Carry Your Own Entertainment

Train journeys can be a moving visual ____________ with scenic views and outdoor beauty, but after a while, the countryside seems to look the same. Come nighttime, and you won't be able to see anything outside; so, pack something that will amuse you on the journey or keep your brain cells whirring.

Bookworms should make the most of a train trip by indulging in some heavy-duty, uninterrupted reading. Pack a novel or two (or even more) to ________ into your seat and read. A book of puzzles or brain-teasers will also keep you on your mental toes. Grab some magazines or comics for light reading. You can also pack a lightweight journal or diary and jot down notes. An e-Reader saves you the hassle of carrying heavy books, as it can store a whole __________________ in one small device. If you are travelling with ____________, then get a portable board game like a miniature chess set or a deck of cards.

If books are not your cup of tea, then get along a portable DVD player, a handheld game console or a tablet PC for your multimedia ____________. A tablet PC is the most handy of all gadgets for a train trip; it is easy to carry around, use and store. Plus it allows you to do a variety of ____________ on a single device. Laptops fall into the same category. With Wi-Fi available on most train ___________, you can surf the Web to keep yourself amused.

You could just pack an iPod and listen to music. Headphones are compulsory to avoid ___________ those around you. In all this talk of gadgets, your ___________ is a no-brainer. Another essential electronic accessory is the charger for a said gadget as electronic gadgets will _________ of battery juice at some point or the other.

The amount and location of power outlets on a train, differ based on the type of seat (first-class has an outlet at every seat), so charge devices before making the train trip or get a lot of _____________, if you can't find a free power outlet. If you're travelling with kids, remember that they get very bored very easily and quickly. Pack some small _________ or a board game or ____________ and crayons to keep them (and you) happy.

 

Make Your Journey Comfortable

 

Whether this is your first train trip or your fiftieth, two "comfort" items needed for long distance train trips are a light blanket and a pillow. It can get cold at night in the train, so get a lightweight small blanket or a pashmina that ___________measily to store in your bag; yet is snug enough to keep you warm. Instead of leaning your head on the window screen or struggling with the seat, get a travel pillow to lay your head on. A train ___________ can provide a pillow if available but you may not feel that comfortable. A compressible foam pillow is ideal as it is conveniently __________. If you experience neck pain, get a neck pillow for added support.

Other comfort items that can be included in your train packing ____________ are as given below.

ü Keep basic __________ or a toiletry kit, which contains soap, floss, toothbrush and toothpaste.

ü Tissues or paper towels are needed for wiping up a spill or to wipe hands clean. For washing your face sans water, pack some antibacterial wet wipes.

ü A small face towel, skin moisturizer, deodorant and face wash will keep you looking ___________ throughout the trip.

ü In case of a long train journey, keeping yourself groomed can be a problem. Guys can pack an electronic shaving kit, so all they need is a power outlet. If not, they can pack a portable shaver and shaving cream.

ü Ladies can keep a portable makeup kit with bare essentials like eye shadow, foundation and lipstick. A small comb or hair brush is a must-have for both sexes.

ü Eye care items such as contact lens solution should be carried. Get some ___________ to soothe dry eyes during the journey.

ü For a sound and uninterrupted sleep, get a pair of earplugs and an eye mask to block out noise and light.

ü Pack a spare change of clothes and an extra pair of socks in your carry-on bag. Try to pack wrinkle-resistant clothes.

ü Kids on board means, an extra set of clothes for each child, especially for _________. Pack an extra blanket or two.

ü Keep cash handy with you as there are no ATMs on trains and you will be able to withdraw money only at the next station. Carry a reasonable amount and a little extra in case of an emergency.

ü The motion of the train, inactivity or too much disturbance can give you a _________, so remember to store a strip of Tylenol or pain-relief medication for any aches and pains.

 

Bare Necessities: Food and Water

 

Yes, you do get food and water on the train. Overnight journeys and long distance trips will give you a chance to enjoy a nice meal in the train's dining car. There is a snack bar from where you buy certain foods and beverages. But don't depend on the train's culinary ___________ completely. Certain items you may be craving for at a particular moment, may not be ___________. The dining car and snack bar will be open at fixed timings. And snacking in a train can get expensive. So avoid such pitfalls, by carrying around your own set of culinary rations. This does not mean bringing the entire _________. Some satisfying snacks to store with you for a train trip are:

ü Fruits like apples, oranges, pears, especially those that won't get crushed

ü _____________, especially if you smoke to keep those nicotine pangs at bay (smoking on the train is not allowed!)

ü Crackers or chips

ü Granola and energy bars

ü Nuts and __________

ü Wedges and nubs of cheese

ü Simple, spill-free sandwiches like peanut butter

ü Ready-to-eat meals with no cooking ____________

ü Flask of coffee or tea

ü Juice packs

A word of caution: Depending on how long your journey is, pack snacks ___________; else, you may find yourself hogging. Do not pack any food items that require refrigeration or reheating, as there are no such facilities on the train. Drinking alcoholic beverages at your seat, is allowed only in the _______________. There is tap water on the train, but carry your own bottle of water, especially for a short trip.

Along with your travel items, remember to store the necessary train paperwork, such as your _________ or _____________. Keep your ticket or pass at hand in your carry-on bag, as you will need to show it to train _________, while boarding the train or during your journey. While packing for train travel, remember that there's a __________ to how much you can carry. Two carry-on bags are allowed and their individual weight should not _________ 50 pounds. There are limits prescribed to the physical size of the bags as well. Pack wisely and minimally; try to take items that serve multiple purposes and are compact.

By Rave Uno

III. Comprehension check. Published: 5/16/2012

Exercise 10. Match the beginning of the sentence with its ending and translate them into Russian.

1. Of all the modes of transportation, train travel is …
2. Train journeys can be a moving visual treat with scenic views and outdoor beauty, but …
3. Pack something that will amuse you on the journey or …
4. Bookworms should make the most of a train trip by …
5. A book of puzzles or brain-teasers will …
6. An e-Reader saves you the hassle of …
7. If you are travelling with company, then …
8. Another essential electronic accessory is …
9. If you're travelling with kids …
10. Two "comfort" items needed for long distance train trips are …
11. Instead of leaning your head on the window screen or struggling with the seat …
12. Overnight journeys and long distance trips will give you …
13. The dining car and snack bar …
14. Depending on how long your journey is …
15. Do not pack any food items …
16. Along with your travel items, remember to …
17. Pack wisely and minimally …

 

a) remember that they get very bored very easily and quickly.

b) keep your brain cells whirring.

c) often the most confusing, when it comes to packing.

d) will be open at fixed timings.

e) get a portable board game like a miniature chess set or a deck of cards.

f) try to take items that serve multiple purposes and are compact.

g) get a travel pillow to lay your head on.

h) after a while, the countryside seems to look the same.

i) a light blanket and a pillow.

j) a chance to enjoy a nice meal in the train's dining car.

k) indulging in some heavy-duty, uninterrupted reading.

l) store the necessary train paperwork, such as your ticket or rail pass.

m) will also keep you on your mental toes.

n) pack snacks accordingly; else, you may find yourself hogging.

o) carrying heavy books, as it can store a whole library of literature in one small device.

p) that require refrigeration or reheating, as there are no such facilities on the train.

q) the charger for a said gadget as electronic gadgets will run out of battery juice at some point or the other.

 

Exercise 11. Answer the questions using the information from the article.

1. Why can train travelling be confusing?

2. What is the ironic thing about packing?

3. Why is it necessary to carry one’s own entertainment?

4. What should bookworms take along?

5. Which multimedia gadgets can entertain the one who isn’t keen on reading?

6. Can a charge device be used on board a train?

7. What are the essential entertainment things for those travelling with kids?

8. How can one make his travel comfortable?

9. Where can one get food on the train?

10. What should one know about the work of a dining car and a snack bar?

11. Which food items should one carry along while travelling by train?

12. Are alcoholic beverages allowed on board a train?

13. Which necessary paperwork should one always possess?

14. What’s the “golden rule” for packing?

Exercise 12. Express your own attitude towards travelling by train using the following scheme.

To tell the truth I... travelling by train.

I really find it....

Travelling by train you can get....

As to the trains there’re different types of them and you can choose a... train.

Interestingly, on board a train you’ll cooperate with....

Besides, you can meet....

As to my luggage, I usually take a... and... along.

The advantages of travelling by train are the following....

But of course there can be some disadvantages such as....

I can’t but mention some details concerning travelling by train in different countries. They go like this...

So, to cap it up, I can say that travelling by train... for me, if....

 

UNIT 10

Ships were once the only way to travel across the oceans. Before airplanes, it took many weeks or months to travel around the world. Today, many people still travel by ship when crossing smaller bodies of water. Some ships, called ferries, allow people to bring their cars with them onto the ship. Some people also like to travel by ship as part of a holiday. These holiday ships, called cruise ships, stop in several interesting ports along the voyage.