EM 4 - 2018 (ESPAÑOL - digitalizado)

THE FULL
TREATMENT
CONVERSATION 2
Conversation Matters
Monica: Wow, Charles. I think this is one of those full-service
petrol stations.
Charles: You know, you’re right. Look, there’s even an attendant
standing right there at the pump.
Attendant: Hello, how can I help you.
Charles: Sorry, we’re not used to this kind of service. Most of our
petrol stations back home are self-service.
Attendant: Don’t worry, we get that all the time. Would you like
me to fill it up?
Charles: Well, yes please. But we were also worried about one of
our tyres, it feels a little flat.
Attendant: OK, then once we’re done here, just drive your car over
to our car park, and I’ll have a look. We have an air compressor and
everything you may need to be on your way.
Monica: My, I wish we had this kind of service back where we
come form. You’d be the most popular station in town by far.
Parts of a Car
• The fuel warning light on the dashboard just lit up.
We’d better find a station soon.
• My fuel gauge never works, so I’d feel better if we
stopped at a petrol station anyway.
• Her car’s petrol tank is located on the driver’s side by
the boot (UK) / trunk (US). You should find the filler
cap close to the back.
• Make sure the ignition is switched off before you begin
pumping. It’s dangerous to leave the engine running.
• I always turn off my headlights when I’m waiting for a
pump at the station. I’ve always thought other drivers
find the lights distracting and annoying.
fuel warning light | l testigo, luz de la reserva
dashboard | salpicadero
fuel gauge /ˈfjuːəl ɡeɪdʒ/ | indicador de combustible
boot (UK) / trunk (US) | maletero
filler cap | tapón del depósito
ignition | arranque
switched off | apagado
engine | motor
headlight | faro
to distract sb | distraer
Mobile Phones
at Petrol Stations
At the start of the 2000s, as mobile
phone use became more prevalent,
an urban legend began spreading
across the Internet. It claimed that
using mobile phones at petrol stations
would potentially set off explosions
due to gas vapours interacting
with the static electricity given off by
the phone. Online posts cited news
reports from Indonesia, Australia,
or some other far-flung location, in
which a poor soul suffered burns
after talking on their phone while
fuelling their car. Parents passed on
the warnings to their children, and
some petrol stations even posted
signs advising against the use of cellular
phones.
Despite the fact that the belief
gained widespread acceptance, does
the story hold any water? Can your
phone spark a fire at a petrol station?
The verdict is a resounding “No.” Talk
of any isolated incident that resulted
in bodily harm has never been corroborated.
After extensive experiments,
scientists were unable to find
any real reason why mobile phones
might ignite fires at petrol stations.
It seemed as if it had been a myth
all along, and mass hysteria had
helped fan the flames. But although
it appears as if we’re in the clear, it
never hurts to be safe, right?
prevalent | frecuente
to spread | extenderse, difundirse
to set off sth | aquí: provocar, desencadenar
far-flung | lejano, remoto
poor soul | pobrecito
to pass on sth | transmitir
belief | creencia
to hold water | tener sentido
to spark a fire | provocar un incendio
resounding | rotundo
to ignite sth /ɪɡˈnaɪt/ | prender, desatar
to fan sth | aquí: avivar
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