Mind the Gap · A2
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A2K_U01A2 KEYEnglish Together · A2 Key · Postcards from Britain · Unit 1

Mind the Gap

London, the Underground, and a tourist called Paulo. Listen to the story and the Culture File, then work the unit — the signals show the way.Londres, o metrô — e um turista chamado Paulo. Ouça a história e o Culture File, depois faça a unidade.

Can-do: I can ask and answer questions in the present simple, find my way with travel words, and catch numbers, dates and spelled names — the heart of A2 Key Listening.Sei perguntar e responder no present simple, usar palavras de viagem e capturar números, datas e nomes soletrados.
The signals

Every task opens with a signal icon and a colour-coded box — you know what to do before you read a word.Cada tarefa abre com um ícone e uma caixa colorida — você sabe o que fazer antes de ler.

ListenOuça
ReadLeia
Say it out loudFale em voz alta
Type or writeDigite ou escreva
Tick itMarque
Answer — exam practiceResponda — prática de prova
VocabularyVocabulário
GrammarGramática
TipDica
wordslisteninggrammarspeakingreadinganswers

The colour of a task box tells you the skill.A cor da caixa mostra a habilidade.

Highlight
Before you listen

1Learn these five words first — you will hear all of them. Tap a word, then tap its gap.Aprenda estas cinco palavras primeiro. Toque na palavra, depois no espaço.WORDS · PALAVRAS

1. The train stops next to the , and then the doors open.

2. In London you do not need a paper — you can touch your card.

3. King's Cross is a very big .

4. The to Greenwich takes about forty minutes.

5. At eight in the morning the trains are very .

2Predict: the story is called “Mind the Gap”. What do you think happens? Say one idea out loud before you listen.Preveja: a história se chama “Mind the Gap”. O que você acha que acontece? Diga uma ideia em voz alta.SPEAK · FALE

Segment A · The Story — listen first, then do
Story · ≈5 minMind the Gap

3Listen to the whole story first — just listen, eyes on the script if you like.Ouça a história inteira primeiro — apenas ouça.LISTEN · OUÇA

Audio in production — the player will sit here. For now, read the script out loud.Áudio em produção — o player ficará aqui. Por enquanto, leia o roteiro em voz alta.

The script — word for word

585 spoken words · 115 wpm

[MUSIC: theme, 4 seconds, then under]

TOM(warm, unhurried) Every Saturday morning I take the bus to King's Cross station. (beat) King's Cross — that is K-I-N-G-S, Cross.
NILAYou don't drive the buses any more, Tom.
TOMNo, I don't, but I sat in that driver's seat for thirty-five years. Now I am a volunteer guide, and I like it.
NILAWhat exactly do you do at the station?
TOMI stand next to the big Underground map in a bright red jacket. People come to me with their questions, and I answer them.
NILADo they always ask you the same things?
TOMMost of them do — where is the exit, which line goes to the airport.

[MUSIC: out]

[SFX: busy station, footsteps and announcements, 3 seconds, then low under the next lines]

TOMOne morning a young man comes through the entrance with a big bag. His name is Paulo — that is P-A-U-L-O — and he is a tourist from Brazil.
NILADoes he speak much English?
TOMOnly a little, so he speaks slowly. He says, "Excuse me, I want to see the old ships."
NILAThe old ships? Which ships?
TOMHe means Greenwich, and that word is a trap for learners. We spell it G-R-E-E-N-W-I-C-H, but we do not say it like that.
NILAHow does he say it?
TOMHe says "Green-witch", and it is a very good guess.
NILABut the w is silent, isn't it?
TOMThe w is silent, so we say "GREN-itch". Paulo tries again — "GREN-itch" — and then he smiles at me.
NILADoes he have a ticket for the journey?
TOMNo, he doesn't, and he stands at the machine with a worried face.
NILABut he doesn't need a paper ticket in London.
TOMHe doesn't. You can touch a bank card on the round yellow reader. You touch in at the start, and you touch out at the end. Paulo touches his card, the gate opens, and he laughs out loud. Then he shows me his map, completely upside down. I turn the map round, and now the river is at the bottom. I point to our station, and then I point to Greenwich.
NILAHow long is the journey?
TOM"You must change twice," I say, "and it takes about forty minutes." Forty minutes — and he counts the stations with his finger.
NILADoes he understand the direction now?
TOMHe understands, but he asks one more question. "Does this train go to the sea?"
NILA(amused) To the sea!
TOM(dry) The Thames is not the sea, Paulo. The Thames — T-H-A-M-E-S — is a river, but the big ships come up it.
NILALondon is not next to the sea, and many visitors forget that.
TOMThey do, so we walk to the platform through a very crowded hall. There are hundreds of passengers, and everybody walks quickly.
NILADo you like crowded stations?
TOMI don't mind them, because I like the noise and the movement. We go down the escalator, and Paulo stands on the left.
NILAOh dear.
TOM(dry) In London we stand on the right and we walk up on the left. Paulo moves across quickly, and a woman behind us says thank you.

[SFX: train arriving in a tunnel, doors opening, 3 seconds]

TOMWe reach the platform, and the train comes out of the tunnel. The doors open, and then Paulo hears the famous words.

[SFX: recorded announcement, "Mind the gap", 2 seconds]

NILA"Mind the gap" — the gap between the train and the platform.
TOMThat's right, because some platforms are curved and the gap is quite wide. Paulo looks down, steps over it carefully, and gets on the train. He turns round and waves at me through the dirty window. Then he shouts one word through the glass: "GREN-itch!"
NILA(warm) Perfect.
TOMPerfect, the doors close, and the train goes back into the tunnel. I walk to my map, and I wait for the next question.

[PAUSE: 2 seconds]

[MUSIC: theme, 5 seconds, up and out]

4After you listen: answer about the story.Depois de ouvir: responda sobre a história.ANSWER · RESPONDA

1. Who is Paulo?
2. Where does Paulo want to go?
3. Does Paulo need a paper ticket?

5Listen again: put Paulo's journey in order — tap the events 1 → 4.Ouça de novo: coloque a viagem do Paulo em ordem — toque nos eventos de 1 a 4.LISTEN · OUÇA

Language focus
Present simple — questions and negatives. The story runs on three little words: do, does and their negatives. From the script: “You don't drive the buses any more.” · “Does he speak much English?” · “No, he doesn't.” · “Does this train go to the sea?” Rule: does/doesn't with he, she and it — and the main verb loses its -s. do/don't with I, you, we and they.

6Grammar catch: type the missing word — do, does, don't or doesn't. All four sentences come from the story.Pegadinha de gramática: digite a palavra que falta — do, does, don't ou doesn't.GRAMMAR · GRAMÁTICA

1. “You ___ drive the buses any more, Tom.”
2. “___ he speak much English?”
3. “He ___ , and he stands at the machine with a worried face.”
4. “___ this train go to the sea?”
Segment B · The Culture File
Culture File · ≈5 minThe Oldest Underground in the World

7Listen to the Culture File first — catch the facts, the numbers and the misconception.Ouça o Culture File primeiro — capture os fatos, os números e o equívoco.LISTEN · OUÇA

Audio in production — the player will sit here. For now, read the script out loud.Áudio em produção — o player ficará aqui. Por enquanto, leia o roteiro em voz alta.

The script — word for word

599 spoken words

[MUSIC: Culture File sting, 3 seconds]

NILA(bright) This is the Culture File, and today we go under London.
TOMPeople call it the Tube.
NILAWhy "the Tube", Tom?
TOMBecause the deep tunnels are round, so they look like long tubes.
NILAThat is a lovely picture, and here is fact number one. The London Underground is the oldest underground railway in the world.
TOMHow old is it exactly?
NILAThe first line opened in eighteen sixty-three, more than a hundred and sixty years ago. (beat) Say the date with me: eighteen sixty-three.
TOMThe first trains were steam trains, so the tunnels were full of smoke.
NILAThey were, and the seats were hard, but people loved the idea anyway.
TOMIt was not a comfortable journey.
NILANot at all. Now here is fact number two. There are eleven lines today, and they serve two hundred and seventy-two stations.
TOMTwo hundred and seventy-two stations is a lot of platforms.
NILAIt is, and every line has its own colour and its own name. The Central line is red, and the Piccadilly line is dark blue.
TOMPiccadilly — that is P-I-C-C-A-D-I-L-L-Y.
NILANow here is the big surprise of the day. Many people think the Tube runs completely under the ground.
TOMIt doesn't.
NILAIt doesn't, and that is our misconception for this unit. Only about forty-five per cent of the network is in tunnels.
TOMSo more than half of it is up in the daylight.
NILAMore than half — about fifty-five per cent of the network. In outer London you sit in the sunshine and look at people's gardens.
TOM(dry) And at the rain.
NILA(laughing) And at the rain, yes. Fact number three is about words. The announcement "Mind the gap" started in nineteen sixty-nine.
TOMYou hear it at every curved platform, and it is a serious safety message.
NILAIt is not a joke, because the gap can be surprisingly wide.
TOMPeople must look down before they step onto the train.
NILAFact number four is important for visitors: you don't need a paper ticket.
TOMYou can touch a bank card or a phone on the reader.
NILATouch in at the entrance, and then touch out again at the exit. If you don't touch out, the machine takes too much money.
TOMThat is a very common mistake.
NILAIt is, and here is one small rule about the escalator. Stand on the right, and walk up on the left. Londoners don't say anything to you, but they certainly look at you.
TOM(dry) They look at you for a very long time.
NILA(laughing) They do. Fact number five: the famous Tube map is not a real map.
TOMWhat does that mean?
NILAThe distances are wrong, and the lines are straight, but London isn't.
TOMSo who made it?
NILAA man called Harry Beck — that is B-E-C-K — drew it in nineteen thirty-three. He drew plans for the Underground, and he wanted something simple.
TOMNineteen thirty-three, and cities all over the world still copy his idea.
NILAThey copy it because simple beats correct.

[PAUSE: 2 seconds]

NILANow, listener, here is your Talking Point for this unit. How do you travel in your town — by bus, by train, or on foot? Tell me about your journey to work or school now.

[PAUSE: 5 seconds]

TOMIn my town the bus is best, and I should know.
NILA(warm) You certainly should. One last tip: stations are terribly crowded at eight in the morning.
TOMEight in the morning is the worst time of the whole day.
NILASo travel a little later, and the platform is much quieter.
TOMAnd then you can even get a seat.
NILAA seat on the Tube is a very good day indeed. Have you ever been to London? Think about your answer before next time.

[MUSIC: Culture File sting, 4 seconds, up and out]

8Listen and tick each fact when Nila or Tom says it.Ouça e marque cada fato quando Nila ou Tom o disser.LISTEN · OUÇA

0 / 5

9Numbers catch — exam skill! Type the number you hear (digits are fine). This is exactly what Listening Part 2 asks.Caça-números — habilidade de prova! Digite o número que você ouvir (algarismos valem).LISTEN · OUÇA

1. The first line opened in ______.
2. The network serves ______ stations.
3. “Mind the gap” started in ______.
4. Harry Beck drew the map in ______.

10The Talking Point: “How do you travel in your town — by bus, by train, or on foot? Tell me about your journey to work or school.” Speak for 30 seconds — then record yourself and listen back.O Talking Point: como você se desloca na sua cidade? Fale por 30 segundos — depois grave-se e ouça.SPEAK · FALE

Vocabulary bank

11The unit’s full word set, face down. Reveal them one by one, in order — say each one with its example before opening the next.O conjunto completo de palavras, viradas para baixo. Revele uma por uma, em ordem.WORDS · PALAVRAS

1Press to revealstationKing's Cross is a busy station.
2Press to revealplatformThe train comes in at platform four.
3Press to revealescalatorWe go down the escalator — stand on the right!
4Press to revealticketYou don't need a paper ticket in London.
5Press to revealgateTouch your card and the gate opens.
6Press to reveallineThe Central line is red on the map.
7Press to revealjourneyThe journey takes about forty minutes.
8Press to revealpassengerThere are hundreds of passengers in the hall.
9Press to revealtunnelThe train comes out of the tunnel.
10Press to revealentranceTouch in at the entrance.
11Press to revealexitTouch out at the exit, or you pay more.
12Press to revealgapMind the gap between the train and the platform.
13Press to revealcrowdedThe station is very crowded at eight in the morning.
14Press to revealtouristPaulo is a tourist from Brazil.
15Press to revealdirectionTom turns the map round to show the direction.
Exam link — A2 KEY
Where this unit pays off in A2 Key: Listening Part 2 (write the numbers, names and times you hear — the numbers catch above is that task) · Reading Part 1 (signs and notices, practised below) · Speaking Part 1 (questions about your daily journey). A2 Key: Reading & Writing 50% · Listening 25% · Speaking 25%; grades A–C on the Cambridge Scale (a Grade A, 140–150, certifies at B1!).

12Exam practice — Reading Part 1 style: what does each sign or notice mean?Prática de prova — estilo Reading Part 1: o que significa cada aviso?ANSWER · RESPONDA

1. “Stand on the right.” (on an escalator)
2. “Touch out at the exit or you will pay more.”
3. “Mind the gap between the train and the platform.”
Unit review

13Six quick retrieval questions — no looking back!Seis perguntas rápidas de memória — sem olhar para trás!ANSWER · RESPONDA

1. What do Londoners call the Underground?
2. How do you say G-R-E-E-N-W-I-C-H?
3. Where do you stand on the escalator?
4. The person who travels on a train is a ______.
5. Is the Thames the sea?
6. Why is the Tube map so famous?

14Finished? Tick what you can do now.Terminou? Marque o que você já consegue fazer.ANSWER · RESPONDA

Unit 1 complete!
You rode the oldest underground in the world — in English. Next stop, Unit 2: Buckingham Palace and “The Family on the Money”.Você andou no metrô mais antigo do mundo — em inglês. Próxima parada, Unidade 2: o Palácio de Buckingham.