Topic: Travelling. Means of Transport

1

UNIT TWO

Topic: Travelling. Means of transport

Grammar: Participle

Talking points:

1. What different ways of travelling by public transport are there?

2. What do you think is the best way of travelling in a city?

3. What is your opinion of cars being allowed in the city?

4. Cars have revolutionised the way we travel but at what cost?

5. What are the environmental problems caused by cars?

6. When you travel to unfamiliar places, do you prefer to travel independently or to go on a package tour? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these different ways of travelling?

7. Is there any other form of travel you would particularly like to experience?

8. Do cars play an important part in your life?

9. Do cars tell us something about the personality of the driver?

Ex. 1. Fill the gaps with an appropriate verb from the ones below in the correct tense.

arrive brake carry charge drive happen skid take

Three hurt in crash

Three people were injured in a crash involving two lorries and a van on the A14 near Bury St. Edmunds on Saturday. The accident ______in a heavy rain at approximately 2.45 p.m. when a lorry, which ______grain, ______on the wet surface of the dual carriageway, spilling its load across both lanes. According to a police spokesperson, the driver of the lorry ______suddenly to avoid hitting a dog, which had run out into the road in front of him. The drivers of the two other vehicles involved, Darren Holmes, ages 21, and Brendan Murphy, aged 37, ______too close behind to be able to stop in time. Ambulances, which ______on the scene within minutes, ______the injured to the nearby Royal Infirmary. Holmes, of Stanway near Colchester, has three broken ribs and is still under observation. The drivers of the lorries, John Peters, 52, of Ipswich, and Brendan Murphy, of Clacton-on-Sea, were treated for minor injuries and later sent home. The police ______all three drivers with dangerous driving.

Ex. 2.Theword‘vehicle’ is defined as something in or on which people or goods can be carried along roads (usually having wheels) or through space.

Put the following words into these categories:

a. - vehicles

b. - other means of transport or carriage, not by land

barge, van, ship, coach, liner, canoe, cart, jeep, boat, truck, bus, ferry, lorry, taxi, scooter, yacht, carriage, car, cab, tractor, motorbike, moped, (oil) tanker.

Ex. 3.This leaflet gives tourists information about driving on British motorways. Mustis used for all legal obligations, should for anything which isn’t law, and need for things that are physically necessary.

Read the leaflet, and fill the gaps with the affirmative or negative form of one of the three verbs.

Drive carefully...

Although motorways are safer than other roads, nevertheless accidents do sometimes happen - and they can nearly always be avoided.

Before you leave

• If you are feeling tired, you ______drive.
• Learner drivers ______not use motorways.
• Petrol stations may be up to 80 miles apart on some motorways. You ______make sure you have enough petrol before joining the motorway.

As you go

• Drive at a safe speed. You ______under any circumstances drive faster than 70 m.p.h.
• If you have a mechanical problem and you ______stop, pull on to the hard shoulder and switch on your hazard warning lights. You ______use the hard shoulder for casual stops.
• If driving long distances makes you feel sleepy, you ______stop regularly at service stations and walk about.

hard shoulder - area at the side of a motorway where drivers are allowed to stop in an emergency

... arrive safely

Ex. 4. Choose the correct word for the gap in each sentence:

trip; boarded; cyclist; flight attendant; take; journey; ride; drive; parking ticket; mechanic; on foot; take off; catch; land.

1. The best way to get here from the airport is to ______a taxi. 2. How long does the ______to work take you? 3. We’re going on a three-day ______to Paris. 4. Hilary was given a ______by a traffic warden. 5. Eddie is a keen ______and rides his bike to work every day. 6. Alison learnt to ______a motorbike as soon as she was old enough to get a licence. 7. Before take off, the ______told me to fasten my seat belt. 8. Richard hates travelling by car and goes everywhere he can ______. 9. You can ______a bus at the stop on the corner. 10. The plane couldn’t ______until all the passengers had ______11. Jim works as a ______in a local garage. 12. Because of the fog, the plane was not able to ______and was diverted to another airport forty miles away. 13. Learning to ______a car takes most people quite a long time.

Ex. 5. Complete the sentences with one of these words. You will need to use some words more than once:

trip journey travel travels voyage flight pilgrimage cruise

1. Mr and Mrs Edwards went on a four-week Mediterranean ______during which they visited several interesting ports. 2. I really enjoyed reading ‘The ______of Marco Polo’. 3. When she finished her ______and Tourism course at college, Lucy got a job as a ______agent. 4. Joseph loves going on ______to places of religious significance. 5. During the ______the pilot left the cabin and spoke to the passengers. 6. Next week Mr Hardy will be away on a business ______to Berlin. 7. People say that ______broadens the mind. 8. Columbus’s first ______across the Atlantic took just over five weeks. 9. Alan hated his long ______to work every day. 10. Bernard said that the ______would be quicker if we took the motorway.

READING

Text one

I FLEW TO BRAZIL BY ACCIDENT

Settling into my seat on the plane, I felt tired, ready for a drink and looking forward to getting home. As I sipped a gin and tonic and pushed my seat back, I remember thinking, ‘Only a couple of hours and I’ll be home.’

I’d phoned my girlfriend, Georgina, from Copenhagen before the plane took off, to tell her I was on my way. She’d said she’d pick me up at Heathrow Airport but I told her not to bother. I’d make my own way home.

After another drink, I snoozed until I heard a flight attendant announce, ‘We will shortly be landing at Heathrow.’ ‘Better get my things together,’ I thought. And that was it. I honestly don’t remember another thing until I woke up again later on.

For a couple of minutes I sat wondering sleepily if we were still on our way down to Heathrow. Then I began to realize something funny was going on. The two seats next to me had been empty when I fell asleep. Now a man was lying across them sleeping. There’d been a little girl in front, who’d kept grinning at me over the back of her seat. She had gone. And weirdest of all, all lights were off and everyone seemed to be asleep.

Slowly it began to dawn on me what had happened. I simply couldn’t believe it and felt increasingly horrified. The plane must have landed at Heathrow, let off some passengers, taken on others and set off on the next part of its journey. And I knew where that was to - Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

What on earth was I going to do? Poor Georgina would be wondering what had happened to me, and by now she was probably frantic with worry. And I was stuck on the plane with no ticket. Would they believe it was an accident? Had I really fallen so deeply asleep that I’d completely missed the plane landing and taking off again? I’d certainly been tired but this was ridiculous!

Not knowing what else to do, I went to look for a flight attendant and told her what had happened. I found out it was about 3 a.m. and we were several hours into the 11-hour flight to Brazil. The flight attendant thought it was very funny and told me not to worry. There wasn’t much anyone could do, anyway.

We landed in Rio at lunchtime on the Saturday. I was slightly worried that I might he hauled off the plane and locked up as an illegal immigrant. In fact, they took me straight to the departure lounge and told me that I had to sit and wait for the next flight to London, which was at 10 o’clock.

The first thing I did was call Georgina. She was furious because she had convinced herself that I’d been in a plane crash which she’d heard about on the news. Once I’d made the call, I decided it would be a shame to be in Rio and not see any of it. So, I slipped out of the airport and jumped into a passing taxi. It was surprisingly easy!

The driver took me round Rio and down to Copacabana beach. It was great! There I was, sitting on one of the most exotic beaches in the world instead of being back in gloomy England, hard at work. The thought of work and the valuable contract I knew I had now lost depressed me for a moment. But then I decided that since I couldn’t do a thing about it, I might as well take in the sights.

In the late afternoon I headed back to the airport. I had to confess that I’d sneaked out. The airline staff were not at all pleased and gave me an escort to watch my every move. However, I wasn’t planning on going anywhere else - I wasn’t going to miss that plane home.

Fortunately, there were no problems or delays and we landed at Heathrow at lunchtime on the Sunday. I’d set off from Denmark 48 hours earlier and had spent most of that time in the air. I’d travelled an unbelievable 11,000 miles across the world and back, had a quick paddle in Brazil and landed back home again, tired, fed up but none the worse for the experience.

Georgina recovered from the shock and was able to see the funny side of it, eventually. As for me, I still haven’t worked out how I slept through a whole landing and take off.

Notes:

1. flight attendant - ñòþàðäåññà

2. departure lounge - çàëâûëåòà

3. What on earth was I going to do? - (ýìîö.)×òî æå ìíå áûëî äåëàòü?

4. Heathrow - an airport in London

5. benonetheworsefor - íè÷óòü íå ïîñòðàäàòü îò

6. takein (AmE) - îñìàòðèâàòü (äîñòîïðèìå÷àòåëüíîñòè)

Vocabulary

accident (n) 1. - íåñ÷àñòíûéñëó÷àé, êàòàñòðîôà, àâàðèÿHe was killed in a motorway accident. Phr He had/met with an accident. - ïîïàñòüâàâàðèþ, âêàòàñòðîôó2. - ñëó÷àé, ñëó÷àéíîñòüby accident -ñëó÷àéíî You might cut yourself by accident; without accident - áåçïðîèñøåñòâèé; accidental (adj) - ñëó÷àéíûéan accidental meeting

bother (vt,vi) 1. - íàäîåäàòü, äîêó÷àòü, áåñïîêîèòüDon’t bother me with your foolish questions. Phr bother oneself/ one’s head about- ëîìàòüãîëîâó / áåñïîêîèòüñÿèç-çà Its not important, don’t bother your head about it. 2. - òðóäèòüñÿ, äàâàòüñåáåòðóäDon’t bother about getting dinner for me. I’ll eat out. He even didn’t bother to answer my question bother (n) - áåñïîêîéñòâî, õëîïîòû, èñòî÷íèêáåñïîêîéñòâ We had quite a lot of bother (in) getting here because of the fog. His lazy son is quite a bother to him

stick (vt,vi) (stuck) 1. - âòûêàòü, âîíçàòüShe stuck some pins into the material.I found a nail sticking in the tyre;2. - ïðèêëåèâàòü, ïðèêëåèâàòüñÿ stick a stamp on a letter. The paper stuck to the wall.3. çàñòðåâàòü, îñòàâàòüñÿ The door has stuck and I can’t get out. I’m stuck with the job of clearing this mess.4. - çàñóíóòü, âñòàâèòühe stuck his hands in his pockets Phr stick out - òîð÷àòü, âûñóíóòüShe stuck out her tongue at them. His ears stick out

completely (adv) - ñîâåðøåííî, ïîëíîñòüþcompletely successful; complete (adj) - ïîëíûé; ñîâåðøåííûé, àáñîëþòíûéHe is a complete stranger to me; complete (vt) - çàêàí÷èâàòü, çàâåðøàòüThe railway is not completed yet.

worry (vt,vi) - áåñïîêîèòü(ñÿ), âîëíîâàòü(ñÿ) What’s worrying you? - Phr worryabout/over sth Don’t worry about trifles. What’s the use of worrying?

convince (vt) - óáåæäàòü, óâåðÿòü convince sb of sth I’m convinced of his honesty/ that he is honest

sight (n) 1.[U]- çðåíèålose one’s sight; have good/poor (eye)sight; 2. - âèä; ïîëåçðåíèÿ Phr know sb by sight - çíàòüêîãî-ëèáîâëèöî; catch sight of -çàìåòèòüIf I catch sight of the children in my garden again I’ll have their blood; keep sb/sth in sight -äåðæàòüâïîëåçðåíèÿ; lose sight of sb - ïîòåðÿòüèçâèäóHe lost sight of his friend in the crowd. She lost sight of her school friends over the years; at first sight - ñïåðâîãîâçãëÿäàAt first sightthe problem seems insoluble; He fell in love with her at first sight; at the sight of - ïðèâèäå They all laughed at the sight of the clown dancing with a dog; in/within/out of sight of sth- - â (âíå) ïîëåçðåíèÿStay out of sight; 3. [C] - êðàñèâûéâèä, ïðåêðàñíîåçðåëèùå, (pl) äîñòîïðèìå÷àòåëüíîñòè The grand Canyon is one of the sights of the world. Come and see the sights of London. Phr gosightseeing - îñìàòðèâàòüäîñòîïðèìå÷àòåëüíîñòè4. -íåïðèãëÿäíîå, ñìåõîòâîðíîåçðåëèùåWhat a sight she looks in that old dress!

experience (n) -1. [U] - îïûò (æèçíåííûé) We all learn by experience. He has not enough experience for the position. 2. [C] - ñëó÷àé, ïðèêëþ÷åíèå; ïåðåæèâàíèå, âïå÷àòëåíèåan unpleasant/ trying/ unusual experience; experience (vt) -èñïûòàòü, çíàòüïîîïûòó; èñïûòûâàòü, ïåðåæèâàòü experience pain/ pleasure/ difficulty/ great hardships; (in)experienced (adj) - (íå)îïûòíûé

be fed up with sth (sl) - íàäîåñòüI’m fed up with your grumbling

set off - îòïðàâëÿòüñÿThey’ve set off on a journey round the world

Ex. 6. Answer the following questions about the text.

1. What did Nigel Hughes feel like when he settled in his seat on the plane in Copenhagen? 2. How did it happen that Nigel fly to Rio? 3. What worried Nigel when he realised thathe was well on the way to Brazil? 4. Why did Nigel decide to sneak out from the airport for a few hours? 5. How did he spend the afternoon in Rio? 6. Did he regret falling so deeply asleep on the plane on his way from Copenhagen to London?

Ex. 7. Find in the text the English for the following phrases and use then in discussing the text.

óñòðîèòüñÿ íà ñâîåì ìåñòå; îòêèíóòü ñïèíêó êðåñëà íàçàä; áûòü â ïóòè; çàåõàòü çà êåì-ë. â àýðîïîðò (âñòðåòèòü); íå áåñïîêîèòüñÿ; ñâåò áûë ïîãàøåí; äîõîäèòü äî ñîçíàíèÿ; ïî÷óâñòâîâàòü óæàñ; âûïóñòèòü ïàññàæèðîâ è âçÿòü äðóãèõ; îòïðàâèòüñÿ; îáåçóìåòü îò áåñïîêîéñòâà; çàñòðÿòü; ñîâåðøåííî íå çàìåòèòü (ïðîïóñòèòü) ïîñàäêó; çàïåðåòü êàê íåëåãàëüíîãî èììèãðàíòà; áûòü â ãíåâå; óáåäèòü êîãî-ë.; âûñêîëüçíóòü èç àýðîïîðòà; óïóñòèòü (ïîòåðÿòü) öåííûé êîíòðàêò; îñìîòðåòü äîñòîïðèìå÷àòåëüíîñòè; ïåðñîíàë àâèàêîìïàíèè; çàäåðæêà (ðåéñà); íàäîåñòü; íå ïîñòðàäàòü îò äàííîãî èñïûòàíèÿ; ïðèäòè â ñåáÿ îò øîêà; ïîíÿòü (âû÷èñëèòü).

Text two

THE CAR THAT WAS

Christine and Andrew went into the sitting room. ‘Sit here.’ She stretched out her arm. ‘I want to tell to you something.’

He went over to seat himself beside her, when suddenly there came the loud braying of a Klaxon from outside.

‘Krr-krr-krr-ki-ki-krr.’

‘Damn!’ said Christine concisely. Only one motor horn in Aberalaw could sound like that. It belonged to Con Boland.

Hearing the car slow down and pull at the gate, Christine and Andrew came out to meet the Bolands. The family had arrived in the reconstructed motor car - Con at the wheel in a bowler hat and enormous new gauntlets, with Mary and Terence beside him; the three other children sat close around Mrs. Boland, who had the infant in her arms, in the back, all packed like herrings in a tin.

Suddenly the horn began again: ‘Krr-krr-krr-krr ---‘ Con had accidentally pushed the button in switching off and now it was stuck. The Klaxon wouldn’t stop.

‘In the name of God,’ Con cried, ‘I’m wastin’ juice.’ What’s happened?’

‘It’s the button, Father,’ Mary told him calmly. She took it out with her little fingernail. The racket stopped.

‘Ah! That’s better,’ Con sighed. ‘How are ye, Manson, my boy? How d’you like the old car now? I’ve had her lengthened a good two feet. Isn’t she grand? Mind you, there’s still a little trouble with the gearbox, but she never broke down. We didn’t quite manage the hill, as ye might say!’

‘We only stuck a few minutes, Father,’ said Mary.

‘Ah! Never mind,’ said Con. ‘I’ll soon put that right when I repair her again. How are ye, Mrs. Manson? Here we all are, to wish ye a merry Christmas and take our tea with ye!’

‘Come in, Con,’ Christine smiled. ‘I like your gloves.’

‘Christmas present from the wife,’ Con answered, admiring the gauntlets. ‘Ah! What’s gone wrong with this door?’

Unable to open the door he threw his long legs over it, climbed out, helped the children and wife from the back, looked over the car with care - fondly removing a lump of mud from the windscreen, - then tore himself away to follow the others to Vale View.

They had a cheerful tea party. Con was in high spirits, proud of his car. ‘You’ll not recognise her when she has a coat of paint.’ Mrs. Boland, as was her habit, drank lots of strong black tea. The children began upon the chocolate biscuits and ended with a fight for the last piece of bread. They cleared every plate upon the table with lightning speed.

After tea, while Mary had gone to wash the dishes, - she insisted that Christine looked tired, - Andrew took the baby from Mrs. Boland and played with it on the hearthrug before the fire. It was the fattest baby he had ever seen, a Rubens infant. It tried repeatedly to poke a finger into his eye. Every time it failed a look of solemn wonder came upon its face. Christine sat with her hands in her lap, doing nothing - watching him playing with the baby.

But Con and his family could not stay long. Outside the light was fading and Con, worried about his ‘juice’, had doubts which he didn’t care to express about the functioning of his lamps.

The Bolands were on the point of leaving when Con delivered the invitation: ‘Come out and see us start.’

Again Andrew and Christine stood at the gate while Con packed the car with the children. After a couple of swings the engine obeyed and Con, with a triumphant not towards them, pulled on his gauntlets. Then he raised himself proudly into the driving seat.

At that very moment the car gave out a groan and sank to the ground. The wheels shot outwards, there was the sound of pieces dropping off; then the body of the car came to rest on street level. In the front was Con clutching the wheel, in the back his wife, clutching the baby.