What are the basic things I need to know about cars?

I'm a junior in high school and I decided to take an auto shop class because I feel like knowing these things will really help me out later on. Anyways my class started on Monday and I found out that everyone there knows almost everything there is to know and they are just taking the class because they like it. I feel really embarrassed because I literally don't know a thing about cars:(. I guess what I'm asking is can someone help me get started with some of the basics like what cars are good and reliable and such things as parts. The only thing I have learned so far is that everyone in my school hates Hondas haha.

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