Adult ESL Lessons: Transportation (Intermediate)

This is Lesson 42, “Transportation,” from our collection of intermediate-level adult ESL lessons. The lesson features a reading passage about different kinds of transportation, followed by comprehension questions and discussion questions. This content-packed lesson is written with relatively simple English to help students transition to a more advanced level of English understanding and fluency. This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many other adult ESL lessons like this one in our book ESL Pathways: Bridges.

ADULT ESL LESSONS: Transportation (Text-Only Version)

• How do you usually get around?
• What is your favorite way to travel?
• Would you rather take a train or a plane?  Why?
• Which is more comfortable:  an airplane or a train?
• Do you ever get carsick?  Airsick?  Seasick?
• Have you ever been on a boat?  Where?
• Would you like to go on a cruise?  Why?
• Can you swim well?  Are you a good swimmer?
• What causes air pollution?

Read about some different kinds of transportation.

There are many different kinds of transportation.  People use different kinds of transportation for different reasons.  For short journeys people often use small, personal transportation such as a bicycle or scooter.  People also ride a bicycle for exercise.  For longer journeys people might drive their car or truck.  Some people prefer to ride a motorcycle.  People often use their personal transportation to get to work, to go shopping, or to run errands.  People also take a ride or a drive on the weekends.  

There are different kinds of public transportation as well as personal transportation.

Many people take a bus or subway to school or to work in the mornings.  Some people take a taxi to get to where they want to go.  Some cities have trams or cable cars for passengers to take.  Electric trams are a good way to save energy and reduce the amount of pollution in large cities.  Too much traffic and transportation cause a lot of air and noise pollution.  Some cities have car pool programs to reduce the amount of traffic and pollution in their city.  Car pools are people who travel together in one car.  

Some people have jobs that require them to use special kinds of transportation.  A chauffeur drives wealthy people around in a limousine.  A pilot flies an airplane or perhaps even a helicopter.  Factory workers might need to operate a forklift.  Truck drivers drive large trucks to transport goods to places far away.  Astronauts need to know how to fly and to control a spaceship.  Racecar drivers need to know how to drive very fast.  Many people think that this is an exciting but dangerous job.     

People use different kinds of transportation when they travel or go on vacation.  For long journeys travelers often take an airplane.  Some flights are short, others are very long.  It depends on where you want to go.  Some travelers like to go on a cruise.  This is a journey on a very luxurious ship.  The ship has many facilities and recreational activities for passengers to take part in.  The cruise ship sails on the ocean and stops at various ports along the way.  Passengers can debark the ship and explore different kinds of local cultures and lifestyles.  Then, they can buy souvenirs to take home.   

* What other kinds of transportation can you think of?  Make a list. *

Comprehension Questions:

1. There are many different kinds of what?
2. What do people often use for short journeys?
3. What do people often use for longer journeys?
4. What do people use their personal transportation for?
5. What do people also do on the weekends?
6. What kind of transportation is there besides personal?
7. How do some people get to work or to school?
8. What do some cities have?
9. How are electric trams beneficial?
10. What can too much traffic and transportation cause?
11. What do some cities have?  What is this?
12. What does a chauffeur do?
13. What do pilots fly?
14. What do racecar drivers need to know how to do?
15. What do many people think about this job?
16. When do people use different kinds of transportation?
17. What does the length of the flight depend on?
18. What is a cruise?
19. What can passengers do on a cruise?
20. Where do cruise ships stop?
21. What can passengers buy?

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you own a car?  What color is it?  Why did you buy this kind?
2. Do you have a driver’s license?  When did you get your license?
3. Do you always wear your seatbelt when you ride in a car?  Why?  
4. Should people be allowed to talk on the telephone while they drive?  Why?
5. Do you think car pools are a good idea?  Why?  
6. Have you ever taken a taxi?  When?   Where did you go?
7. If you were going to buy a car which kind would you buy?
8. Is parking a problem in your city?  What are the problems?
9. What kinds of public transportation can people use in your country?
10. How often do you use public transportation?

11. What kind of transportation do you use most often?  Why?
12. What do you think is the most reliable form of transportation?  Why?
13. When was the last time you went on a train?  Where did you go?  Why did you go?
14. Do you ever ride a bicycle?  How often?  Where do you go?
15. Would you like to be a truck driver?  Why?
16. How many times have you flown on an airplane?  Where did you go?  
17. Have you ever been abroad?  Where did you go?
18. Where would you like to go?  
19. Would you like to go on a cruise?  Where would you like to go?
20. Do you ever get travel sickness (carsick, seasick, or airsick)?
21. What should you do if you get travel sickness?