A Near-Miss on the Scooty

Rahul is riding his scooty behind a car at a traffic circle when the car brakes suddenly. Caught off guard, he grabs his own brake in a rush and just about avoids a collision.

Meanings in Rahul, Friend

Key words and phrases

scootya small, light two-wheeler, commonly used for short city ridesRahul rides his scooty to work every day.

traffic circlea circular junction where roads meet and traffic moves around a central pointHe was riding behind a car at the traffic circle.

brakethe part of a vehicle used to slow down or stop itHe grabbed the brake as soon as the car stopped.

suddenlyhappening quickly and unexpectedlyThe car in front braked suddenly.

collisionan accident where two vehicles hit each otherHe managed to avoid a collision at the last second.

reflexa quick, automatic reaction without thinkingIt was pure reflex that made him hit the brake so fast.

flusteredconfused and nervous because something happened quicklyHe felt flustered and grabbed the brake too hard.

skidto slide sideways or out of control while movingThe scooty began to skid a little as he braked hard.

swerveto suddenly change direction to avoid somethingHe had to swerve slightly to keep his balance.

safe distancethe gap kept between vehicles to allow time to reactHe learned to keep a safe distance from the car ahead.

adrenalinea rush of energy the body produces in a moment of shock or dangerHis heart was racing with adrenaline after the near-miss.

near-missa situation where an accident almost happened but didn'tThat was a really close near-miss on the road.

shakenfeeling upset or nervous after a shockRahul was a bit shaken after the sudden stop.

relievedfeeling glad that something worrying has ended safelyHe was relieved that nothing worse had happened.

alertpaying close attention and ready to reactYou need to stay alert while riding in traffic.

indicatorthe blinking light used to signal a turnThe car didn't use its indicator before stopping.

rear-view mirrorthe mirror used to see the traffic behindHe checked his rear-view mirror before overtaking.

close calla situation that almost became dangerous or badThat was such a close call, my heart is still pounding.

geara control that adjusts the vehicle's speed and powerHe quickly shifted gear as he came to a stop.

cautiongreat care taken to avoid dangerHe rode home with extra caution after the scare.

Useful sentences

Ask What happened on your way back today?
Answer The car in front of me braked suddenly at the circle.
Ask Did you hit the car?
Answer No, I just about avoided the collision.
Ask How did you react so quickly?
Answer It was pure reflex, I grabbed the brake in a rush.
Ask Did the scooty skid at all?
Answer Yes, it skidded a little before I got it under control.
Ask Were you flustered afterwards?
Answer Yes, my hands were shaking from the adrenaline.
Ask Why didn't you keep a safe distance?
Answer I was too close, I'll be more careful from now on.
Ask Did the car use its indicator before braking?
Answer No, it just stopped without any warning.
Ask How do you feel now?
Answer Relieved, honestly, that was such a close call.
Ask Will you ride more cautiously now?
Answer Yes, I'll stay more alert around traffic circles.
Ask Should we tell your parents about this?
Answer No need, nothing actually happened, I'm fine.

Dialogue

FriendYou look a bit shaken. What happened?

RahulI was riding behind a car at the circle, and it braked suddenly.

FriendOh no, did you hit it?

RahulNo, I grabbed the brake in a rush and just about stopped in time.

FriendThat's a proper close call. Was the scooty out of control?

RahulIt skidded a little, but I managed to keep my balance.

FriendYour hands are still shaking, take a moment.

RahulYeah, the adrenaline hasn't worn off yet.

FriendMaybe keep a safer distance from cars from now on.

RahulYou're right, I'll stay more alert next time.

Common mistakes

Saying "the car break suddenly" instead of "the car braked suddenly" when describing a past event.
Saying "I pressed the brake in hurry" instead of "I grabbed the brake in a rush" or "I hit the brake in a hurry."
Saying "I am feeling shake" instead of "I'm feeling shaken" or "my hands are shaking."
Saying "it was a big miss" instead of "it was a close call" or "a near-miss."
Saying "the scooty slipped" instead of "the scooty skidded" when describing loss of grip while braking.
Saying "I am relief" instead of "I am relieved" or "I feel relieved."

Quick quiz

1. What is a "near-miss"?

2. Complete: "The scooty began to ___ as he braked hard."

3. What does "flustered" mean?

4. The gap kept between vehicles to allow time to react is called ___.

5. What is "adrenaline"?

6. Complete: "He had to ___ slightly to keep his balance."

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