El Examen de Conducir
(The Driving Test)
Era la tercera vez que Carlos intentaba aprobar el examen de conducir.
It was the third time Carlos was trying to pass the driving test.
Cuando llegó al centro de exámenes, el instructor lo reconoció inmediatamente.
When he arrived at the test center, the instructor recognized him immediately.
Otra vez usted, dijo con una sonrisa cansada.
You again, he said with a tired smile.
Carlos respiró profundamente y subió al coche con las manos temblando.
Carlos took a deep breath and got into the car with his hands shaking.
Los primeros cinco minutos fueron un desastre.
The first five minutes were a disaster.
Carlos arrancó el motor tres veces antes de conseguir salir del aparcamiento.
Carlos stalled the engine three times before managing to leave the parking lot.
Después, en la primera rotonda, dio la vuelta en la dirección equivocada.
Then, at the first roundabout, he went around in the wrong direction.
El instructor escribía notas constantemente en su tableta.
The instructor was constantly writing notes on his tablet.
La situación empeoró cuando Carlos no vio un contenedor de basura en la acera.
The situation got worse when Carlos didn't see a garbage bin on the sidewalk.
Giró bruscamente para evitarlo y subió a la acera con dos ruedas.
He turned sharply to avoid it and mounted the sidewalk with two wheels.
¡Lo siento mucho!, gritó Carlos, convencido de que había suspendido otra vez.
I'm so sorry! shouted Carlos, convinced that he had failed again.
Pero el instructor solo levantó la mano y dijo: Continúe.
But the instructor just raised his hand and said: Continue.
Al final del examen, Carlos esperaba lo peor.
At the end of the test, Carlos was expecting the worst.
El instructor lo miró durante un largo momento y finalmente sonrió.
The instructor looked at him for a long moment and finally smiled.
Ha aprobado, dijo.
You've passed, he said.
¿Qué?
What?
¿Cómo?, preguntó Carlos incrédulo.
How? asked Carlos incredulously.
Porque en tres intentos, usted nunca se rindió.
Because in three attempts, you never gave up.
Eso demuestra determinación.
That shows determination.
Además, esta vez no chocó con nada importante.
Besides, this time you didn't crash into anything important.
Key Vocabulary
examen de conducir driving test
aprobar to pass
suspender to fail
instructor instructor
arrancar to stall / to start
motor engine
aparcamiento parking lot
rotonda roundabound
contenedor de basura garbage bin
acera sidewalk
rueda wheel
rendirse to give up
determinación determination
chocar to crash
intentar to try / to attempt