Lesson 3A · New English File Intermediate Vocabulary List

a large, heavy motor vehicle designed for transporting goods or materials over long distances

"The lorry delivers goods to the supermarket."

"The lorry was stuck under the low bridge because the driver ignored the height warning signs."

a light vehicle that has two wheels and is powered by an engine

"He rides his motorbike on winding country roads."

"He rides his motorbike on winding country roads and enjoys the freedom of two wheels."

a very wide road that has no intersections or cross-traffic and is designed for high-speed travel

"The motorway is closed due to an accident."

"The motorway is closed due to an accident and drivers are advised to use alternative routes."

a light motor vehicle with a floorboard on which the rider puts their legs, and with wheels of usually small size

"He rides his scooter to work every day."

"Many people use electric scooter to move quickly in the city center every day."

a vehicle that is powered by electricity and moves on rails in a street, used for transporting passengers

"Tram runs on tracks."

"The tram runs along tracks embedded in the street and stops frequently to pick up passengers."

a big vehicle without back windows, smaller than a truck, used for carrying people or things

"The van is full of boxes."

"The band loaded their instruments and equipment into a large white van before driving to the next city for their concert that night."

a belt in cars, airplanes, or helicopters that a passenger fastens around themselves to prevent serious injury in case of an accident

"Please fasten your seat belt."

"The seat belt kept everyone safe during the sudden stop."

a boat or ship used to transport passengers and sometimes vehicles, usually across a body of water

"The ferry carried cars across the bay."

"The ferry transported cars and passengers across the bay every thirty minutes throughout the day."

a device that photographs one's vehicle if one exceeds the speed limit

"The speed camera flashes as the car passes too fast."

"The speed camera flashes as the car passes too fast and a ticket will be mailed to the registered owner."

an area on a road that is marked with wide white lines, where vehicles must stop so people could walk across the road safely

"The zebra crossing is clear."

"We walked across the zebra crossing near the school."

a time of day at which traffic is the heaviest because people are leaving for work or home

"Rush hour is stressful."

"Traffic is worst during rush hour."

a large number of bikes, cars, buses, etc. that are waiting in lines behind each other which move very slowly

"The traffic jam was awful."

"Being stuck in a traffic jam for two hours made him late for his job interview which ultimately cost him the position he really wanted."

a sum of money one needs to pay as punishment for parking one's vehicle at a place that parking is illegal

"I got a fine."

"He was annoyed to discover a parking fine on his car's windshield after forgetting to pay the meter."

a section of a road specially marked and separated for people who are riding bicycles

"The cycle lane is marked with a white line."

"The cycle lane is marked with a white line and is separated from car traffic by a painted buffer."

a set of lights, often colored in red, yellow, and green, that control the traffic on a road

"The traffic lights changed from red to green."

"The traffic lights malfunctioned flashing red in every direction causing confusion at the busy intersection."

the most speed that a vehicle is legally allowed to have in specific areas, roads, or conditions

"The speed limit on this road is 55 miles per hour."

"The speed limit on this road is fifty five miles per hour and is enforced by radar."

an area where taxis park and wait until someone orders a taxi

"The taxi station is outside the arrivals hall."

"The taxi station is outside the arrivals hall and there is a long queue of passengers waiting for cabs."

an area where taxis stand in a line to pick up passengers

"The taxi rank is here."

"We waited patiently at the busy taxi rank outside the train station to find a ride home."

the work that is done to build or repair a road

"The road works slow down traffic for miles."

"The road works slow down traffic for miles and drivers face long delays during peak hours."

a place where people can buy fuel for their vehicles

"This is a petrol zone."

"Drivers heading on long journeys often look for a clearly marked petrol zone to refuel their cars."

a city's railway system that is below the ground, usually in big cities

"The underground train arrives every five minutes."

"The underground train arrives every five minutes and is the fastest way to travel across the city."

a system or method for carrying people or goods from a place to another by trains, cars, etc.

"This is public transport."

"The city is investing heavily in improving its public transport system for commuters."

a bus with comfortable seats that carries many passengers, used for long journeys

"The coach will arrive soon."

"We decided to take the coach for our long-distance journey across the country."

a situation where a car collides with something, such as another vehicle or other object

"The car crash blocks three lanes of traffic."

"The car crash blocks three lanes of traffic and emergency crews respond to the scene."

to leave somewhere with something that one does not own

"The child runs off with toy."

"The shoplifter was caught trying to run off with a valuable necklace hidden in his jacket pocket."

to take and lift something or someone up

"Please pick up the pen."

"She asked her son to pick up his toys from the floor before dinner."