| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
| Intermediate | Taxi Rides | Man – Man | 01:39 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What questions might you ask a taxi driver before and after you board the taxi? In what cases would you use a share-ride service like Uber instead of a taxi?
- Ride-sharing services are more convenient than traditional taxis.
- Taxis are safer than ride-sharing apps.
- People should avoid ride-sharing at night for safety reasons.
- Ride-sharing services are better for the environment than personal cars.
- Taxi drivers know the city better than ride-sharing drivers.
- Ride-sharing apps have made public transportation less necessary.
- Surge pricing in ride-sharing is unfair to customers.
- Ride-sharing is more expensive than taking a taxi in most cases.
- People should tip ride-sharing drivers just like taxi drivers.
- Traditional taxis will eventually disappear because of ride-sharing apps.
Idioms
“drive someone up the wall” = to annoy or bother someone a lot
“My brother kept talking in his sleep during our vacation, and that drove me up the wall.”
“hit the road” = to begin or start your travel
“Hey. We need to hit the road before 5:00 a.m. if we want to arrive at mom’s house by noon.”
Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
Vocabulary Practice
Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:
Post-Listening Exercise
Practice the conversation with a partner. Also write your own conversation involving a driver and a passenger. What types of questions do people often ask a taxi driver about the ride or about the local area? Do people tip taxi drivers? If so, how much do you give the driver?
Online Investigation
Imagine that you want to travel from your house or apartment to the nearest airport (or other destination of your choosing). How much would it cost to hire a taxi or shuttle to make the trip? Use the internet to identify companies in your area that provide such a service, the cost per passenger, and any other associated fees.