English writing and speaking to inform: at your local station you are asked to give a set of directions to the hospital (three miles away) to visitors on foot. They ask the following questions; answer them to create your sequenced instruction list.
What qualities do good instructions share? They are clear and avoid unnecessary detail. They are given in the order that they should be followed. They use directional language, such as "right", "left" and "straight", as well as positional language, such as "opposite", "next to" and "across". They give times and distances, for example: "Walk for 200 metres" or "Drive for ten minutes". They also mention landmarks to help the listener recognise the journey as they undertake it.
Excellent directions also anticipate any difficulties the listener might encounter, such as missing the last bus or train, or being likely to mistake a similar location for their final destination. If you know such details, it's good to share them!
See if you can help the visitors to find the hospital by playing this quiz.
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1.
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Where are we exactly? |
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| [ ] |
At the bus station |
| [ ] |
At the train station |
| [ ] |
At the train station at the southern end of the high street |
| [ ] |
On the platform |
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2.
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How far away are we from the hospital? |
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| [ ] |
A long way |
| [ ] |
A mile |
| [ ] |
Half an hour |
| [ ] |
Three miles |
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3.
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How long will it take us to reach the hospital on foot? |
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| [ ] |
All day |
| [ ] |
It is impossible by foot |
| [ ] |
Nearly an hour, but when does visiting time end? |
| [ ] |
Two minutes |
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4.
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Visiting time ends in two hours. Can we catch a bus? |
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| [ ] |
Bus number 10 goes every 5 minutes from the main road |
| [ ] |
No buses |
| [ ] |
The next bus goes in two hours time |
| [ ] |
Yes |
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5.
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Does it go right to the hospital please? |
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| [ ] |
I don't know |
| [ ] |
I'm not sure, ask the driver |
| [ ] |
No, ask for hospital corner and then you must walk |
| [ ] |
No, it goes to the next town instead |
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6.
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When we get off the bus how do we find the hospital? |
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| [ ] |
Ask for help |
| [ ] |
Ask the driver |
| [ ] |
There will be a petrol station on your left, take that road |
| [ ] |
Turn right and walk into the forest for the afternoon |
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7.
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Will we be able to see the hospital from there? |
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| [ ] |
Maybe |
| [ ] |
No |
| [ ] |
No, you need to walk to the end of the road and turn right |
| [ ] |
Yes |
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8.
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And then? |
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| [ ] |
Catch a bus back |
| [ ] |
Catch a train back |
| [ ] |
Go home again |
| [ ] |
You will see the hospital at the end of the road |
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9.
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Will the buses still be running after visiting hours? |
|
| [ ] |
Ask in the petrol station |
| [ ] |
No idea |
| [ ] |
Until 9.30; the buses are timed to connect with the trains |
| [ ] |
Yes but you might have to wait for a train |
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10.
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Thank you for your clear directions! |
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| [ ] |
Goodbye |
| [ ] |
Hooray |
| [ ] |
Oh dear |
| [ ] |
You're welcome! I hope you find the hospital |
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|
|
1.
|
Where are we exactly? |
|
| [ ] |
At the bus station |
| [ ] |
At the train station |
| [x] |
At the train station at the southern end of the high street |
| [ ] |
On the platform |
|
|
|
2.
|
How far away are we from the hospital? |
|
| [ ] |
A long way |
| [ ] |
A mile |
| [ ] |
Half an hour |
| [x] |
Three miles |
|
|
|
3.
|
How long will it take us to reach the hospital on foot? |
|
| [ ] |
All day |
| [ ] |
It is impossible by foot |
| [x] |
Nearly an hour, but when does visiting time end? |
| [ ] |
Two minutes |
|
|
|
4.
|
Visiting time ends in two hours. Can we catch a bus? |
|
| [x] |
Bus number 10 goes every 5 minutes from the main road |
| [ ] |
No buses |
| [ ] |
The next bus goes in two hours time |
| [ ] |
Yes |
|
|
|
5.
|
Does it go right to the hospital please? |
|
| [ ] |
I don't know |
| [ ] |
I'm not sure, ask the driver |
| [x] |
No, ask for hospital corner and then you must walk |
| [ ] |
No, it goes to the next town instead |
|
|
|
6.
|
When we get off the bus how do we find the hospital? |
|
| [ ] |
Ask for help |
| [ ] |
Ask the driver |
| [x] |
There will be a petrol station on your left, take that road |
| [ ] |
Turn right and walk into the forest for the afternoon |
|
|
|
7.
|
Will we be able to see the hospital from there? |
|
| [ ] |
Maybe |
| [ ] |
No |
| [x] |
No, you need to walk to the end of the road and turn right |
| [ ] |
Yes |
|
|
|
8.
|
And then? |
|
| [ ] |
Catch a bus back |
| [ ] |
Catch a train back |
| [ ] |
Go home again |
| [x] |
You will see the hospital at the end of the road |
|
|
|
9.
|
Will the buses still be running after visiting hours? |
|
| [ ] |
Ask in the petrol station |
| [ ] |
No idea |
| [x] |
Until 9.30; the buses are timed to connect with the trains |
| [ ] |
Yes but you might have to wait for a train |
|
|
|
10.
|
Thank you for your clear directions! |
|
| [ ] |
Goodbye |
| [ ] |
Hooray |
| [ ] |
Oh dear |
| [x] |
You're welcome! I hope you find the hospital |
|
|
