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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/

beroemd,bekend

car company

[n]

/kˈɑːɹ kˈʌmpəni/

autobedrijf,autofabrikant

Germany

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːməni/

Duitsland

German

[n]

/ˈdʒɝːmən/

Duits

popular

[adj]

/ˈpɑpjələr/

populair,geliefd

World War II

[n]

/wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ tˈuː/

Tweede Wereldoorlog,II Wereldoorlog

unique

[adj]

/juˈnik/

uniek,enkelvoudig

reliability

[n]

/ɹiˌɫaɪəˈbɪɫəti/

betrouwbaarheid

best-selling

[adj]

/bˈɛstsˈɛlɪŋ/

bestverkopend, succesvol

10.

hatchback

[n]

/ˈhætʃˌbæk/

hatchback,auto met een achterklep die naar boven opent

11.

practical

[adj]

/ˈpræktɪkəl/

praktisch,functioneel

12.

successful

[adj]

/səkˈsɛsfəl/

succesvol, schitterend

13.

technology

[n]

/tɛkˈnɑləʤi/

technologie

14.

create

[v]

/kriˈeɪt/

creëren,oprichten

15.

efficient

[adj]

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/

efficiënt,doeltreffend

16.

diesel engine

[n]

/dˈiːzəl ˈɛndʒɪn/

dieselmotor,motor op zware olie

17.

electric car

[n]

/ɪlˈɛktɹɪk kˈɑːɹ/

elektrische auto,elektrisch voertuig

18.

line

[n]

/laɪn/

lijn,serie

19.

own

[v]

/oʊn/

bezitten, hebben

20.

brand

[n]

/ˈbɹænd/

merk,handelsnaam

21.

recently

[adv]

/ˈrisəntli/

recentelijk,onlangs

22.

friendly

[adj]

/ˈfrɛndli/

vriendelijk,behulpzaam

23.

environment

[n]

/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

milieu

24.

invest

[v]

/ɪnˈvɛst/

investeren,beleggen

25.

reduce

[v]

/rɪˈdus/

verminderen,verlagen

26.

pollution

[n]

/pəˈluʃən/

vervuiling,verontreiniging

27.

goal

[n]

/ɡoʊl/

doel,doelstelling

28.

earth

[n]

/ɝːθ/

Aarde,planeet Aarde

29.

personality

[n]

/ˌpɝsəˈnælɪti/

persoonlijkheid,karakter

hoofdstuk

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, of VW, is een beroemd automerk uit Duitsland. Het begon in 1937. De naam "Volkswagen" betekent "volksauto" in het Duits. Hun eerste grote auto was de "Kever", een kleine, ronde auto gemaakt voor veel mensen. De Kever werd erg populair en werd in grote aantallen geproduceerd.

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.

Na de Tweede Wereldoorlog begon Volkswagen weer auto's te maken. Ze maakten de Kever beter en verkochten hem in veel landen. De Kever werd beroemd in de jaren 1960 en 1970 vanwege zijn unieke vorm en betrouwbaarheid. Veel mensen hielden ervan, en het werd een van de best verkochte auto's aller tijden.

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.

In de jaren 70 introduceerde Volkswagen nog een populaire auto genaamd de Golf. De Golf was een hatchback, wat betekent dat hij een achterdeur had die naar boven openging. Dit maakte hem erg praktisch, en veel mensen waardeerden hem. De Golf werd een van de meest succesvolle auto's van 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 staat bekend om het maken van auto's van goede kwaliteit. Het bedrijf creëert ook nieuwe ideeën en technologieën. Ze waren bijvoorbeeld vroeg met het maken van efficiënte dieselmotoren. Ze hebben nu elektrische auto's zoals de ID.4, die deel uitmaakt van hun nieuwe lijn elektrische auto's.

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 maakt niet alleen auto's. Ze bezitten ook andere bekende merken, zoals Audi, Porsche en Lamborghini. Dit maakt Volkswagen een grote naam in de autowereld.

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.

Onlangs heeft Volkswagen gewerkt om milieuvriendelijker te worden. Ze investeren in elektrische auto's en nieuwe technologie om vervuiling te verminderen. Hun doel is om auto's te maken die beter zijn voor de aarde.

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!

Leuk weetje: De Volkswagen Kever was zo beroemd dat hij in films te zien was. De auto, genaamd Herbie, kon zelf rijden en had zelfs een eigen persoonlijkheid!

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:

beetle

id.4

golf

Match the Volkswagen model with its description:

Beetle

Golf

ID.4

A small, round car that became very popular.

A hatchback with a practical rear door.

An electric car from Volkswagen.

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.