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Car Companies

Volkswagen - Transportation

40 chapters

beginner

Learn about car companies with our easy readings, improving your English while discovering top car brands and their impact on travel.

Vocabulary

famous

[adj]

/ˈfeɪməs/

car company

[n]

/kˈɑːɹ kˈʌmpəni/

Germany

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːməni/

German

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːmən/

popular

[adj]

/ˈpɑpjələr/

World War II

[n]

/wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ tˈuː/

unique

[adj]

/juˈnik/

reliability

[n]

/ɹiˌɫaɪəˈbɪɫəti/

best-selling

[adj]

/bˈɛstsˈɛlɪŋ/

10.

hatchback

[n]

/ˈhætʃˌbæk/

11.

practical

[adj]

/ˈpræktɪkəl/

12.

successful

[adj]

/səkˈsɛsfəl/

13.

technology

[n]

/tɛkˈnɑləʤi/

14.

create

[v]

/kriˈeɪt/

15.

efficient

[adj]

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/

16.

diesel engine

[n]

/dˈiːzəl ˈɛndʒɪn/

17.

electric car

[n]

/ɪlˈɛktɹɪk kˈɑːɹ/

18.

line

[n]

/laɪn/

19.

own

[v]

/oʊn/

20.

brand

[n]

/ˈbɹænd/

21.

recently

[adv]

/ˈrisəntli/

22.

friendly

[adj]

/ˈfrɛndli/

23.

environment

[n]

/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

24.

invest

[v]

/ɪnˈvɛst/

25.

reduce

[v]

/rɪˈdus/

26.

pollution

[n]

/pəˈluʃən/

27.

goal

[n]

/ɡoʊl/

28.

earth

[n]

/ɝːθ/

29.

personality

[n]

/ˌpɝsəˈnælɪti/

Practice

famous

[adj]

/ˈfeɪməs/

car company

[n]

/kˈɑːɹ kˈʌmpəni/

Germany

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːməni/

German

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːmən/

popular

[adj]

/ˈpɑpjələr/

World War II

[n]

/wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ tˈuː/

unique

[adj]

/juˈnik/

reliability

[n]

/ɹiˌɫaɪəˈbɪɫəti/

best-selling

[adj]

/bˈɛstsˈɛlɪŋ/

10.

hatchback

[n]

/ˈhætʃˌbæk/

11.

practical

[adj]

/ˈpræktɪkəl/

12.

successful

[adj]

/səkˈsɛsfəl/

13.

technology

[n]

/tɛkˈnɑləʤi/

14.

create

[v]

/kriˈeɪt/

15.

efficient

[adj]

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/

16.

diesel engine

[n]

/dˈiːzəl ˈɛndʒɪn/

17.

electric car

[n]

/ɪlˈɛktɹɪk kˈɑːɹ/

18.

line

[n]

/laɪn/

19.

own

[v]

/oʊn/

20.

brand

[n]

/ˈbɹænd/

21.

recently

[adv]

/ˈrisəntli/

22.

friendly

[adj]

/ˈfrɛndli/

23.

environment

[n]

/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

24.

invest

[v]

/ɪnˈvɛst/

25.

reduce

[v]

/rɪˈdus/

26.

pollution

[n]

/pəˈluʃən/

27.

goal

[n]

/ɡoʊl/

28.

earth

[n]

/ɝːθ/

29.

personality

[n]

/ˌpɝsəˈnælɪti/

famous

[adj]

/ˈfeɪməs/

famoso

car company

[n]

/kˈɑːɹ kˈʌmpəni/

empresa de automóviles

Germany

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːməni/

Alemania

German

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːmən/

alemán

popular

[adj]

/ˈpɑpjələr/

popular

World War II

[n]

/wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ tˈuː/

Segunda Guerra Mundial

unique

[adj]

/juˈnik/

único

reliability

[n]

/ɹiˌɫaɪəˈbɪɫəti/

fiabilidad

best-selling

[adj]

/bˈɛstsˈɛlɪŋ/

más vendido

10.

hatchback

[n]

/ˈhætʃˌbæk/

hatchback

11.

practical

[adj]

/ˈpræktɪkəl/

práctico

12.

successful

[adj]

/səkˈsɛsfəl/

exitoso

13.

technology

[n]

/tɛkˈnɑləʤi/

tecnología

14.

create

[v]

/kriˈeɪt/

crear

15.

efficient

[adj]

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/

eficiente

16.

diesel engine

[n]

/dˈiːzəl ˈɛndʒɪn/

motor diésel

17.

electric car

[n]

/ɪlˈɛktɹɪk kˈɑːɹ/

coche eléctrico

18.

line

[n]

/laɪn/

línea

19.

own

[v]

/oʊn/

tener

20.

brand

[n]

/ˈbɹænd/

marca

21.

recently

[adv]

/ˈrisəntli/

recientemente

22.

friendly

[adj]

/ˈfrɛndli/

amistoso

23.

environment

[n]

/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

entorno

24.

invest

[v]

/ɪnˈvɛst/

invertir

25.

reduce

[v]

/rɪˈdus/

reducir

26.

pollution

[n]

/pəˈluʃən/

contaminación

27.

goal

[n]

/ɡoʊl/

meta

28.

earth

[n]

/ɝːθ/

tierra

29.

personality

[n]

/ˌpɝsəˈnælɪti/

personalidad

capítulo

Volkswagen

Read a short passage about a German car company known for its reliable cars and smart designs.

1.1

Volkswagen, or VW, is a famous car company from Germany. It started in 1937. The name "Volkswagen" means "people's car" in German. Their first big car was the "Beetle," a small, round car made for many people. The Beetle became very popular and was made in large numbers.

Volkswagen, o VW, es una famosa compañía de automóviles de Alemania. Comenzó en 1937. El nombre "Volkswagen" significa "coche del pueblo" en alemán. Su primer gran coche fue el "Escarabajo", un coche pequeño y redondo hecho para muchas personas. El Escarabajo se hizo muy popular y se fabricó en grandes cantidades.

1.2

After World War II, Volkswagen began making cars again. They made the Beetle better and sold it in many countries. The Beetle became famous in the 1960s and 1970s for its unique shape and reliability. Many people loved it, and it became one of the best-selling cars ever.

Después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Volkswagen comenzó a fabricar coches nuevamente. Mejoraron el Escarabajo y lo vendieron en muchos países. El Escarabajo se hizo famoso en las décadas de 1960 y 1970 por su forma única y su fiabilidad. Mucha gente lo amó, y se convirtió en uno de los coches más vendidos de todos los tiempos.

1.3

In the 1970s, Volkswagen introduced another popular car called the Golf. The Golf was a hatchback, which means it had a rear door that opened up. This made it very practical, and many people liked it. The Golf became one of Volkswagen's most successful cars.

En la década de 1970, Volkswagen introdujo otro coche popular llamado Golf. El Golf era un hatchback, lo que significa que tenía una puerta trasera que se abría hacia arriba. Esto lo hacía muy práctico, y a mucha gente le gustó. El Golf se convirtió en uno de los coches más exitosos de Volkswagen.

1.4

Volkswagen is known for making good-quality cars. The company also creates new ideas and technology. For example, they were early to make efficient diesel engines. They now have electric cars like the ID.4, which is part of their new electric car line.

Volkswagen es conocido por fabricar automóviles de buena calidad. La compañía también crea nuevas ideas y tecnologías. Por ejemplo, fueron pioneros en la fabricación de motores diésel eficientes. Ahora tienen coches eléctricos como el ID.4, que forma parte de su nueva línea de coches eléctricos.

1.5

Volkswagen does not only make cars. They also own other famous brands, like Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini. This makes Volkswagen a big name in the car world.

Volkswagen no solo fabrica autos. También posee otras marcas famosas, como Audi, Porsche y Lamborghini. Esto hace que Volkswagen sea un nombre importante en el mundo del automóvil.

1.6

Recently, Volkswagen has been working to be more friendly to the environment. They are investing in electric cars and new technology to reduce pollution. Their goal is to make cars that are better for the Earth.

Recientemente, Volkswagen ha estado trabajando para ser más amigable con el medio ambiente. Están invirtiendo en coches eléctricos y nueva tecnología para reducir la contaminación. Su objetivo es hacer coches que sean mejores para la Tierra.

1.7

Fun fact: The Volkswagen Beetle was so famous that it was in movies. The car, named Herbie, could drive by itself and even had its own personality!

Dato curioso: El Volkswagen Beetle fue tan famoso que apareció en películas. El auto, llamado Herbie, podía conducirse solo e incluso tenía su propia personalidad.

1. Volkswagen

Car Companies

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QuizSkip the quiz

What does "Volkswagen" mean in German?

Fast car

People’s car

Small car

German car

What kind of car is the Volkswagen Golf?

A sports car

A truck

A hatchback

A motorcycle

Put these Volkswagen cars in order of when they were introduced:

id.4

golf

beetle

Match the Volkswagen model with its description:

Beetle

Golf

ID.4

A small, round car that became very popular.

An electric car from Volkswagen.

A hatchback with a practical rear door.

Which one is TRUE?

The Beetle was Volkswagen’s first electric car.

Volkswagen owns Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini.

The Golf was made before the Beetle.

Volkswagen only sells cars in Germany.

Which one is FALSE?

The Beetle was famous in the 1960s and 1970s.

Volkswagen is only known for making bad-quality cars.

The Golf is a hatchback.

Volkswagen is working on electric cars.