Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
It seems pretty obvious that motorcycles are more dangerous than cars. In fact, in the U.S., motorcycle riders are more than four times more likely to have a fatal accident than people who drive car. So why is it that motorcycles continue to be a popular form of transportation?
One reason might be that in American culture, motorcycles are seen as cool and rebellious. The stereotypical image of a badass is someone who rides a big Harley Davidson, wears lots of leather, and belongs to a motorcycle gang like the Hell’s Angels. But motorcycles mean different things to different people, and they may not be seen as rebellious in every country.
As a child, Ella lived in Thailand and often rode a motorcycle with her parents. Find out if she thinks it’s a good idea for Dale to get a motorcycle.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
![]() |
![]() |
Dale: You know what I really, really want to do? Like, really soon?
Ella: What?
Dale: Ride a motorcycle.
Ella: Really? It seems kinda dangerous, you know?
Dale: Not really. Actually, I used to have a [def ]moped[/def] when I was a kid. I used to have a moped again when I was an adult. And I thought it was extremely fun. But I’ve just never had the chance to do the motorcycle thing. What about you? Have you ridden a motorcycle?
Ella: I did. In Thailand where I grew up, you know, the rules are quite different from the United States. They’re a little more lax on safety. And so I’d ride in the middle between my parents. And then I got in a car…not a car accident, but I got in an accident because the chain on the motorcycle cut through my leg.
Dale: Was it like a sports bike or a cruiser?
Ella: It was more like one of those tiny…it was a motorcycle but it was a small one. It’s not like quite a dirt bike but not full-on Harley. Right in the middle.
Dale: Not like one of those hogs. Have you seen those hogs down the street, like the American…I think I want that one.
Ella: That one? I can see you rocking that.
Dale: Do you think it’s more of a cultural symbol though, I mean do you think…
Ella: If you think Harleys, of course you think Americans. But then if you think just regular motorcycles for transportation, I kinda think of the rest of the world.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Zero Conditional" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
-
Sponsored by
Discussion
Dale is thinking about buying a motorcycle. He used to have a moped, but he wants to get a real motorcycle. His preference would be to get a big American hog.
Ella thinks motorcycles are unsafe because she got hurt on one when she was a kid. In Thailand, where Ella grew up, many people ride motorcycles as their main form of transportation.
Are motorcycles popular in your country? Do you think it’s safe to ride them?
For more on motorcycles, take a look at this video English lesson about a real American biker!
Comments
Argentina |
China |
China |
China |
Brazil |
Yemen |
Turkey |
Germany |
China |
China |
Brazil |
China |
Saudi Arabia |
Brazil |
Thailand |
Brazil |
China |
China |
Brazil |
China |