7. Speaking Practice

A.

WORD LIST: be a long way down under street

be built of marble/granite/modern building materials

buy a token

get in the train

get out at the station

get to the street

get/step off the escalator

go down/up the escalator

go out into the street

see the notice TO THE TRAINS

shut automatically

underground line

Using the words given below try to describe how you use the Underground.

B. Fares on the London Underground (the Tube) are not fixed, but are proportional to the distance travelled. There are ten lines in the system: the Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo and City lines.

Read the dialogues about how to use the London Underground.

Dialogue 1

A: Which way do I go for Queensway, please?

B: Take the Bakerloo to Paddington; the District to Notting Hill and then get the Central.

A: Where do I go now?

B: Take the escalator on your right.

Dialogue 2

A: How do I get to Lancaster Gate, please?

B: Catch the Metropolitan to Liverpool Street and then change to the Central Line.

A: Which platform do I want?

B: Follow those signs. You can’t go wrong.

Dialogue 3

A: Which line do I take for Marble Arch, please?

B: That’s easy; it’s the next station down the Central Line.

A: How do I get down to the trains?

B: Get that lift over there.

Dialogue 4

A: Can you tell me the best way to get to Bond Street, please?

B: You want the Victoria to Oxford Circus and then you change on to the Central.

A: Which way do I go first?

B: Go straight down the stairs, and turn left at the bottom.

C. Now practise the following:

Practice 1

Example: Student A: Excuse me, but is this the right train for St. Pauls?

Student B: Yes, it’s three stops down the line.

1. A: ________ platform ________ Leicester Square?

B: ________ two stops ________.

2. A: ________ side ________ Marble Arch?

B: ________ the next stop ________.

3. A: ________ line ________Holland Park?

B: ________ four stops ________.

4. A: ________ direction ________ Swiss Cottage?

B: ________ the stop after next ________.

Practice 2

Example: Student A: Can you tell me the best way to get to Holborn, please?

Student B: Take the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus and change to the Central.

1. A: ________ Earls Court ________?

B: ________ Metropolitan ________ Hammersmith ________ District.

2. A: ________ Knightsbridge ________?

B: ________ Circle ________ South Kensington ________ Piccadilly.

3. A: ________ Regents Park ________?

B: ________ Victoria ________ Oxford Circus ________ Bakerloo.

4. A: ________ Baker Street ________?

B: ________ Northern ________ Aldersgate ________ Metropolitan.

5. A: ________ Liverpool Street ________?

B: ________ Waterloo and City ________ the Bank ________ Central.

Practice 3

Example: Student A: Excuse me, please. Which way do I go for Notting Hill?

Student B: Notting Hill? Take the lift down to the Central Line.

1. A: ________ Piccadilly Circus?

B: ________ escalator ________ Bakerloo ________.

2. A: ________ Tower Hill?

B: ________ stairs ________ Circle ________.

3. A: ________ Bayswater?

B: ________ lift ________ District ________.

4. A: ________ Waterloo?

B: ________ stairs ________ Northern ________.

5. A: ________ Arsenal?

B: ________ escalator ________ Piccadilly ________.

D. Choose some other useful phrases from B and C to add to the list in A.