Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words. Currently, we’re looking at some common English idioms.
to hang on: to ask someone to wait
Example:
Are you going to the store? Hang on a minute – I’ll come with you.
twenty-four/seven (24/7): constantly, around the clock
Example:
My favorite hamburger place is open 24/7, so sometimes I go there for a late-night snack.
1. What are the people in the picture doing?
The people are going for a drive in the car.
2. What do you call a car without a roof?
A car without a roof is called a convertible.
3. What kind of road do you suppose the car is driving on?
It looks like the car is driving on a country road, or perhaps on an interstate or expressway.
4. What do you call the person who controls the car?
The person who controls the car is called the driver.
5. What do you call a person who is not controlling the car?
Someone who is not controlling the car is called a passenger.
6. What is a driver’s license?
A driver’s license is a document which signifies that a person enjoys the legal privilege of being able to drive a car.
7. When you prepare to drive a car somewhere, what sort of things do you have to do?
When you prepare to drive a car, there are several things that you have to do. You have to put on your seatbelt, adjust the seat and mirrors if necessary, turn on the ignition, and put the car in gear. If you are parked in a driveway, you might have to back up the car in order to get it onto the road.
8. What does a seatbelt do?
A seatbelt restrains the driver and/or passengers in the event of a car crash.
9. What does the driver use mirrors for?
The driver uses the mirrors to view the traffic behind him, and to see where he is going if he has to drive the car in reverse.
10. Why is the dashboard important to the driver?
The dashboard is important to the driver because he is able to view the speedometer, the gas gauge, and other important instruments that let him know how the car is currently functioning.
11. What does the speedometer do?
The speedometer tells the driver how fast the car is going. It also usually tells the total number of miles the car has been driven.
12. How does the driver make the car go?
The driver makes the car go by putting the car in gear and stepping on the gas pedal (accelerator).
13. How does the driver steer the car?
The driver steers the car with the steering wheel.
14. What do wipers do?
The wipers clean the windshield of rain and snow, keeping it clear so the driver can see the road.
15. What do turn signals do?
Turn signals indicate to other drivers that the car is going to turn.
16. What does the driver use cruise control for?
The driver uses cruise control to keep the car at a constant speed, usually while driving on an expressway or interstate.
17. What part of the car is under the hood?
The engine is under the hood.
18. What is the trunk of a car?
The trunk of the car is where luggage and other parcels can be put. Often, a spare tire or other emergency equipment is also kept there.
19. Where is the fuel for a car stored?
The fuel for a car is stored in the car’s gas tank.
20. What sorts of road signs must a driver pay attention to?
The driver needs to pay attention to stop signs, speed limit signs, no passing zone signs, traffic lights, and direction signs.
Paragraph: Driving a Car
Have you ever driven a car? Are you learning how to drive? Do you like to drive? Write a brief paragraph about your driving experiences.
I remember when I got my driver’s license. I had turned sixteen several weeks earlier, but I decided to wait for several reasons. For one thing, all the cars in the driver’s ed course at school had automatic transmission, but all our family cars had manual transmission, and I was not especially confident in driving a stick shift. I felt I needed the extra time to become more proficient. Also, my birthday was in the winter, and I wasn’t too keen on trying to take my driver’s test on snowy roads.
So, one day during spring break, my mother took me to the driver’s license facility to get my driver’s license. I was very nervous, and my nervousness was made all the worse because I had to wait until a driver’s license examiner was available. At long last my turn came, and the examiner came out with me to my car. He observed me as I came out of the parking lot, and instructed me to turn onto the main road. I drove down the road, which had a stop sign at the end. I figured that the examiner would be picky about coming to a full stop, so I made sure that I completely stopped the car at the stop line.
However, when I went to make a turn at the stop sign, I had trouble with the car dying on me. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with the car until the examiner asked, “Why don’t you try putting the car into first?” When I had come to the stop sign, I had already gotten the car into third gear, and in my nervousness I completely forgot to go back to first gear after having stopped. I thought for sure the examiner was going to flunk me, but he must have had pity on me or something, because he passed me nonetheless. I was so glad to have the ordeal of a driving test behind me!
Vocabulary
| Driver | Passenger | Seat belt | Rear view mirror |
| Side mirror | Dashboard | Speedometer | Steering wheel |
| Gas pedal | Brake pedal | Clutch | Stick shift |
| Manual transmission | Automatic transmission | Wipers | Turn signal |
| Cruise control | Headlights | Windshield | Hood |
| Trunk | Tires | Gas tank | In gear |
| Reverse | Convertible | Speed limit sign | Stop sign |
| Traffic / stop light | Driver’s license | Road | Highway |
| Interstate | Expressway | Toll road |
1. What are the people in the picture doing?
2. What do you call a car without a roof?
3. What kind of road do you suppose the car is driving on?
4. What do you call the person who controls the car?
5. What do you call a person who is not controlling the car?
6. What is a driver’s license?
7. When you prepare to drive a car somewhere, what sort of things do you have to do?
8. What does a seatbelt do?
9. What does the driver use mirrors for?
10. Why is the dashboard important to the driver?
11. What does the speedometer do?
12. How does the driver make the car go?
13. How does the driver steer the car?
14. What do wipers do?
15. What do turn signals do?
16. What does the driver use cruise control for?
17. What part of the car is under the hood?
18. What is the trunk of a car?
19. Where is the fuel for a car stored?
20. What sorts of road signs must a driver pay attention to?
Paragraph: Driving a Car
Have you ever driven a car? Are you learning how to drive? Do you like to drive? Write a brief paragraph about your driving experiences.
Exercise. Look at the pictures and complete the following sentences. Use “the” if necessary.
Example:
He’s in ______. ==> He’s in church.
 1. She’s in bed. |
 2. They’re at the movies. |
 3. He’s in prison. |
 4. She’s in the hospital. |
 5. He’s at the airport. |
 6. He’s at home. |
Exercise. Choose words from the list to complete the following sentences. Use “the” if necessary.
Example:
Harry is studying chemistry in ______. (college) ==> Harry is studying chemistry in college.
1. Before we went on vacation, Father went to the bank to pick up some traveler’s checks.
2. Greg has to go to the doctor for a sports physical.
3. We’re going to have a company picnic at work this summer.
4. Instead of a big birthday party, Joan wanted to go to the movies with a few good friends.
5. Aren’t you going home? It’s nearly midnight.
6. Jack has the flu, so Mother told him to stay in bed and rest.
7. You’ll have to go to the post office to mail that package.
8. Martha had to go to school to pick up Jeremy. The school nurse said he’s come down with the chicken pox.
9. The punishment for that crime is five years in prison.
10. It’s about time you went to the dentist and had him take a look at that toothache.
Exercise. Complete the sentences, using the verb “go.” Use “the” if necessary.
Example:
If you want to study medicine, you ______. ==> If you want to study medicine, you go to college.
1. If you don’t want to stay at a party, you go home.
2. If you have appendicitis, you go to the hospital.
3. If you need to take a flight, you go to the airport.
4. If you are sick, you go to the doctor.
5. If you need to catch a train, you go to the station.
6. If you want to see a film, you go to the movies.
7. If you want to worship, you go to church.
8. If you have a toothache, you go to the dentist.
9. If you want to see a play, you go to the theater.
10. If you commit a crime, you go to jail.
11. If you have a job, you go to work.
12. If you are tired, you go to bed.
13. If you are a child, you go to school.
14. If you want to get an advanced degree, you go to college.
15. If you want to mail a letter, you go to the post office.
16. If you need some cash, you go to the bank.
Exercise. For the following sentences, write “the” where necessary. If the sentence needs no correction, write “OK.”
Example:
John went to movies on Saturday. ==> John went to the movies on Saturday.
Father served Mother with breakfast in bed. ==> OK.
1. Jack and Jill were married in church. ==> OK.
2. Grandmother took Grandfather to the doctor for his blood test.
3. The children are putting on a Thanksgiving play at school next week. ==> OK.
4. Helen has to go to the dentist for her six-month checkup.
5. Could you take this parcel to the post office for me?
6. Which bus goes to the airport?
7. I’ll go to the station and pick you up when your train comes in. Just give me a call.
8. Are you still in bed? It’s nearly 10 a.m. ==> OK.
9. I think I hear your mother calling you. You’d better go home now. ==> OK.
10. Uncle Steve broke his arm and had to go to the hospital.
11. Do you want to go out for a drink when you finish work? ==> OK.
12. We went to the theater for the opening of Julius’ new play.
13. I didn’t know that Uncle Clyde spent time in prison. ==> OK.
14. We go to the bank every payday and get some cash.
15. I don’t go to the movies much anymore.
16. George studied hard in college. ==> OK.
We’re going to look at some set phrases. Some of these phrases need the definite article “the,” and others do not use “the.”
The following phrases do NOT use the definite article “the”:
(go) to work, (be) at work, start work, finish work:
Father went to work early because he had so much to do. (not to the work)
What time do you finish work? (not finish the work)
(go) to school, (be) at school, (be) in school, start school, finish school, etc.:
John is having trouble at school. (not at the school)
What did you learn in school today? (not in the school)
The twins enjoy school. (not the school)
(go) to college, (be) in college:
Marcus is planning to go to college after he graduates from high school. (not to the college)
Shirley studied biology in college. (not in the college)
(go) to prison/jail, (be) in prison/jail:
The judge sentenced the thief to five years in prison. (not in the prison)
Tom was arrested for driving under the influence, and had to spend the night in jail. (not in the jail)
(go) to church, (be) in/at church:
Charles hasn’t gone to church in ages. (not gone to the church)
(go) to bed, (be) in bed:
“Are the children all in bed? For it’s now eight o’clock.” (not in the bed)
Mother wasn’t feeling well, so she went to bed early. (not went to the bed)
(go) home, (be) (at) home, etc.:
It’s late. Let’s go home. (not go to the home)
Janice likes to spend quiet evenings at home. (not at the home)
The following phrases DO use the definite article “the”:
(go to) the bank / the post office / the hospital / the station / the airport:
I have to go to the bank and make a deposit.
James went to the post office and bought a roll of stamps.
Uncle Mark had appendicitis, and had to go to the hospital.
Father’s coming home from his business trip, so Mother went to the station to pick him up.
We went to the airport early, and wound up waiting three hours for our flight.
(go to) the theater / the movies:
Jack and Jill go to the movies every Friday for date night.
(go to) the doctor, the dentist:
I have a horrible stomach ache. Do you suppose I should go to the doctor?
Mary broke her tooth eating some nuts, and had to go to the dentist.
Exercise. Look at the pictures and complete the following sentences. Use “the” if necessary.
Example:
He’s in ______. ==> He’s in church.
|
1. She’s in ______. |
2. They’re at ______. |
|
3. He’s in ______. |
4. She’s in ______. |
|
5. He’s at ______. |
6. He’s at ______. |
Exercise. Choose words from the list to complete the following sentences. Use “the” if necessary.
Example:
Harry is studying chemistry in ______. (college) ==> Harry is studying chemistry in college.
| bank | bed | dentist | doctor | home |
| movies | post office | prison | school | work |
1. Before we went on vacation, Father went to ______ to pick up some traveler’s checks.
2. Greg has to go to ______ for a sports physical.
3. We’re going to have a company picnic at ______ this summer.
4. Instead of a big birthday party, Joan wanted to go to ______ with a few good friends.
5. Aren’t you going ______? It’s nearly midnight.
6. Jack has the flu, so Mother told him to stay in ______ and rest.
7. You’ll have to go to ______ to mail that package.
8. Martha had to go to ______ to pick up Jeremy. The school nurse said he’s come down with the chicken pox.
9. The punishment for that crime is five years in ______.
10. It’s about time you went to ______ and had him take a look at that toothache.
Exercise. Complete the sentences, using the verb “go.” Use “the” if necessary.
Example:
If you want to study medicine, you ______. ==> If you want to study medicine, you go to college.
1. If you don’t want to stay at a party, you ______.
2. If you have appendicitis, you ______.
3. If you need to take a flight, you ______.
4. If you are sick, you ______.
5. If you need to catch a train, you ______.
6. If you want to see a film, you ______.
7. If you want to worship, you ______.
8. If you have a toothache, you ______.
9. If you want to see a play, you ______.
10. If you commit a crime, you ______.
11. If you have a job, you ______.
12. If you are tired, you ______.
13. If you are a child, you ______.
14. If you want to get an advanced degree, you ______.
15. If you want to mail a letter, you ______.
16. If you need some cash, you ______.
Exercise. For the following sentences, write “the” where necessary. If the sentence needs no correction, write “OK.”
Example:
John went to movies on Saturday. ==> John went to the movies on Saturday.
Father served Mother with breakfast in bed. ==> OK.
1. Jack and Jill were married in church.
2. Grandmother took Grandfather to doctor for his blood test.
3. The children are putting on a Thanksgiving play at school next week.
4. Helen has to go to dentist for her six-month checkup.
5. Could you take this parcel to post office for me?
6. Which bus goes to airport?
7. I’ll go to station and pick you up when your train comes in. Just give me a call.
8. Are you still in bed? It’s nearly 10 a.m.
9. I think I hear your mother calling you. You’d better go home now.
10. Uncle Steve broke his arm and had to go to hospital.
11. Do you want to go out for a drink when you finish work?
12. We went to theater for the opening of Julius’ new play.
13. I didn’t know that Uncle Clyde spent time in prison.
14. We go to bank every payday and get some cash.
15. I don’t go to movies much anymore.
16. George studied hard in college.
People like to drink. They enjoy beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages. However, in the US there is a minimum age for the purchase and public possession of alcohol. We call this the “drinking age.”
Historically, most states (with few exceptions) had no drinking age, meaning that anyone could make, purchase, and/or consume alcohol, regardless of age. In 1919, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed, instituting a national ban on the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol. The passage of this 18th amendment was known as “Prohibition,” since it prohibited alcohol.
Prohibition was a social experiment that ended in failure, and in 1933 the 21st Amendment was ratified, repealing Prohibition. After the repeal of Prohibition, most states established a minimum drinking age of 21, which was the same as the age of majority (the age at which a person would be legally considered an adult).
The drinking age remained largely unchanged until the early 1970s, when some states lowered their drinking age – some to 18, some to 19, some to 20. This was no doubt influenced by the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which had lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and essentially changed the age of majority to 18. In lowering the drinking age, some states placed additional restrictions on the 18 – 20 drinking crowd, such as limiting drinking in this age group to beer and wine but excluding hard liquor; other states imposed no restrictions. Not all states lowered their drinking ages, however. Of the fifty states, twelve states had a purchase age of 21 since Prohibition and never changed it. But from 1969 – 1976, a majority of states (30) had lowered their drinking age.
However, problems began to arise as a result of the lowered drinking age. 18-year-olds, some of whom were still in high school, frequently used their legal status to buy alcohol for their underage friends. Teen drinking became a huge problem with often deadly consequences, as many were involved in car crashes from driving under the influence of alcohol (driving drunk). Consequently, there was a push to raise the drinking age back to 21, and in 1984 the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed by Congress. This act required states to raise their purchase/public possession age to 21 by 1986; states that did not comply would lose ten percent of their highway funds.
It should be noted that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act only deals with the purchase and public possession of alcohol. Most states permit underage drinking in certain situations – for example, as part of a religious ritual (Communion) or under the supervision of a parent. But the drinking age effectively prohibits underage drinking.
Consequently, turning 21 is an important event to most young adults – they are able to drink legally. Many people celebrate their 21st birthday by going to a bar or a restaurant and imbibing. Of course, people who are not interested in drinking alcoholic beverages to begin with don’t bother with such drinking celebrations, and have a normal birthday party instead.
Because of the allure of “forbidden fruit,” many underage young adults try to get a hold of alcohol anyhow. Sometimes they might arrange to have someone over 21 purchase the alcohol for them (this is illegal, though), or they might steal alcohol from their parents’ liquor cabinet. But quite a number will attempt to get around the drinking age by making a counterfeit ID, and using this fake ID to get into bars or to purchase alcohol. Naturally, states try to counter this by making driver’s licenses and other government-issued IDs tamper-proof and/or difficult to counterfeit. But it seems like no matter how difficult it is to make a fake ID, there are those who figure out how to get around it somehow. However, most people comply with the law (more or less) and wait until they are “legal” before they try purchasing and consuming alcohol on their own.
Exercise. Write “the” where necessary. If “the” is not needed, write “OK.”
Example:
How far is it to library? ==> How far is it to the library?
My birthday was last week. ==> OK.
1. If you are involved in a serious car accident, you should call the police.
2. We didn’t have much snow last winter. ==> OK.
3. Mary has been playing the flute since she was in high school.
4. Please turn down the radio – it’s too loud for me.
5. Mr. Jones took his secretaries out to lunch last week for Secretaries’ Day. ==> OK.
6. Tom prefers to take the subway to work.
7. Mars is nearly 228 million km from the sun.
8. Mother is busy cooking dinner. ==> OK.
9. I’m bored – there are no good programs on television. ==> OK.
10. The students in the 10 o’clock class had the same test as those in the 8 o’clock class.
11. The Browns are going camping in the mountains.
12. Bill and Bob had complimentary tickets to the last basketball game of the season.
13. When you take a photograph, you should not put your subject in the middle of the picture.
14. Mark has to study for his English test next week. ==> OK.
15. Jack and Jill have a farm out in the country.
Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use “the same” with one of the words in the box.
Example:
Steve and John are twins. They were born on ______. (day) ==> Steve and John are twins. They were born on the same day.
1. Mr. Smith takes the 7:45 train into the city. Mr. Brown takes the 7:45 train into the city. They take the same train.
2. Susan is reading “Call of the Wild.” Maggie is reading “Call of the Wild.” Susan and Maggie are reading the same book.
3. I arrived at school at 8 o’clock. James arrived at school at 8 o’clock. We arrived at the same time.
4. Mack enjoys biking. Sam enjoys biking. Mack and Sam enjoy the same sport.
5. I watched the movie “Casablanca.” Edward watched the movie “Casablanca.” We watched the same movie.
Exercise. Look at the following pictures and complete the sentences, using “the” if necessary.
Example:
We have a cabin in ______. (forest)
==> We have a cabin in the forest.
 1. She’s playing the flute. |
 2. They’re having dinner. |
 3. They’re watching TV. |
 4. The sun is setting. |
 5. He’s surfing in the ocean. |
 6. She’s studying at the library. |
Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Choose a word from the list, using “the” if necessary.
Example:
Father and Mother went out for ______ to celebrate their anniversary. (dinner) ==> Father and Mother went out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary.
1. In the beginning of “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy runs away so Miss Gulch will not take Toto away.
2. What is the name of your puppy?
3. Tell me about the time you lost your dog.
4. Mark listens to the radio when he exercises.
5. Astronauts landed on the moon in 1969.
6. Paris is the capital of France.
7. The bank manager notified the police of the attempted robbery.
8. The doctor’s office is on the fifth floor.
9. Tom joined the Navy so he could see the world.
10. Our family reunion was in Texas last summer.
The definite article “the” is used in a number of different situations:
We use “the” when it is clear which person, place, or thing is meant.
The telephone was invented in 1876. (It is clear which invention we are talking about.)
We’d better get back to work – the boss is coming. (There is only one boss.)
Pardon me, but do you have the time? (= the time now)
Don’t forget to turn on the dishwasher before you leave for work. (We have only one dishwasher.)
We use “the” in the phrase “the same ____”:
Helen and Marlene had the same kind of dress. (not had same kind of dress)
This is the same movie that the Watsons told us about. (not is same movie)
Is this accounting course different than the one in the catalog? —No, they’re the same. (not they’re same)
We use “the” in the following phrases:
the sun / the moon / the world / the sky / the ocean / the sea / the country:
The sun is really a big star.
Wolves howl at the moon.
The sky was filled with colorful fireworks.
We’re going to vacation at the ocean this year.
the police:
By the time the police arrived, the suspect had already fled the scene.
the top / the bottom / the beginning / the end / the middle / the left / the right, etc.:
There is a box of biscuits on the top of the refrigerator.
Look at the question at the bottom of page 3.
Jack is standing on the left in that picture.
play the piano / the guitar / the violin / the clarinet, etc.:
Susannah is learning to play the guitar.
Mark is good at playing the trumpet.
I wish I had learned how to play the violin when I was younger.
the radio:
Keith listens to the radio when he drives to and from work.
Note: There are certain situations where “the” is NOT used!
television / TV:
Kids nowadays watch too much TV. (not the too much TV)
But: Turn off the TV if you’re not going to watch it. (= the TV set)
breakfast / lunch / dinner:
Jack was too sick to eat breakfast. (not the breakfast)
Let’s meet for lunch sometime. (not the lunch)
Don’t eat a snack – it’ll be time for dinner soon. (not the dinner)
Next / last + week / month / year / spring, etc. / Sunday, etc.:
We are going to have a test next week. (not the next week)
Last summer Grandmother came to visit us. (not the last summer)
Jim’s having a party next Saturday – are you going? (not the next Saturday)
Exercise. Write “the” where necessary. If “the” is not needed, write “OK.”
Example:
How far is it to library? ==> How far is it to the library?
My birthday was last week. ==> OK.
1. If you are involved in a serious car accident, you should call police.
2. We didn’t have much snow last winter.
3. Mary has been playing flute since she was in high school.
4. Please turn down radio – it’s too loud for me.
5. Mr. Jones took his secretaries out to lunch last week for Secretaries’ Day.
6. Tom prefers to take subway to work.
7. Mars is nearly 228 million km from sun.
8. Mother is busy cooking dinner.
9. I’m bored – there are no good programs on television.
10. The students in the 10 o’clock class had same test as those in the 8 o’clock class.
11. The Browns are going camping in mountains.
12. Bill and Bob had complimentary tickets to last basketball game of the season.
13. When you take a photograph, you should not put your subject in middle of the picture.
14. Mark has to study for his English test next week.
15. Jack and Jill have a farm out in country.
Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use “the same” with one of the words in the box.
Example:
Steve and John are twins. They were born on ______. (day) ==> Steve and John are twins. They were born on the same day.
| book | movie | sport | time | train |
1. Mr. Smith takes the 7:45 train into the city. Mr. Brown takes the 7:45 train into the city. They take ______.
2. Susan is reading “Call of the Wild.” Maggie is reading “Call of the Wild.” Susan and Maggie are reading ______.
3. I arrived at school at 8 o’clock. James arrived at school at 8 o’clock. We arrived at ______.
4. Mack enjoys biking. Sam enjoys biking. Mack and Sam enjoy ______.
5. I watched the movie “Casablanca.” Edward watched the movie “Casablanca.” We watched ______.
Exercise. Look at the following pictures and complete the sentences, using “the” if necessary.
Example:
We have a cabin in ______. (forest)
==> We have a cabin in the forest.
| dinner | flute | library |
| ocean | sun | TV |
|
1. She’s playing ______. |
2. They’re having ______. |
|
3. They’re watching ______. |
4. ______ is setting. |
|
5. He’s surfing in ______. |
6. She’s studying at ______. |
Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Choose a word from the list, using “the” if necessary.
Example:
Father and Mother went out for ______ to celebrate their anniversary. (dinner) ==> Father and Mother went out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary.
| beginning | capital | fifth floor | last summer | moon |
| name | police | radio | time | world |
1. In ______ of “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy runs away so Miss Gulch will not take Toto away.
2. What is ______ of your puppy?
3. Tell me about ______ you lost your dog.
4. Mark listens to ______ when he exercises.
5. Astronauts landed on ______ in 1969.
6. Paris is ______ of France.
7. The bank manager notified ______ of the attempted robbery.
8. The doctor’s office is on ______.
9. Tom joined the Navy so he could see ______.
10. Our family reunion was in Texas ______.
For many American teens, getting a driver’s license functions as a “rite of passage.” It marks a concrete, visible step towards adulthood and independence. Small wonder, then, that teenagers are keenly interested in getting this important document. What must a teen do to get a driver’s license? The precise answer depends on what state the teen lives in. I will outline for you the basic requirements that the State of Illinois sets forth for teens who wish to get a driver’s license.
When a student turns 15, he can enroll in a driver’s education course, either through the public school or through a commercial driving school. Upon passing a written test covering the “rules of the road,” along with a vision test, the student can get a “learner’s permit.” With a learner’s permit, the student will be able to practice driving on the road, provided he is accompanied by an adult, licensed driver.
The driver’s education course actually consists of two components. The first is the in-class component (also known as “book”), which has an “emphasis on the development of knowledge, attitudes, habits and skills necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles including motorcycles insofar as they can be taught in the classroom, and in addition the course shall include instruction on special hazards existing at, and required extra safety and driving precautions that must be observed at, emergency situations, highway construction and maintenance zones, and railroad crossings and the approaches thereto.” This classroom instruction is required to be at least 30 hours.
The second component of driver’s ed is practical, known as “behind-the-wheel.” Students are instructed in driving a dual-control car on public roadways with a certified driver education instructor. This practical instruction is required to be at least 6 hours.
To be eligible to take a driver’s ed course, the student must be enrolled in high school (which may be a private school), and receive a passing grade in at least eight courses during the previous two semesters prior to enrolling in a driver’s ed course. In other words, the students cannot slack off academically.
Once the student has successfully completed both the in-class component and the behind-the-wheel component of the driver’s ed course, he will receive his “blue slip.” The blue slip is official acknowledgement of passing the driver’s ed course, and the student will need to take that with him when he goes to get his license. However, having a blue slip is not sufficient – the student is supposed to complete at least 50 hours of practice (in addition to the behind-the-wheel instruction), and he must have had his learner’s permit for at least 9 months before he can even think about applying for his license. He must also be at least 16 years old.
When he has fulfilled the practice and time requirements, and he has his parents’ or guardian’s permission, he can go to a Secretary of State facility (also called “Department of Motor Vehicles” in some states) to take a driving test, or “road test.” The driver’s license examiner will test the prospective driver on various aspects of driving and driving safety: driving down public roads, stopping properly at stop signs and traffic lights, using turn signals properly, parallel parking, and so on. If the student passes the road test, he will get his driver’s license – an important milestone on the way to becoming an adult!
