Vocabulary

$1,000 (one thousand dollars)

"One thousand dollars" is sometimes referred to as "a grand" (slang) ( "ten grand" = $10,000.00 ).

accident (noun)

books (noun, pl.)

brakes (noun, pl.)

One normally "applies the brakes" in order to "stop a car." A more evasive action is to "slam on the brakes," meaning to make a car come to a sudden stop.

bumper (noun)

calm down! (imp., to calm down)

Other similar expressions include "Take it easy!" "Relax!" "Chill out!" "Hang loose!" and "Simmer down!"

contact (noun)

corn (noun)

"Corn" refers to a specific kind of plant that produces "maize," not just to "grain" in general.

crash (noun)

drive (noun)

during (prep.)

endless (adj.)

explain, they (to explain)

fields (noun, pl.)

fix (inf., to fix)

get out, you (to get out)

happened, it (to happen, past)

hear, you (to hear)

hey! (interj.)

The interjection "Hey!" is used to get someone's attention. "Hey" can also replace "hello" or "hi" in some parts of the country.

horizon (noun)

Illinois (prop. noun)

Frequently mispronounced as "Illinoise," the "s" is silent as in "Illinoy." The name originates from the Algonquian (or "Illinoisans"), a North American Indian people.

in front of (prep. phrase)

insurance (noun)

investigate (inf., to investigate)

involved (past part., to involve)

The expression "to get involved" is similar to "to take part in" or "to have something ("anything") to do with..." (as in "I don't want to get involved," "I don't want to take part in...," and "I don't want anything to do with...."

jerk (noun)

Although mildly derogatory, "jerk" is used in everyday speech. The 1st motorist could have referred to the 2nd Motorist with terms much worse than "jerk."

last (adj.)

late (adj.)

In the case of the dialogue, "late" refers to the lack of time that the driver had to stop.

loaded down (adj.)

look up (inf., to look up)

Since the protagonist already has the "name," "address," and "phone number" of Aunt Stephanie's friend, she will not be "looking up" the friend in the sense of opening the "phone book" and looking for a name and phone number. "To look someone up" in a city often implies contacting a person and organizing a meeting based on a mutual friendship or "contact."

loud (adj.)

many (adj.)

motel (noun)

When you are traveling by car along an interstate highway, you will frequently come across "motor inns" or "motels" which will be less expensive than a hotel (and often less comfortable).

motorist (noun)

out of town (adv.)

One can be "from out of town" or one can "go out of town." If you do not want to be specific about where you are from, where you are going, or where you've been, "out of town" usually does the trick and no further questions will be asked. (E.g.: "I'm from out of town." "I'm going out of town." "I've been out of town.")

pass through, you (to pass through)

Many times when you're traveling, don't be surprised if people ask if you plan to stay a while, or if you're "just passing through?"

phone number (noun)

photos (noun, pl.)

"Photos" is the shortened form of "photographs." "Pictures," and "snapshots" are synonyms.

police (noun)

post cards (noun, pl.)

ran, he (to run, past)

Notice the expression "to run into (someone)" means "to hit someone else's car" with your own. In everyday speech, you will also hear this expression used in a less threatening way (as in, "I ran into my neighbor at the Laundromat."), meaning you happened to see your neighbor. "To have a run in" with someone means to have some sort of "argument" or "fight."

really (adv.)

saw, I (to see)

squeal (noun)

supposed (past part.)

things (noun, pl.)

traffic light (noun)

A "traffic light" at an intersection will have at least three different colored lights (red for "stop," yellow for "caution" and green for "go"). There might also be "turn arrows" which also signal you to go and stop.

turn signal (noun)

The "turn signal" in a car is sometimes called a "blinker."

what the hell! (id. exp.)

A milder form of "What the hell!" is "What the heck!"

whom (pron.)

witness (noun)

A person who sees an "accident" or a "crime" is often called an "eye-witness."

Story

You leave Washington loaded down with photos, post cards, and books about U.S. history. You pass through many states during your drive to Chicago, Illinois. The last day you see nothing but endless fields of corn. Finally, Chicago appears on the horizon; you enter the city and start looking for a motel. While stopped at a traffic light, you hear the squeal of brakes and a loud crash. Two cars in front of you have had an accident. You get out of your car to see if you can help.