Exercise 15. A great number of people are fond of travelling and yet they say: "East or West, home is best" or "There's no place like home".

1. What do they mean by these proverbs?

2. Could you apply these proverbs to yourself? Illustrate them.

3. If "there is no place like home", why is travelling so popular then?

Exercise 16.

Read the poem and say how the author prefers to travel.

ROUND AND ROUND

You can travel by plane

Go faster than sound

You can even get on your bike.

But of all the ways

You can travel around

There’s only one way that I like.

I like going round and round

On the Underground.

You can travel by train.

You can travel by bus.

You can walk all the way if you please.

But of all the ways

You can travel around

There’s only one way that agrees.

I like going round and round

On the Underground.

You can ride on a pony

Without any fuss

And in winter, put on some skis.

But of all the ways

You can travel around

There’s only one way for me please.

I like going round and round

On the Underground.

Exercise 17.

Listen to the conversation between a traveller and a porter.

1. Act it out.

At the station

A.: Porter, will you see to my luggage, please?

P.: Where for, sir?

A.: I am going by the 10 o’clock train to Glasgow. Will you have this trunk labelled and put in the luggage-van? The suitcase and bag can go on the luggage-rack?

P.: Right, sir. What class?

A.: First. Try and find me a corner seat in a smoker, facing the engine, if you can.

P.: Have you got your ticket yet, sir?

A.: Not yet. Where’s the booking-office?

P.: Come along with me and I’ll show you. Here it is. I’ll meet you on the platform.

A.: Which platform is it?

P.: No. 8, over there.

A.: One first to Glasgow, please.

C.: Single or return?

A.: Single … Do I have to change anywhere?

C.: No, no change, it’s a through train.

A.: Thank you.

P.: Here you are, sir. I’ve found you a corner seat next to the corridor. Your carriage is near the dining-car, and you can order lunch when the attendant comes along.

A.: What time do we get to Glasgow?

P.: You’re due to arrive at 6.15.

A.: Thank you. Here you are.

P.: Thank you, sir. I hope you’ll have a comfortable journey.

A.: Well, I’ve still got a few minutes to spare, so I’ll go and get myself a novel or a detective story to while away the time during the journey.

P.: Mind you don’t miss the train, sir.

A.: That’s all right. The train doesn’t leave for another ten minutes, and it won’t take me more than five minutes to get a book.

2. Make up a story about the traveller (his likes and dislikes in terms of travelling; his travelling experience; his reasons for travelling to Glasgow, etc.)

Travelling by air

to go through the customs (passport control)

to fill in the customs declaration (the immigration form)

the customs officer

a smuggler

to declare

the check-in counter

a claim-check for each piece of luggage (квитанция)

a boarding pass (посадочный талон)

security check (таможенный досмотр)

to hijack

the departure lounge (зал)

to board the plane

on board the plane

The rules for passengers who are going abroad are similar in most countries, but sometimes there might be a slight difference in formalities.

If, for instance, you are supposed to begin with going through the customs, you’d better fill in the customs declaration before you talk to the customs officer. An experienced customs officer usually “smells” a smuggler, but he may ask any passenger routine questions, for instance. “Have you got anything to declare?” or “Any spirits, tobacco, presents?” The usual answers would be. “Yes. I’ve got some valuables, but I’ve put them all down in the declaration,” or “I’ve got two blocks of cigarettes for my own use” or something of that kind.

Then you go to the check-in counter where your ticket is looked at, your things are weighed and labelled, a claim-check for each piece of luggage is inserted in the ticket and you are given a boarding pass, which has a seat number on it. Of course, if your luggage weighs more than 20kgs. you have to pay extra. The next formality is filling in the immigration form and going through passport control. The form has to be filled in block letters. You write your name, nationality, permanent address and the purpose of your trip. In most countries there is also a security check when your carry-on luggage is inspected. This is all anti-hijacking measure, and anything that might be dangerous or disturbing to other passengers must be handed to one of the crew and only returned to the owner after the plane has reached its destination.

After fulfilling all these formalities you go to the departure lounge where you can have a snack, read a paper, buy something in the duty-free shop and wait for the announcement to board the plane.

Some of these formalities are repeated when you arrive at your destination. The customs declaration and the immigration form are often filled in on board the plane.

1. What do people do when they are travelling abroad and they have to go through the customs? (to fill in the declaration)

2. Why is it better to fill in the customs declaration before you talk to the customs officer?

3. Are the customs officers experienced, as you think?

4. What questions do they usually ask the passengers?

5. How do you check-in? What happens there?

6. How many kgs is a passenger allowed to have? What happens if he has more?

7. What is the next formality?

8. What do you write in the immigration form?

9. How is a security check performed?

10. Why do they inspect our luggage?

11. What do you do after fulfilling all the formalities?

12. What happens when you arrive at your destination?

I

Speak about travelling by air (when you go abroad).

II

What are the formalities when you travel by air in your own country? Do you have to go through all these formalities too?

Exercise 18.

Two people are discussing travelling by sea. What arguments do they give in favour and against this means of transport? Listen to find out.

SEA OR AIR

Susan: Are you looking forward to you trip to Canada, Julie?

Julie: I can’t wait to see Canada, Susan, but I’m scared stiff of the journey. My husband insists on flying, but I want to sail. Planes make me nervous.

Susan: There is nothing to be frightened of. How many planes fly across the Atlantic every day?

Julie: I’ve no idea. Hundreds, I suppose.

Susan: And how often do you hear of a crash?…Once or twice a year?

Julie: Yes, but aeroplanes fly so high and fast that once is enough.

Susan: Look, there are more road casualties per day than air deaths per year. Air transport is really safe compared with road transport.

Julie: I’d still prefer to go by sea. Ships may not travel fast but at least you can relax. I’d love a trip on a luxury liner like the Queen Elizabeth II.

Susan: It’s fine if you are a good sailor, but have you ever travelled far in a rough sea?