal.com
- Apr 30
- 9 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
The Daily Grind
Read and practise the following conversation:
Elena: Hi Sam! Do you usually get on the bus at this time? It feels very crowded today.
Sam: Usually, yes. But the 8:15 bus doesn't show up half the time. It’s always running late. Honestly, commuting in this city is a real headache.
Elena: I agree! I don't have a car yet, so I rely on the subway. Does the subway run every five minutes during rush hour?
Sam: On paper, yes. But there are often mechanical delays. Do you use a Presto card, or do you pay with exact change?
Elena: I use a Presto card, but I don't load it often enough. This morning, my balance was zero! I had to top up at the machine while the bus was pulling away. It was so stressful.
Sam: That's the worst. I use Auto-renew, so I never have to worry about a red light when I tap on. It saves me a lot of time.
Elena: That’s smart. Does your wife also take transit to work?
Sam: No, she doesn't take the bus. She works from home, but she picks me up from the station when it rains. Otherwise, I just get off the bus and walk the rest of the way.
Elena: I see. I need to get off at the next stop to catch a transfer. Do I need to tap off on the bus?
Sam: No, you don't tap off on city buses. You only do that on the GO Train. If you forget, they charge you the maximum fare!
Elena: Thanks for the tip. You really know the ropes! Here is my stop. I need to get out of your way so you can reach the door. Have a good day!
I. Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct definition on the right.
Word Definition
1. The daily grind a. To depend on or need something/someone.
2. Commuting b. Traveling regularly between home and work.
3. Rely on c. When a vehicle starts moving and leaves the station/stop.
4. On paper d. The everyday routine of work, especially when it is boring.
5. Delays e. To have the skill or experience to do a job or activity.
6. Pull away f. A helpful piece of advice.
7. Auto-renew g. To touch your card to the reader when leaving a train.
8. Tap on h. Situations where a bus or train is late or held up.
9. Otherwise i. To touch your card to the reader when entering a bus.
10. Tap off j. According to the official schedule (even if it's not true).
11. Charge k. The busiest times of the day for travel.
12. Tip l. To demand an amount of money for a service.
13. Know the ropes m. o fail to arrive at the scheduled time.
14. Real headache n. A feature that refills your card automatically
15. Rush hour o. Something that is very frustrating or annoying.
16. Run late p. Used to show what will happen if you do not do something.
II. Answer the following questions:
1. True or False: Sam usually takes the 8:15 bus.
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Why does Sam say the 8:15 bus is a real headache?
__________________________________________________________________________3. Does Elena own a car to get to her new job?
__________________________________________________________________________4. What happens on paper that doesn't always happen in reality?
__________________________________________________________________________5. Why did Elena's Presto card make a loud beep this morning?
__________________________________________________________________________6. How does Sam’s card stay loaded without him going to a machine?
__________________________________________________________________________7. According to Sam, what is a major benefit of using auto-renew?
__________________________________________________________________________8. Does Elena need to tap off when she exits the city bus?
__________________________________________________________________________9. On which specific type of transportation must you tap off?
__________________________________________________________________________10. What happens if a passenger forgets to tap off on the GO Train?
__________________________________________________________________________11. Why does the GO Train cost more than the city bus?
__________________________________________________________________________12. Where does the bus drop off passengers for the subway?
__________________________________________________________________________13. What is the environment like on the bus during rush hour?
__________________________________________________________________________14. What does Elena mean when she says she doesn't know the ropes?
__________________________________________________________________________15. Based on the end of the conversation, are Sam and Elena going to the same station?
__________________________________________________________________________
III. Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form. Use the Present Simple Tense:
1. The bus __________ (not / show up) when it snows.
2. __________ (do / does) the streetcar stop at this corner?
3. I always __________ (tap on) at the front door of the bus.
4. He __________ (not / carry) cash, so he needs his Presto card.
5. My sister __________ (take) the subway to work every morning.
6. __________ (do / does) you need a transfer if you use a card?
7. The transit app __________ (tell) me when the next train arrives.
8. We __________ (not / tap off) when we exit the city bus.
9. The driver __________ (drop) us off right in front of the mall.
10. __________ (do / does) the fare increase every year?
11. They __________ (not / like) to travel during rush hour.
12. They __________ (not / like) to travel during rush hour.
13. Why __________ (do / does) the train always short-turn here?
14. It __________ (not / take) long to walk to the station from here.
15. She __________ (rely on) her bicycle when the weather is nice.
IV. Rearrange the following words to make a correct sentence:
1. usually / late / morning / the / runs / train / every
2. don't / I / change / have / exact / the / for / fare
3. does / show up / the / when / bus / evening / in / the / ?
4. on / tap / remember / to / you / get on / when / you
5. headache / a / real / is / hour / rush / traffic
6. pick / can / you / at / me / up / station / the / ?
7. doesn't / my / auto-renew / card / have / yet
8. get / needs / to / off / she / next / the / at / stop
9. get / needs / to / off / she / next / the / at / stop
10. top up / we / at / need / to / kiosk / the / balance / our
11. off / drop / me / please / at / corner / the
12. mechanical / there / is / a / delay / the / on / line / blue
13. know / the / ropes / doesn't / he / of / system / the / yet
14. get / let's / in / the / taxi / quickly / very
15. charge / they / fare / a / higher / for / trains / express
V. Choose the correct answer
1. If the bus doesn't "show up," it:
A) Arrives exactly on time B) Is crowded with people
C) Does not arrive at the stop D) Crashes into a car
2. When Sam calls commuting a "real headache," he means it is:
A) Very exciting B) Physically painful
C) Very annoying and stressful D) Quick and easy
3. "On paper," the bus arrives at 8:15. This means:
A) The bus is made of paper B) According to the official schedule
C) The driver writes the time down D) The bus is always late
4. To "rely on" the subway means to:
A) Dislike the subway B) Need or depend on it
C) Drive a car instead D) Walk beside the tracks
5. What does "auto-renew" do for a transit card?
A) It breaks the card B) It changes the color of the card
C) It adds money automatically D) It makes the bus drive faster
6. A "mechanical delay" is usually caused by:
A) Too many passengers B) A broken engine or train part
C) Bad weather D) The driver taking a break
7. When you "tap on," you are:
A) Calling a friend B) Validating your fare/paying
C) Exiting the back door D) Sitting in a priority seat
8. If you do not tap off on the GO Train, the system will _______ you the maximum price.
A) Pay B) Give
C) Charge D) Discount
9. "The daily grind" refers to:
A) Buying a coffee every morning
B) The boring, repetitive routine of work and commuting
C) A machine that fixes the roads
D) A special discount for students
10. To "know the ropes" means to:
A) Be good at tying knots
B) Be new to a city
C) Understand how a system or process works
D) Work for the transit company
11. "Otherwise" is used in the dialogue to show:
A) A happy surprise
B) What will happen if you don't do something
C) The name of a street
D) A past event
12. When a bus "pulls away," it is:
A) Stopping to let people on B) Parking for the night
C) Leaving the stop or station D) Getting a flat tire
13. A "transfer" allows a passenger to:
A) Drive the bus
B) Change from one vehicle to another without paying again
C) Get a refund on their ticket
D) Sit in the front seat
14. "Rush hour" happens when:
A) It is late at night
B) The bus is empty
C) Most people are traveling to or from work
D) The driver is driving too fast
15. To "drop off" a passenger means to:
A) Let them exit at their destination
B) Forget them on the bus
C) Pick them up from their house
D) Give them a free pass
VI. Write the Question
Example: Answer: The subway runs every five minutes.
Question: Does the subway run every five minutes?
1. Answer: Yes, the bus stops right in front of the hospital. Question: ________________________________________________________________
2. Answer: No, I don't carry a paper transfer anymore. Question: ________________________________________________________________
3. Answer: Sam uses the auto-renew feature for his card. Question: ________________________________________________________________
4. Answer: The train pulls away at 7:30 AM sharp. Question: ________________________________________________________________
5. Answer: We tap on at the green reader near the door. Question: ________________________________________________________________
6. Answer: No, she doesn't know the ropes of the transit system yet. Question: ________________________________________________________________
7. Answer: The fare costs $3.35 for a single trip. Question: ________________________________________________________________
8. Answer: Yes, mechanical delays happen often during rush hour. Question: ________________________________________________________________
9. Answer: I rely on my phone to check the bus schedule. Question: ________________________________________________________________
10. Answer: The driver drops off passengers at the corner. Question: ________________________________________________________________
11. Answer: No, you don't need to tap off on a city bus. Question: ________________________________________________________________
12. Answer: It takes 20 minutes to get to the office by train. Question: ________________________________________________________________
13. Answer: Yes, the machines at the station accept credit cards. Question: ________________________________________________________________
14. Answer: My card balance shows ten dollars. Question: ________________________________________________________________
15. Answer: They get on the subway at Union Station. Question: ________________________________________________________________
VII. Rearrange the following conversations:
Conversation 1: The Low Balance
Kevin: "I don't have enough on my card either, and the bus is coming!"
Kevin: "That’s a relief. How do I do that?"
Maria: "Don't worry, you can top up your balance using the app on your phone."
Maria: "It only takes a minute. Just enter your credit card info and hit 'load'."
Maria: "Oh no! I just checked my transit app and my balance is only $0.50."
Kevin: "Okay, I am doing it now. Thank goodness for technology!"
Conversation 2: The Missed Stop
Driver: "You're welcome! Just be ready to get off quickly because it's a short stop."
Passenger: "Excuse me, does this bus stop at the community center?"
Passenger: "Oh, thank you so much! I was worried I missed it."
Driver: "No, you actually need to get off at the next stop and walk back one block."
Passenger: "Is it far? I have a lot of groceries to carry."
Driver: "Not at all. It is only about a two-minute walk from the corner."
Conversation 3: The Mechanical Delay
Transit App: "The overhead announcement says there is a mechanical delay at the next station."
Victor: "That's a good idea. Let's get out of the station and find the bus stop."
Victor: "A mechanical delay? Does that mean the train isn't moving at all?"
Sara: "Why is the subway stopping in the middle of the tunnel?"
Transit App: "It looks like it. We might need to take a shuttle bus instead."
Sara: "How long will that take? I'm running late for my doctor's appointment."
Conversation 4: Learning the Ropes (Presto)
Elena: "I see. And do I need to tap off when I get off the bus?"
Sam: "Yes, I use it every day. You just tap on at the green reader when you board."
Sam: "No, you don't tap off on city buses, only on the GO Train."
Elena: "I'm a bit confused. Do you know the ropes of using this Presto card?"
Elena: "That's good to know. I don't want the system to charge me extra!"
Sam: "Exactly. If you forget on the train, it charges you the maximum fare."
Conversation 5: Rush Hour Habits
Li: "I also try to leave a bit early, but sometimes my boss asks me to stay late."
Ann: "Because if I leave after 5:00 PM, the subway is a real headache."
Li: "It's the daily grind, I suppose. At least the trains run every three minutes."
Li: "Why do you always rush to leave the office at 4:30 PM sharp?"
Ann: "True, but I still hate being packed in like a sardine during rush hour!"
Ann: "Do you usually manage to get a seat if you leave that early?"
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