A1 · Beginner · City · 68 words · ~2 min read

🚇 Tickets for the London Underground

Language focus: Present Simple · How much…? & can

Maria is in London. She wants to travel by Underground, so she goes to the ticket machine in the busy station.

“How much is a day pass?” she asks a helpful worker. “It is fifteen pounds,” he says. Maria buys an Oyster card and smiles.

Later, she needs more money on her card, so she tops it up. Now she can travel all day across the whole city.

Key vocabulary (8 words)

undergroundnoun
The railway that runs in tunnels under a city.
passnoun
A ticket that lets you travel many times.
machinenoun
A device that does a job, such as selling tickets.
farenoun
The money you pay to travel.
workernoun
A person who does a job.
cardnoun
A small plastic rectangle used to pay or travel.
busyadjective
Full of people or activity.
helpfuladjective
Willing and useful in helping others.

Phrasal verbs in this story

  • top up — To top up means to add more money or credit to a card or phone.

Comprehension quiz

  1. Where is Maria?

    • Paris
    • London
    • Rome
    Show answer

    London

  2. How does she want to travel?

    • By Underground
    • By plane
    • By boat
    Show answer

    By Underground

  3. How much is a day pass?

    • Five pounds
    • Fifteen pounds
    • Fifty pounds
    Show answer

    Fifteen pounds

  4. What does she buy?

    • An Oyster card
    • A sandwich
    • A map
    Show answer

    An Oyster card

  5. “Top up” means to…

    • add more money
    • get off
    • sit down
    Show answer

    add more money

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