ESL Podcast 738 - Talking to a Mechanic
mechanic - a person whose job is to maintain and repair cars or other types of machines
Do you pay a mechanic to change the oil in your car, or do you do it yourself?
engine - the inside part of a car that makes it move
The engine got really hot while we were driving up into the mountains, so we had to stop and let the car rest for a while.
trunk - the back section of a car that has a large lid that opens, used for storage
Do you think all of these suitcases will fit in the trunk?
muffler - the part of a car that makes it quieter
Wow, Cason's car is really loud. Maybe he needs to replace the muffler.
to pop the hood - to push a small button inside a car that unlocks the piece of metal that covers the front, top section of a car, so that it can be opened and people can see the engine
Please pop the hood so I can add more windshield washing fluid.
battery - a source of stored electricity for a vehicle or machine, so that it does not need to be plugged in
How often do you change the batteries in the smoke detectors in your house?
coolant - a liquid used to keep a car engine cool or prevent it from becoming too hot
It's a good idea to make sure your car has enough coolant before driving through the desert.
leak - the slow movement of liquid out of a container through a small, unwanted hole
How much will it cost to repair the leak in the roof?
carburetor - the part of a car that mixes gasoline with air for burning
When Randolph noticed a sudden decrease in his car's fuel efficiency, he thought it might be the carburetor.
spark plug - the part of a car that creates a spark (a very small, quick fire) to make the gasoline burn
Spark plugs made from copper often last longer than other types of spark plugs.
shot - worn out; used thoroughly, so that very little or nothing is left
Yuri has had his cell phone for years, but now it's shot and he needs to buy a new one.
brake pad - the part of a car that pushes against the moving part of a wheel to make the car slow down and/or stop
The repair shop recommends replacing the brake pads every 20,000 miles.
tire - the large, circular rubber pieces that are placed around wheels and filled with air
Don't drive over that broken glass, or you might ruin your tires.
to balance - to even something out; to make things equal in some way
A lot of people struggle to balance the demands of work and family.
hard to tell - difficult to determine; difficult to know something
It's hard to tell if the boss is in a good mood because she never smiles.
to run - to operate, especially when talking about a car, machine, or computer program
The juice shop needs strong blenders, because they run most of the day.
it's only a matter of time - a phrase used to talk about something that definitely will happen in the future, but one does not know exactly when
It's only a matter of time before you'll start to feel tooth pain, so we recommend filling these cavities soon.
bus pass - a card or a small piece of paper that allows someone to use a bus system for a certain period of time without paying for each individual ride
The university gives free bus passes to all its students to encourage them to use public transportation.