I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

How do people find cheap or discount train tickets to get around your city in your country? What about train tickets for popular destinations like New York City, London, France, or Japan? Would foreigners visiting your country have a difficult time using public transportation in major cities? Why or why not?

HELPFUL TIP: Buying cheap train tickets is possible if you by a train pass in advance. Check the Internet for discount train tickets at your destination.

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

Listen to the conversation by pressing the “Play Audio” button and answer the questions. Press the “Final Score” button to check your quiz.

1. Where does the man want to go?

A. to the science museum

B. to the art museum

C. to the natural history museum
2. How much is the train ride?

A. a dollar fifteen

B. a dollar forty

C. a dollar fifty

3. Where should the man get on the train?

A. platform number 3

B. platform number 4

C. platform number 5

4. How often do the trains come?

A. about every five minutes

B. about every six minutes

C. about every seven minutes

5. Where should the man get off the train?

A. at the State Street Station

B. at the Star Palace Station

C. at the Seventh Street Station

Score =
Correct answers:


Man: Uh, where am I? Tsk, hum . . .
Woman: Excuse me. Do you need any help?

Man: Nah, I . . . I’m just looking . . . well . . . [Okay . . .] Uh, well, actually . . . yeah. Um . . . I want to go to the science museum, but I’ve been lost for the past few hours, and I can’t make heads or tails of these ticket machines.

Woman: Ah, well, just press this button. [Oh, yeah] And from here, it’s a dollar fifty.

Man: Okay.

Woman: Then, get on the train at platform number 4.

Man: Alright. Oh, and how often do the trains come around this time of day?

Woman: Usually, they come about every six minutes.

Man: Okay. And where do I get off the train?

Woman: Get off at State Street Station, three stops from here.

Man: Okay. I got it. Thanks for your help.

Woman: No problem. Good luck

Key Vocabulary [Top]
  • nah: informal for no
    – Nah. I don’t want to go, but thanks for asking.
  • not make heads or tails of (idiom): not be able to understand something at all
    – I can’t make heads or tails of this train map.
  • platform (noun): the place next to the railroad tracks where you wait for a train
    – Please meet me on the platform 15 minutes before the train is scheduled to leave.
  • get something (verb): understand something
    – Most of the time, she doesn’t get what the teacher says.
  • no problem: used after someone thanks you for your help, similar to “You’re welcome”
    – A: Thanks for helping me buy a train ticket.
    – B: No problem.

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