3. Vocabulary Focus

Study this list of ten words and expressions and choose the eight most suitable to fill the gaps in the sentences below:

Aerofoil angle of attack crashed density flaps

forward thrust rudder stall streamlined taxies

1. If the shape of an aeroplane is not very __________ there will be a lot of drag.

2. The __________ shape of the wings helps to provide lift.

3. The __________ of the air is greater at sea level than it is at a great height.

4. We call the angle at which a plane takes off the __________.

5. The propeller provides the __________ on a piston-engined plane.

6. If a plane took off too steeply it might __________.

7. The __________ are used to slow down the plane when coming in to land.

8. If the pilot wishes to turn the aircraft he uses the __________.

What are the two words or expressions in the list that you did not use? Put each of them in a sentence of your own.

4. Vocabulary Development

Match the verb on the left with a noun on the right. Use each word once only. Write your answers in the boxes.

Set 1

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2
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10

1. broaden a. the blow

2. deaden b. your hair

3. fasten c. your life

4. sharpen d. your mind

5. shorten e. the pain

6. soften f. a pencil

7. straighten g. a relationship

8. strengthen h. your seat belt

9. sweeten i. a screw

10. tighten j. the taste

Set 2

Now do the same with these words.

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1. amplify a. your actions

2. clarify b. the authorities

3. justify c. the demonstrators

4. magnify d. the evidence

5. modify e. your plans

6. notify f. your requirements

7. pacify g. a situation

8. purify h. a slide

9. specify i. sound

10. verify j. water

5. Vocabulary Exercises

A. Read the text.

Travelling by Air

I knew it was going to be a bad day when, on the way to the airport, the taxi driver told me he was lost.

I had booked my flight over the telephone, so when we finally arrived, I had to rush to the reservations desk to pay for my ticket. The woman at the desk told me that my name was not on the passenger list. It took fifteen minutes for her to realize that she spelled my name incorrectly. She gave me my ticket and told me I’d better check in my luggage quickly or I’d miss my flight.

I was the last person to get on the plane.

I found my seat and discovered that I was sitting next to a four-year-old boy who had a cold. I sat down and wondered if anything else could go wrong.

I hate flying, especially take-off, but the plane took off and everything seemed to be all right. Then, a few minutes later, there was a funny noise and everything started to shake. I looked out of the window and – oh my God – there was smoke coming out of the wing. All I could think ‘The engine is on fire. We’re going to crash. I’m too young to die.’

Almost immediately, the captain spoke to us in a very calm voice, ‘Ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. We are having a slight technical problem with one of our engines. There is absolutely no need to panic. We will have to return to the airport. Please remain seated and keep your seat belts fastened.’

Well you can imagine how frightened I was, but the crew were fantastic. The flight attendants were really calm and told us not to worry. One of them told me to relax and said that everything would be all right.

A few minutes later, we were coming in to land. The pilot made a perfect landing on the runway. It was over. We were safe.

That day, I decided not to fly again. I caught another taxi and went home. But as I closed the front door, I looked down at my case. Somehow I had picked up the wrong suitcase.

B. Put these events in the right order, according to the passage.

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a) She paid for her ticket.

b) The engine caught fire.

c) The plane landed.

d) The plane took off.

e) She picked up the wrong suitcase.

f) The reservations clerk couldn’t find her name.

g) The taxi driver got lost.

h) She went home.

i) The flight attendants told people to be calm.

j) She booked the flight.

k) She left home.

l) She checked in her luggage.

C. Find the words in the story which mean the following and write them in the blanks.

1. the desk where you can collect your ticket if you have made a reservation ____________________

2. the part of an airport where a plane takes off and lands ____________________

3. a group of people who work on the plane ____________________

4. a person who flies a plane ____________________

5. a person who is travelling on a plane ____________________

6. a person who looks after the people who are travelling on a plane ____________________

D. Match the beginning of the sentence with the end.

1. I checked in ____________________ a) their flight.

2. She got on ____________________ b) my ticket.

3. The travel agent made ____________________ c) their seat belts.

4. The pilot landed on ____________________ d) the plane.

5. She caught ____________________ e) my luggage.

6. They almost missed ____________________ f) a taxi.

7. The passengers fastened ____________________ g) the runway.

8. I booked ____________________ h) my reservation.

9. The crew were ____________________ i) her suitcase.

10. She picked up ____________________ j) very calm.