Driver Loses Mabel, Finds Jail
A fifteen-year-old boy was injured in a car accident when the minivan
he was traveling in was hit by a pickup truck at an intersection. The boy
was taken to a nearby hospital. The paramedics said that it appeared that
the boy had nothing more serious than a broken left leg, but that internal
injuries were always a possibility. The boy was conscious and alert. His
mother, who was driving, was uninjured. She said that the truck appeared
out of nowhere, and she thought she was going to die. She turned the
steering wheel sharply to the left, and the truck hit her minivan on the
passenger side.
The driver of the truck was a 50-year-old man who was unemployed
and apparently had been drinking—police found 18 empty beer cans inside
the truck. The man denied drinking, but he failed the police test for
sobriety. When asked to touch his nose with his arms outstretched and eyes
closed, he was unable to touch any part of his head.
The handcuffed man asked the police if they knew where “Mabel” was
as he was put into the back seat of the police vehicle. The police asked him
if Mabel was his wife. He said, “She’s my dog, my dog! Where’s my baby?”
A dog with a collar, but no identification, was found minutes later, half a
block away. The man was taken to the city jail and booked on suspicion of
driving while intoxicated and on causing an accident.
CLOZE
A fifteen-year-old boy was injured in a car
traveling in was
when the minivan he was
by a pickup truck at an intersection. The
taken to a nearby hospital. The paramedics
had nothing
was
that it appeared that the boy
serious than a broken left leg, but that
always a possibility. The boy was
injuries were
and alert. His mother, who was driving,
. She said that the truck appeared out of
she was going to die.
, and she thought
turned the steering wheel sharply to the left,
the truck hit her minivan on the passenger
The driver of the truck was a 50-year-old
apparently had been drinking—police
The
.
who was unemployed and
18 empty beer cans inside the truck.
denied drinking, but he failed the police test
asked to touch his nose with
unable
was
sobriety. When
arms outstretched and eyes closed, he was
touch any part of his head.
asked the police if they knew where “Mabel”
The handcuffed
was put into the back seat
the police vehicle. The police asked him if
was his wife. He said, “She’s my dog,
dog with a
dog! Where’s my baby?” A
, but no identification, was found minutes later, half
block away. The man was taken to the
suspicion of driving while
as he
jail and booked on
and on causing an accident.
CROSSWORD 1
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1. Doctors, nurses, and patients fill up ___s.
3. The angry woman spoke ___ to the clerk about
his rude behavior.
6. An un___ person looks like he's asleep.
9. Many vehicles on the freeways contain 1 driver
and no ___s.
10. The police will give you a roadside ___ test if
they think you've been drinking.
13. Criminals end up in prison or ___, at least for a
while.
14. Some people turn up their ___ to protect their
neck from the sun or the cold.
16. Hollywood and Vine is a famous ___ in Los
Angeles.
17. I saw you take the money; don't ___ it. Your
theft is on tape.
18. You should recycle your ___ cans and bottles.
Down:
2. Los Angeles County has over 100 traffic
___s every day.
3. A relationship will suffer if there is ___ or
distrust.
4. There is always the ___ of Peace on Earth.
5. You must show some ___ when you use
your credit card.
7. DWI means Driving While ___d.
8. DMV stands for Department of Motor ___s.
10. A cold is not ___, but cancer is a ___
disease.
11. The man fell out of the boat and drowned.
___, he wasn't able to swim.
12. A Smog ___ warns asthma patients to stay
indoors.
15. A big rig and a pickup are two types of ___s.
CROSSWORD 2
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Across:
1. You're supposed to get healthy here, but
many people get sick here.
4. Godzilla fears ___.
5. People drive cars and ___s, but not
always carefully.
8. Thousands of ___s occur on highways
every day.
10. He ___ed to have a broken leg.
11. The boy ___ injured.
13. The opposite of less.
15. Your liver and kidneys are ___ organs.
Your skin is not.
18. The truck ___ the minivan.
19. Love ___ marriage go together like a
horse ___ carriage.
20. He was ___ in a car accident.
21. ___ oh ___! That a ___! It's a ___!
Down, ___!
Down:
2. ___s are popular farm vehicles.
3. The boy was ___ years old.
5. I got ripped off. I got ___ to the cleaners.
6. The story says it was a ___ accident, yet no ___
was involved!
7. Para___ save people's lives every day.
9. Go from one place to another.
11. The boy was injured ___ the truck hit the minivan.
12. 'Crossroad' is another word for 'inter___.'
13. A popular passenger vehicle that was built after
the stationwagon but before the SUV.
14. You have a right arm and a ___ one.
16. Not far away.
17. Be ___, or some people might cheat you.
18. The boy ___ a broken leg.
Yes/No Questions
Quiz
1. Was the boy injured in a car accident?
Yes, he was.
2. Was the car hit by a pickup truck?
Yes, it was.
3. Did the accident happen in a parking lot?
No, it didn't.
4. Was the boy conscious?
Yes, he was.
5. Was the mother injured?
No, she wasn't.
6. Was the truck driver young?
No, he wasn't.
7. Did the truck driver pass the test for sobriety?
No, he didn't.
8. Was Mabel the driver’s wife?
No, she wasn't.
9. Did they find Mabel?
Yes, they did.
10.Did they let the man go home?
No, they didn't.
Wh- Questions
Quiz
1. Who was injured in a car accident?
A boy was injured in a car accident.
2. Where did the accident happen?
It happened at an intersection.
3. Where was the boy taken?
He was taken to a hospital.
4. Who was driving the minivan when the accident happened?
The mother was driving the minivan when the accident
happened.
5. Which side of the minivan was hit by the truck?
The truck hit the passenger side of the minivan.
6. How old was the truck driver?
He was 50 years old.
7. What did the driver deny?
He denied drinking.
8. Which part of his head was the driver unable to touch?
He was unable to touch any part of his head.
9. Where was the man put in the police vehicle?
He was put into the back seat of the police vehicle.
10.Where was the man taken?
He was taken to the city jail.
Ask Questions
Quiz
1. The minivan was hit by a pickup truck. (Hint: What)
What was hit by a pickup truck?
2. He was taken to a nearby hospital. (Hint: Where)
Where was the boy taken?
3. Internal injuries were always a possibility. (Hint: What)
What was always a possibility?
4. She turned the steering wheel sharply. (Hint: How)
How did the mother turn the steering wheel?
5. They found 18 empty beer cans inside the truck. (Hint: How many)
How many empty beer cans did the police find?
6. He failed the police test for sobriety. (Hint: What)
What did the driver fail?
7. He was unable to touch any part of his head. (Hint: What)
What was the man unable to touch?
8. It (dog) was found minutes later. (Hint: When)
When was a dog found?
9. He asked the police if they knew where Mabel was. (Hint: Whom)
Whom did the man ask if they knew where Mabel was?
10.He was taken to the city jail.
Where was the man taken?
Open Questions
Quiz
1. What’s the biggest difference between a pickup truck and a minivan?
A pickup is more of a "worker" vehicle. It has a big
"outdoor" bed for hauling an d loading stuff. A minivan
is more of a people -carrier.
2. What might have happened if the mother hadn't turned the steering wheel
sharply?
If she hadn't turned the steering wheel, both she and
the boy might have been injured.
3. What is an example of "internal injuries" that the boy might have?
He might have suffered a ruptured spleen.
4. Why did the police think that the truck driver was drunk?
In addition to seeing the empty beer cans, they might
have smelled alcohol on the man's breath.
5. What are the penalties for being convicted of driving under the influence?
Drivers may lose their license and go to jail.
6. What constitutes a “drinking problem”?
If drinking interferes with your personal relationships
and your work, you probably have a drinking problem.
7. Why did the truck driver bring his dog with him?
For many people, their pets are their companions.
They take them along for company.
8. What’s going to happen to Mabel if the driver goes to jail?
Mabel might go to the pound, or even be put to sleep
if the driver is goi ng to be in jail for a long time.
9. How long do you think the driver will have to stay in jail?
He might have to stay in jail until he goes to trial. He
probably won't be in jail more than three or four days.
10.How did Mabel escape injury?
Thrown out of the tr uck, she landed on the ground with
apparently no or little injury.