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2. Find words that have the same or similar meaning to the following in the descriptions above:

to occupy some property in return for periodic payments; impressive, grand; to come into contact with; an unforeseen or sudden occurrence; dating from very long ago; anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition; a particular recollection of an event, person; a pause in work or during an activity or event.

1. Look at the photos described by three people. Which photo does each of them talk about? Two photos are extra.

1)This photo shows Frank walking along the Great Wall of China. The day was at its height, so there were a lot of tourists there. In the background, you can see the hills and the wall stretching out as far as you can see. Parts of the wall looked like they had been built in the clouds. He had already been in Beijing for one week, and before he left, Frank wanted to see the wall. He was very excited because he had heard that you can see this wall from the moon, and he wanted to see it for himself.

2)This is a photo of the Grand Canyon. Mark went there with his family. On the right of the photo, you can see one of the guides. Mark took this photo after they had been walking for a few hours. They felt very happy to be there because they had heard about the Canyon, how beautiful it was. Some friends had told them how amazing it was but they had never expected to see it themselves. So it was very nice to see it in real life. It was very, very big. They walked for some hours and afterwards they just sat quietly. It was a very silent place, and very beautiful.

3)Clara took a train up the mountain and then she took a bus. She was very high up, and then she walked to Machu Picchu. Far below there was a river. Clara was very near the clouds and there were mountains covered in trees. She kept walking past a few stone huts and waiting to see the great ruin. She felt very excited. She always wanted to see Machu Picchu. She heard that some people started crying when they first saw the incredible sight. Eventually, she got to the place where she could see the whole city and took the photo. The stone ruins were so powerful. Clara could hardly imagine how people had managed to build the city on the top of the mountain. .It really was amazing.

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2. Complete the notes in the table.

3. Use the phrases in the box to describe a photo you remember well.

Describing a memorable photo

The photo was taken in/at/near … (place).

The photo was taken in/at/during ... (time).

In the background/foreground, you can see … .

On the right/left there is … .

This is a photo of … .

The photo shows … (place, person, and scene).

I/We felt happy/sad … .

I was really excited … .

Read and translate the poem. Who do you think this poem is about? Now, read the poem aloud as expressively as possible.

So many countries all over the world, so many people life-tales told. Different cities, languages, poems, amazing traditions, legends, stories. We travel East, we travel West,

To know so much is best.

If South is warm, North is cold, we start our trip and off we go!

KEY WORDS TO REMEMBER

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5. Travelling by Air

In pairs, comment on the quotation. Make use of the word combinations below and clichés on page 108.

1.In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1)How often do you travel by air? Do you mostly fly on business or on holiday?

2)Do you get excited or bored on flights? What do you usually do during flights?

3)What is the longest flight you have had? How do you feel after long-haul flights?

2.Be it business travel or a holiday trip, choosing the right airline for travelling is important, if you wish to avoid needless anxiety and stress. What are the things you look for when choosing an airline for your next flight? Rank the following factors in order of importance.

3. Air travel can be a big concern for inexperienced travellers, but there is a lot of information to calm down their nervousness. Match the two parts of the air travel tips below. Think of any other things worth considering to get a perfect flight.

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1.Read the first part of the text and answer the questions.

1)What are the urgent demands for the air travel industry to meet?

2)How do big air companies respond to these demands?

1.In this age of rapid technological advancements, we have come to expect everything quick and easy. We can do many things at our computers without waiting or even going outside. Many people who travelled for business in the past can now save themselves a trip by using Skype and attending webinars. However, if your purpose of travel is to be somewhere else, airplane travel is still the fastest option.

There are many pressures acting on the air travel industry at the moment. There are the economic pressures from the fact that people are feeling like they can’t afford as many holidays as they had previously. Then, there is the environmental pressure that is pushing plane companies to invest in greener technology, or governments to implement harsher fuel taxes to discourage the use of budget airlines. Future air travel must be cheap and environmentally clean. Thankfully, companies have begun to meet this challenge, and some are even in a fairly advanced stage of development. One example is a new hypersonic, stratospheric rocket plane that has been introduced recently by the company EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company).

They have named the project ZEHST, which stands for zero emission hypersonic transportation, and will be able to carry 100 passengers from London up 20 miles high, then over to Tokyo in just two and a half hours. In addition, the really great part is that it will work on biofuels from algae or seaweed for takeoff, as well as hydrogen and oxygen to get into the stratosphere, meaning that its impact on the environment will be negligible.

Therefore, the concept of a convenient, fast and environmentally friendly plane is not out of the question; but we do not yet know whether flying by ZEHST will be affordable. Boeing is developing a similar project as well, and they have started testing a pilotless model. EADS claims, however, that there is nothing to suggest that Boeings model will be environmentally clean.

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2. Read the second part of the text and say why environmentally unfriendly budget airlines are so popular with the travellers.

2. Despite sci-fi visions of supersonic jets spanning the Pacific in four hours, the biggest near-term changes appear not to be faster planes, but planes that are more efficient. This evolution is being driven by the issues consumers seem to care about the most – low costs and more direct flights.

The term a low-cost carrier (also known as a no-frills, discount or budget airline) originated within the airline industry referring to airlines with a lower operating cost structure than their competitors. Budget carriers come with some disadvantages. Still, they provide excellent value and, increasingly, service that is comparable to larger air carriers. Low-cost airlines are becoming more prevalent, due to the need of travelling on a tight budget. While the term is often applied to any carrier with low ticket prices and limited services, regardless of their operating models, low-cost carriers should not be confused with regional airlines that operate short flights without service, or with full-service airlines offering some reduced fares.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

1.According to the text, are the following statements true or false? If they are false, say why.

1)The use of Skype and associated technologies reduces the need for people to fly to conferences and seminars.

2)The air travel industry is not experiencing any problems at the present time.

3)Governments impose lower fuel taxes on budget airlines.

4)The ZEHST is expected to fly from London to Japan in less than 4 hours.

5)The ZEHST is an eco-friendly aircraft designed to be powered by bio-fuels got from seaweeds.

6)EADS claims that Boeings pilotless model will be environmentally friendly.

7)The near future concerns of the air travel industry are cheaper direct flights.

2.Match the words on the left with their equivalents on the right.

1. In groups, discuss what terrorism is. Compare your ideas with the definitions of terrorism below.

1)All criminal acts directed against a state intended or calculated to create a state of terror in the minds of particular persons or persons in the general public.

2)The highjacking or sabotage of any conveyance including an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle.

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3)The deliberate, systematic murder, mayhem, and threatening of the innocent to create fear and intimidation in order to gain a political or tactical advantage, usually to influence an audience.

4)The illegitimate use of force to achieve a political objective when innocent people are targeted.

2.Read about air terrorism and report on the technical systems used to fight it.

Air terrorism is an international phenomenon, and one that is not at all new to the global scene. The first example of a politically-motivated jetliner hijacking happened in July 1968, and the first bomb attack on board a plane occurred in May 1949.

Terrorists’ targets in such operations are passenger planes, airports or airline offices. Terrorists can suddenly strike against key facilities like private buildings, government properties and military installations in any place on earth. The destruction of symbolic objects can weaken the confidence of citizens in a nation’s government, because the state is not able to secure the safety of their own people. And the attacks of 11 September 2001 also proved that at least some terrorists will not hesitate to use jetliners as ‘human missiles’ to accomplish their aims. The most exceptionally effective examples of terrorist acts against aviation targets from the terrorists’ point of view involve hijacked jetliners with passengers on board.

After attacks of 11 September 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush declared the start of a ‘global war on terror’. More than ten years later, the fight against terror is not finished, and the anticipated results have not been accomplished. Even now, after years of dedicated intelligence and military counter-terrorist activity, it is very difficult to detect and identify terrorists, and it is often impossible to blame concrete persons and organizations for attacks that occur.

The terrorist threat to aviation exists especially in places where there are high levels of travel-related activity, especially in airports and during flights.

Such a wide spectrum of terrorist threats has forced political leaders around the world to undertake strict security precautions. These safety measures are aimed at protecting airports and planes and, ultimately, at protecting human life. Various technical systems are used to counter the terrorist threat in airports. The following are of particular significance:

1)airfield area and aircraft access supervision systems;

2)systems protecting aircraft parking areas;

3)cargo, mail, and courier parcel supervision systems;

4)air crew, passenger, and freight safety checking systems;

5)systems to control the fabrication of ID cards and passes;

6)optical monitor systems (TV supervision systems);

7)systems to detect nuclear, biological, or chemical agents.

SECTION 2

1. Think about the disadvantages of flying with low-cost airlines. In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1)In your opinion, what could traditional airlines do to attract customers back?

2)Which type of airline do you prefer?

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1.According to the text, are the following statements true or false? If they are false, say why.

1)Ryanair is the world’s biggest budget airline.

2)Ryanair is trying to reduce costs by making passengers stand during the flight.

3)In 2009, Ryanair carried more passengers than in 2010.

4)Michael Ryan’s another idea is to put extra paid toilets on board.

5)Overweight passengers will have to pay more for their tickets.

6)Michael Ryan’s standing room idea does not contradict the international safety standards.

2.Read the passages below. Decide which of them are about advantages of budget airlines and which are about disadvantages.

1)Low-cost airlines fly to many of the same airports as traditional airlines. They are located all over the world and have changed the way that consumers view air travel.

2)Low-cost airlines do not always offer the same services or amenities as traditional airlines. To make up for revenue lost in decreased ticket prices, the airline may charge for extras like food, priority boarding, seat allocating, and baggage.

3)Low-cost carriers may not have all of the amenities that other airlines have, but their tickets are reduced by a considerable percentage. In the United States, low-cost airlines can save $100 or more per flight. In Europe, low-cost airlines have rates as low as $20 one-way.

4)Airline travel used to be for the elite, but with low-cost airlines, it is becoming an option for more people. Travel packages that include low-cost airlines often encourage travel to certain destinations and may include both airfare and hotel in the price.

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5)Many budget airlines allow you to select seats before the flight only at an additional cost. If you arrive late at the airport, you may be assigned an undesirable seat.

6)Budget airlines sometimes utilize remote airports. That can be inconvenient or offer only once-a-day flights.

7)Budget airlines offer flights at very low fares at the expense of flexibility. Where standard commercial airlines offer refundable tickets, with budget airlines they are rarely refunded and cancellations often mean the loss of all or most of the ticket cost.

3.What is the difference between the three words: fly, flight(s), flying? Use the correct word to complete each sentence.

1)Modern jet aircrafts … at an altitude of 8,000 to 9,000 metres.

2)It is a pity to lose the romantic side of … and to accept it as a common means of transport.

3)Worldwide, the number of scheduled … is fairly stable, with a 1% growth recorded a year.

4)Even though … is the safest form of transport, some passengers are afraid of it.

5)Like on all our long-haul …, passengers will get personal in-flight entertainment, food, a complimentary newspaper and a free bar service.

6)You will be transferred to Perth airport to connect with your onward … .

7)A United Express pilot who was convicted of … while drunk will serve six months in prison.

8)Learning to … is a dream for many people around the world, but it is only realized by a few lucky individuals.

1. Charter airlines are getting more and more popular with tourists. Why do you think? What is the difference between scheduled airline service and charter airline service? Match headings 1, 2 with descriptions a, b below.

1)Scheduled airline service

2)Charter airline service

a)These are usually contracted for a specific holiday season and run to a timetable set by the operator. For example, each major tour operator will need seats for its summer passengers flying to the Mediterranean. They fill every seat on the contracted aircraft and each seat forms part of the holiday package.

b)These run to a regular timetable that is changed only for the winter and summer season. They must depart on schedule even if not all the seats are booked.

2.Visit the website of a budget airline and find out what products and services are on offer. Which of the services are at an extra charge?

3.Read about the world’s biggest passenger plane the Airbus A380. Then compare the jumbo jet Boeing 747 and the super jumbo A380.

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SECTION 3

1.In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1)What world’s famous airports do you know?

2)What makes an airport one of the best?

3)Do you buy e-tickets online or paper tickets at the airline ticket office?

2.How do you feel about the following stages of flying? Use the expressions of ‘liking’: I quite like, I really love, I really don’t like, I don’t mind, I really hate, etc. Give your reasons.

1)landing

2)taking off

3)waiting in the departure lounge

4)being in the air

5)going through security control

6)queuing at the check-in desk

7)getting to and from the airport

3.When it comes to sleeping in airports, some airports are better than others. The ‘Golden Pillow’ Award website was created to vote for the best and worst airports every year. In 2011, Singapore Changi International Airport scored the prestigious top ‘Golden Pillow’ Award for the 15th year. Can you name the rest nine airports in the top ten 2011? To check if your list of the airports is correct, visit the website: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/bestof.htm

Read the text about the world’s best airport winner since 1996 and say how Singapore Changi International Airport makes it possible to pay for extra facilities and hold costs to airlines at a reduced level.

and the ‘Golden Pillow’ goes to …

Singapore Changi International Airport is arguably the world’s most fabulous airport. Since it opened in 1981, the airport has notched more than 370 ‘best’ awards worldwide. A look at its operations reveals much about how to run a top-notch airport.

The airport offers amenities found elsewhere only in airlines’ fancy lounges for premium passengers. There are comfortable areas for sleeping or watching TV, premium bars, work desks and free Internet. A nap room is about $23 for three hours; a shower can be taken for $6. If you want to put your feet in a tank with tiny fish that eat dead skin that is $17 for 20 minutes.

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