One morning, while Deborah was driving to school, her phone buzzed with a text. She glanced at the screen for a second. Suddenly, a loud screech and a blaring horn filled the air. Deborah's heart raced as she looked up to see a car swerving into her lane. Panic took over. She jerked the steering wheel to avoid a head-on collision, but two cars still collided with a sickening crunch.
Shaken, Deborah stumbled out of her car. The other driver, a young man, rushed to her side, trembling. Fortunately, none of them were seriously hurt. "I'm so sorry, I was texting and lost control," the young man said. They called the police. In the midst of the chaos, they exchanged insurance information.
As the tow trucks arrived the young man offered Deborah a sincere apology once more. They both knew that the accident could have been much worse, and they were grateful to walk away with only damaged cars and a valuable lesson about the dangers of distracted driving.
Vocabulary
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Buzzed – made a low, continuous humming sound
Her phone buzzed with a text. -
Glanced – looked quickly
Deborah glanced at the screen for a second. -
Screech – a loud, high-pitched noise (usually brakes or tires)
A loud screech filled the air. -
Blaring – very loud and harsh (sound)
A blaring horn filled the air. -
Swerving – turning suddenly to avoid something
A car was swerving into her lane. -
Lane – a single path of a road for vehicles
The car entered her lane. -
Panic – sudden fear or anxiety
Panic took over as she reacted. -
Jerking – moving something quickly and suddenly
She jerked the steering wheel. -
Collision – a crash between two or more vehicles
She tried to avoid a head-on collision. -
Crunch – a loud breaking or crashing sound
The cars collided with a sickening crunch. -
Shaken – upset or disturbed by something frightening
Shaken, Deborah stumbled out of her car. -
Stumbled – walked unsteadily
She stumbled out of her car. -
Trembling – shaking from fear, cold, or nervousness
The young man rushed to her, trembling. -
Fortunately – luckily or by good chance
Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt. -
Texting – sending a written message by phone
He admitted he was texting and lost control. -
Lost control – was unable to steer or stop the car
He lost control of his car while texting. -
Police – officers who enforce the law
They called the police after the accident. -
Insurance – protection from financial loss (usually for cars or health)
They exchanged insurance information. -
Tow truck – a truck that moves damaged vehicles
Tow trucks arrived to move the cars. -
Distracted driving – driving while doing something else like texting
They learned a lesson about distracted driving.