A: Hello, I need to send this letter to an address in Leeds, but I don’t have the postcode.
B: Give me the address and I’ll look it up for you.
A: Thanks so much! My friend told me I can’t post anything without
it. Is that true?
B: Not exactly, but it does make it easier for us. Most addresses are machine sorted, you see.
A: So without a postcode, you’d need to hand sort it?
B: Yes, that’s right and that can cause delays in delivery.
A: But what’s in the postcode that’s so important?
B: The postcode contains lots of information: the postal area, district, sector and unit. The area for Leeds is LS.
A: But how can I get hold of it? Is it complicated?
B: Not at all, it’s a doddle! There’s a Postcode Finder on our website. See, I type in the address and… hey presto, here’s your postcode!
NOW LET’S REVIEW THE VOCABULARY!
You can send, post or mail a letter.
The phrasal verb ‘to look up’ means ‘to find a piece of information’.
‘To sort’ refers to arranging things systematically. Post is sorted either by hand(‘hand sorted’) or using automated sorting machines (‘machine sorted’).
‘You see’ is a phrase used when you are explaining something.
A delay is a postponement; the letter will be delivered later than usual.
‘Postal’ is the adjective of the noun ‘post’.
Area, district, sector and unit are geographical areas decreasing in size.
The phrasal verb ‘to get hold of’ something means ‘to obtain’ it.
A ‘doddle’ is a colloquial way of saying ‘a very easy thing to do’.
“Hey presto!” is an exclamation used when something happens so quickly and easily, it appears to be magic (magicians use the phrase at the end of their acts).