The Late Bus
Practise travel language, understanding a delay and asking for information.
Start with the guided lesson
Listen to the announcement, repeat useful phrases and practise explaining a delay.
1 · Read
Samira had a dentist appointment at 10:30 on Tuesday. She arrived at the bus stop at 9:40, but her usual bus did not come. After fifteen minutes, she checked the transport app. It said that the road was closed because of an accident. Samira called the dental clinic, explained the problem and asked if she could arrive later. The receptionist moved her appointment to 11:15.
normal or regular
changed it to another time
2 · Listen
Listen to an announcement about Samira’s bus.
3 · Answer five questions
1. Why did Samira’s usual bus not come?
2. What did Samira do after checking the app?
3. What was her new appointment time?
4. How long is bus 24 delayed?
5. Which bus can passengers take instead?
4 · Speak
You will be late for an appointment because your bus is delayed. Call and explain the situation. Ask for a later time.
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5 · Self-check
Next lesson: Returning a Purchase
Explaining a problem, showing a receipt and requesting an exchange.
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Teacher answers · A2 The Late Bus
- A road was closed because of an accident.
- She called the dental clinic.
- 11:15.
- Approximately twenty minutes.
- Bus number 18 from stop six.
Listening transcript: Attention passengers. Bus number 24 is delayed by approximately twenty minutes because of an accident on King Street. Passengers travelling to the city centre can take bus number 18 from stop six. We apologise for the delay.
Speaking: Answers will vary. Look for a clear reason, an apology and a polite request such as “Could I…?”