Cultural notes

One of the fundamental rites of passage for young adults in the U.S. is applying for and receiving their first credit card. Credit cards are issued by almost anyone -- bookstores, service stations, banks, department stores, record stores, etc.

The requirements for some credit cards are tougher than for others. Many people start off with a gasoline card, which is relatively easy to obtain. Two of the best known brands of credit or bank cards in the U.S. are Visa and MasterCard. Most of these cards carry a monthly service charge as well as annual interest in the 16-21% range. Cards like American Express are not actually credit cards, because you cannot defer payment on any part of your balance.

Having a credit card opens many doors in the U.S., but also entails considerable risk if used unwisely.

Action

CREDIT EMPLOYEE: Are you applying for a charge account?

YOU: Yes. How long will it take for approval?

CREDIT EMPLOYEE: Only a few weeks. Have you filled out the application form yet?

YOU: Not entirely. I'm not a U.S. citizen. My bank and previous charge accounts are all abroad. What should I do?

CREDIT EMPLOYEE: I don't think there'll be a problem. Just write down the name and number of your accounts at home. We'll let our credit office work out the details.

YOU: Is there a charge to use the card?

CREDIT EMPLOYEE: There's no charge for the card itself. You pay a small amount of interest on the remaining balance at the end of each month.

YOU: Is there a limit on what I can charge?

CREDIT EMPLOYEE: We'll start you off with a $1,200 maximum. If your credit history is good, and you need to increase your line, we can usually do it.

YOU: Great. When can I start using it?

CREDIT EMPLOYEE: We should have approval within ten days. Where shall we mail your card?

YOU: To this address. I'm having all my mail forwarded to my attorney's office while I'm out of town.

Lesson 17 «Asking Directions»

Vocabulary

85 (eighty-five)

AAA (American Automobile Association)

The American Automobile Association is commonly referred to as "Triple A."

about (prep.)

"About" is used in the dialogue in the sense of "concerning."

allowing (pres. part., to allow)

along (prep.)

already (adv.)

association (noun)

automobile (noun as adj.)

beltway (noun)

A "beltway" is an "expressway" or "freeway" that passes around an urban area.

between (prep.)

branch (noun as adj.)

A "branch office" is an office of a company in a different city or location. The word "branch" is commonly used in reference to different locations of a bank.

brochures (noun, pl.)

Small packets of information are often called "brochures," "pamphlets," or simply "information."

cities (noun, pl.)

detailed (adj.)

difference (noun)

distance (noun)

estimate, you (to estimate)

The noun that corresponds to the verb "to estimate" is an "estimate." One usually "arrives at an estimate" after doing calculations.

figure out (inf., to figure out)

To "figure something out" implies "solving" or "computing." The expression also conveys the idea of "understanding" or "reasoning out."

flying (pres. part., to fly)

freeway (noun)

The words "freeway," "expressway," and "highway" are sometimes used in place of "interstate." The opposite is a "toll road" or "turnpike" which you must pay to use (at "toll gates," usually positioned near "turn offs" or "exits").

Georgia (prop. noun)

highway (noun)

historic (adj.)

I-285 (Interstate two eighty-five)

I-66 (Interstate sixty-six)

information (noun)

interstate (noun)

map (noun)

A collection of "maps" is known as an "atlas." When driving from state to state, it is a good idea to purchase a "road atlas."

membership (noun)

"Membership" in a "club," "association," or "organization" might involve "dues" ("the cost of joining"). The concept of membership usually "entitles" certain benefits to the individual who joins, such as "special services" or "discounts." A "price club" membership entitles you to shop at special discount stores. In many cases, specialty items that you buy frequently at shops (such as "books," "CD's," "movie tickets," etc.) have "discount cards" or "memberships" that you can purchase to save on these items. "Mail order book clubs" and "CD clubs" also discount merchandise when you "sign up."

North Carolina (prop. noun)

options (noun, pl.)

Another way to express "You have two options," is to say "You have two choices."

packed, you've (to pack, past)

packet (noun)

parked (past part., to park)

To "pack one's car" refers to placing everything someone needs for a trip into the car. Other common expressions that deal with "packing" include "Pack your bags" (i.e., "Get out!"), "All packed up with no where to go," "She sent me packin'" ("She kicked me out"), "I'm packin' it in" ("I'm giving up").

provided, it (to provide, past)

reach, you (to reach)

Another way to express "until you reach the I-285 beltway" is with the more common "get to" (as in "Go until you get to the corner of 1st and Main.").

route (noun)

scenic (adj.)

shorter (adj., comp.)

Another way to say "I-85 is somewhat shorter" is to use "a little," as in "I-85 is a little shorter."

somewhat (indef. adv.)

South Carolina (prop. noun)

stop, you (to stop)

stops (noun, pl.)

Tennessee (prop. noun)

traffic (noun)

"Traffic" is heaviest at "rush hour" (when people are "commuting" back and forth to work). To be stuck in a "traffic jam" due to "heavy traffic" or an "accident" can be a daunting experience if you are not used to it. To have lanes of traffic funnel into just one is often called a "bottleneck." People who "gawk" at accidents as they drive by are known as "gawkers," "bottleneckers" or "rubberneckers" and can slow traffic to a "crawl."

triple (adj.)

Virginia (prop. noun)

Story

You've packed your car and you're ready to leave Atlanta for Washington. You estimate a two-day trip, allowing for stops at historic sights along the way. Although you have a highway map of the U.S., you need more detailed information about the cities along your route. Since your aunt's will provided you with a membership in "Triple A" (American Automobile Association), you stop at one of their branch offices on your way out of town.