Vocabulary Lessons

People often rent cars when they go on vacation or travel on business, but there are many things you should consider when choosing a rental car company. Listen to the words below and consult a dictionary if you need a definition. Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the Internet to find such sentences.

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

• rental car
• compact
• economy
• standard
• full size
• luxury
• SUV (sports utility vehicle)
• pickup truck
• minivan

• car insurance
• daily rate
• damage waiver
• driving record
• mileage limit
• no-show fee
• rental agreement
• weekend special

• do a visual inspection
• leave a deposit
• make a reservation
• pick up the car
• return the car
• sign a rental agreement

• Do you have any cars available?
• I’d like to rent a standard-size car.
• How much is car insurance per day?
• When do I need to return the car?
• How old do you have to be to rent a car?

Imagine that you want to rent a full size car for five days in Hawaii (Monday-Friday). (You can choose the time of year this activity.) Use the Internet to find the company that offers the cheapest deal for your trip. Compare your results with a partner. Also, add in the cost of additional car insurance per day for the car rental.