ESL Podcast 322 - Picking up a Rental Car

reservation - an arrangement to have or do something at a future date and time; an arrangement so that something is held for one's own use at a future date or time

Have you made a reservation at a hotel for next Tuesday night?

economy car - compact car; a small, inexpensive car that doesn't use very much gas

I prefer to buy an economy car because it's small and inexpensive.

to upgrade - to choose a higher class of something; to choose a better type of something

The airline offered to upgrade our seats from coach class to first class.

mid-sized car - an average-sized car, not too small and not too big

When the Wu family had its third child, they decided to buy a mid-sized car because their old car wasn't big enough anymore.

convertible - a car where the roof can be folded down or removed so that the passengers can feel the wind and sun

Having a convertible isn't very practical if you live in a state where it rains a lot.

offer - promotion; special deal; something that a company offers to do or sell inexpensively or for free for a limited period of time

This airline has an offer where you can fly to Puerto Rico for only $225 between now and the end of the month.

to stick to (something) - to remain with something; to not change one's plans; to continue to do what one had originally planned

Are you going to swtich to the deluxe service or stick to the basic service you've always had?

to initial - to write the first letters of one's first, middle, and last name, usually on a legal agreement, to show that one agrees with something

Please initial each page of this agreement, and then sign your name on the last page.

insurance - an arrangement where one pays money to a company each month, and if something bad happens, that company will pay one a lot of money to cover the costs, such as for fire, floods, theft, health problems, or death

Some people with young children buy life insurance, so that if they die, their family will have enough money to live.

to decline - to decide not to do or accept something; to say `no' to something; to refuse something

I decided to declined the company's offer for early retirement.

gas tank - the part of a car that is filled with gasoline

It costs more than $45 to fill this car's gas tank!

additional driver - a person who will drive a rented car and whose name is not on the rental agreement

Many car rental companies charge extra for additional drivers.

contract - a legal agreement; a legal document that shows what two or more people or businesses are agreeing to

I had to sign a two-year contract with the phone company to get my cell phone at a discounted price.

paperwork - documents; all the forms and other papers that are needed to do something or apply for something

Have you finished the paperwork for your university applications?

local - nearby; connected with the surrounding area; not far away

The McQuillan Times is the best local newspaper in the country!