V. Speaking and Mastering Professional Skills

Task 27. Read and role-play short dialogues:

 

1) - Where is your customs declaration? Show it, please.

- Here it is.                                             

- Crosses and dashes are not allowed in the declaration.                      

- Will you take a new form? Fill it once again, please.

- All right.

 

2) - Have you filled in your declaration?

- Of course.

- You failed to write the data and sign it.

-O.K. Thanks.

 

3) - Will you show me your declaration?

- With pleasure.

- Be careful when filling in the form. Will you read all the points

carefully and write down all your answers in words?

-Certainly.

Task 28. Discuss the following:

What would happen: 1) if there were no Red and Green Channel system?

                                 2) if countries opened their borders to everyone?

 

 

Task 29. Make up dialogues on the topics below and act them out:

 

1) Explain to your friend who is going abroad, how it is necessary to fill in the customs declaration.

2) Your friend is going abroad by air for the first time. Explain to him the system of going through the customs.

3) The passenger needs some information about things allowed to carry in his hand baggage. Inform him of prohibited and restricted items.

Task 30. Speak on the topic. Use the vocabulary of the unit.

 

VOCABULARY

the dual-channel system	системадвойногокоридора
to introduce	зд. вводитьвдействие
to deal(with)	иметьдело, справляться
efficient / efficiently	эффективный / эффективно
to increase / increasing	расти, возрастать / возрастающий
to reduce	сокращать, снижать
Allowance	норма разрешенного товара (к ввозу или вывозу)
Effectiveness	эффективность
for commercial purposes	для коммерческих целей
to indicate	обозначать, указывать
«Nothing to declare»	«Нет товаров, подлежащих декларированию»
to operate	зд. применять, использовать
to function	функционировать, действовать
description	наименование, описание
means	средство, способ
panel	стенд, табло
leaflet	информационный листок / листовка
to distribute	распространять, раздавать
tourist agencies	туристическиеагентства
subject	зд. объект, предмет
spot check syn. random check	выборочная проверка
to exercise	осуществлять, проводить
reason	причина, основание
to ascertain	устанавливать, выяснять
journey syn. trip	поездка, путешествие
drug production area	регион, где производятся наркотики
to link	сопоставлять, связывать
up-to-date	современный, текущий
transaction / transactions	сделка / протоколы
to facilitate	облегчать, способствовать
disposal	распоряжение
damage	ущерб, повреждение, вред
firm (adj.)	твердый, непоколебимый, настойчивый
fair	справедливый, честный, беспристрастный
intra EU flight	рейс внутри Европейского союза (внутренний рейс)
non-EU flight	перелет за пределы Европейского союза
green-edged label	бирка с зеленой каймой
Preclearance inspection	предварительное прохождение таможенных формальностей
to undergo	зд. подвергаться
Exemption	зд. освобождение от уплаты пошлин

UNIT 7

 

               PASSENGER CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORM

 

I. Starting up

1. Have you ever filled in a customs declaration form?

2. Through which channel did you go after filling in the declaration form?

3. What part of the declaration presented difficulties?

4. Who helped you to cope with the difficulties?

II. Reading

 

Text 1

 

 Read and translate the text.

     Russia like almost all countries has certain formalities through which passengers must pass. They include passport and visa control and customs inspection of passengers’ baggage.

    Almost all countries have forms that the passenger must fill in. Incoming passengers fill in an entry declaration form, outgoing passengers fill in an exit declaration form which is to be presented to the customs officer. The points of the declaration must be answered in full words in block letters. The passenger is to fill in his full name, citizenship, country of residence, country of destination, etc. The passenger must also declare prohibited, restricted and dutiable articles that he is carrying across the border. Information must be presented both in figures and in words. Personal belongings are brought in and taken out duty free and need not be declared.

     If the passenger understates the value of an article or misrepresents the article in his declaration form, he may have to pay a penalty in addition to payment of duty. The article can be detained and confiscated if the penalty is not paid. If in doubt about the value of an article, the passenger should declare it and then ask the customs officer for assistance in valuing it.

     Undeclared foreign currency in cash found during the search is liable to confiscation as smuggling.

     The customs officer may ask the passenger to open his baggage for inspection, because the customs officer always has the right to check if the passenger is complying with the regulations and that he is not transporting goods exceeding the quantities for which no formalities are required. The owner of the baggage must answer all the questions of the officer-in-charge on the contents of his baggage and must present any article for examination. It is the passenger’s responsibility to unpack, open and repack his belongings.

     The entry declaration must be kept by the passenger for the duration of the stay in the country or abroad and must be presented together with the exit declaration on the way back. It can’t be renewed in case of loss.

Comprehension

Task 1. Put the words into the correct column according to the pronunciation:

ch annel, declaration, transac ti on, i ss ue, cul t ural, m issi on, viola ti on, valuation, manufac tu re, effi c ient, commission, essential, prosecu ti on

[ t∫]	[ ∫]
ch annel	transac ti on

 

Task 2. a) Translate the following words and phrases and learn their pronunciation.

b) Explain the meaning of the underlined expressions.

- incoming/outgoing

- entry/exit declaration

- points

- in full words

- in block letters

- citizenship

- country of residence

- country of destination

- in figures and in words

- personal belongings

- to understate

- to misrepresent

- to pay a penalty

- to detain

- foreign currency

- (in) cash

Task 3. Find in the text English equivalents of the following:

паспортнo-визовый контроль; таможенный досмотр багажа; заполнить въездную/выездную декларацию; задекларировать облагаемые пошлиной предметы; ввозить и вывозить беспошлинно; помимо уплаты пошлины; помощь в оценке товара; незадекларированная иностранная валюта; во время досмотра; соблюдать правила; на протяжении пребывания в стране; на обратном пути; в случае утери не возобновляется

 

Task 4. Look through the text and find antonyms to the following words:

     - incoming passenger

- entry declaration

- dutiable articles

- to bring in

- to break laws

- to exclude

- to leave

- to overstate

- to unpack

- to arrive

Task 5. Look through the text and complete the table:

Formalities	Points of the declaration	Passengers’ responsibilities	Customs violations
passport control	full name	to fill in the declaration	smuggling

 

Task 6. Find the words in the text that follow the words below:

* to include __________

* to fill in __________

* to declare __________

* to understate __________

* to misrepresent ___________

* to pay __________

* to exceed __________

* to present __________

Task 7. Answer the questions:

* What are certain formalities through which passengers must pass?

* What do incoming/outgoing passengers fill in?

* How must the points of the declaration be answered?

* What document is the passenger to fill in?

* What must the passenger declare?

* What happens if the passenger understates the value of the article or misrepresents it in his declaration?

* In what case can the article be detained and confiscated?

* What is liable to confiscation as smuggling?

* How does a customs officer check if the passenger is complying with the regulations?

*  How long must the entry declaration be kept?

 

Task 8. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

 

1. Пассажиры, прибывающие в страну, обычно заполняют въездную декларацию.

2. Пассажиры, выезжающие из страны, заполняют выездную декларацию, которая должна предъявляться таможенному инспектору.

3. Все пункты декларации должны заполняться полными словами печатными буквами.

4. В декларации пассажир должен указать свое полное имя, гражданство, страну проживания, страну назначения и другие сведения.

5. Пассажир должен также задекларировать запрещенные, ограниченные к ввозу/вывозу и облагаемые пошлиной предметы, которые он провозит через границу.

6. Личные вещи ввозятся и вывозятся беспошлинно и не подлежат декларированию.

7. Предмет может быть изъят или конфискован, если штраф не уплачен.

8. Незадекларированная наличная валюта, найденная при досмотре, подлежит конфискации как контрабанда.

9. Этого пассажира досматривают уже в течение часа. Полагаю, он имеет в багаже незадекларированные предметы, которые были обнаружены после применения технических средств контроля.

 

Task 10. Complete the sentences in English:

 

Thedeclarationform 1) заполняется полными словами.

                             2) подписывается пассажиром.

                             3) предъявляется таможеннику.

                             4) просматривается таможенником.

                             5) возвращается пассажиру.

                   6) хранится во время пребывания в стране.

 

Reading 2

 Read and translate the text

 

PRIZED VIOLIN GROUNDED BY RED TAPE*

Just like Michael Jackson, who once tried to take a Cossak saber out of Russia, U.S. violinist Ernesto Farago ran up against Russia’s peculiar laws on antiques when he tried to take his musical instrument out of the country.

    Mr. Farago’s 1940 Italian violin was detained by customs officials at Sheremetyevo airport on the suspicion that he was trying to smuggle it out of Russia.

    The incident seems to have been the result of misunderstanding.

    Mr. Farago, speaking from his home in Springfield, Virginia, said that he failed to declare his instrument, worth $28,000 because he had been misinformed by customs officials in the arrival terminal.

    “I was told by an officer that if I was bringing in the instrument for professional purposes, there was no need for me to declare it,” said Mr. Farago, who had visited Russia to play two concerts in Voronezh.

    He has now been separated from his beloved violin for nearly a month, but the saga should soon end happily.

The Culture Ministry received a document from U.S. confirming that this instrument belongs to Mr. Farago and is ready to issue permission to take the instrument out of the country. The Ministry official in charge of the export and import of items of cultural and historical value said that all problems could have been avoided if Mr. Farago had declared the instrument upon his arrival.

It says on the customs declaration form that all valuables of a historical and cultural nature should be declared. This is so they can be taken out of the country again.

(from “Moscow Times”)

* Red tape – official rules that seem unnecessary and prevent things from being

done quickly and easily (syn. Bureaucracy )

Comprehension

Task 11. Make a glossary. Choose seven words to remember.

Task 12. Answer the questions:

1. What happened to Ernesto Farago at Sheremetyevo airport?

2. What was the passenger accused of?

3. Why was the violin detained?

4. Why didn’t Mr. Farago declare his violin?

5. How long did the investigation last?

6. What was Mr. Farago’s mistake?

7. Has the violin been returned to its owner?

8. What can you say about the customs officer who had misinformed

Mr. Farago?

9. What customs regulations can you remember in respect of this incident?

10. Do you think such cases are common?

11. What should be done to avoid such misunderstandings?

Task 13. Sum up the information from the newspaper article:

a) Comment on the situation from the point of view of:

- Mr. Farago;

- a customs officer from Sheremetyevo airport;

- a Federal Customs Service official;

- a Culture Ministry official;

- a U.S. CBP official;

- the violin;

b) write a brief report for TV news program.

 

III. Language work

Vocabulary Practice

 

 

Task 14. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions, if necessary. Find false statements and correct them.

1) Before you illegally enter _______ the country you will have to pass _______ certain formalities _______ Foreign Exchange Office.

2) Don’t fail to fill _______ an exit declaration form ______ full words ______ block letters.

3) Remember that you are to declare _______ duty free articles and personal belongings when you bring them ______ or take them _______ of the country. 4) To comply _______ the regulations you shouldn’t declare foreign currency. 5) Money presented ______ inspection is liable ______ confiscation.

6) The officer-in-charge must answer ______ all the questions _______ the owner of the baggage _______ the contents of the X-ray machine.

7) Any document can be renewed ______ case _______ loss.

 

Task 15.a)Find verbs in the text which correspond to the following definitions:

a) to get free by doing what is necessary (signing papers, paying duties) when entering/leaving the country _______________

b) to make a statement of dutiable goods brought into the country _______________

c) to write one’s name and other particulars required to make the form

complete _______________

d) to hide, to keep secret _______________

e) to keep back, to prevent from leaving or going forward when suspected of wrong-doing _______________

f) to take possession of private property without compensation or payment

_______________

g) to look at something carefully in order to learn about it_____________

h) to limit something that a person may use for foreign travel _____________

i) to carry more than one has authority to carry ________________

j) to act in accordance with a request or command _______________

 

b) Use five of these verbs to write sentences of your own.

Grammar practice

Task 16. Revise the rule on IF/WHEN-clauses and complete the sentences:

1) It won’t take you long to pass through the Customs IF …..

2) You will be legally free to enter the country WHEN …..

AS SOON AS …..

AFTER …..

3) The customs officer won’t let you through IF …..

UNTIL …..

BEFORE …..

Task 17. Put a question tag at the end of the following sentences: 

Model: He works in shifts, doesn’t he?

Study the exceptions: Let’s go, shall we?

                                   Do it yourself, will you?

                                   Don’t be late, will you?

                                   I am expected, aren’t I?

                                   Everybody is present, aren’t they?

1. Don’t drop the package, __________?

2. Customs declaration can’t be renewed, __________?

3. Let’s have a break, __________?

4. Russia has certain customs formalities, __________?

5. There are a lot of people at the airport, __________?

6. Everybody is ready to check in for the flight, __________?

7. It isn’t my responsibility to open suitcases, __________?

8. Let’s check that baggage with the dog, __________?

9. You are on business in Moscow, __________?

10. Formalities include passport control, __________?

11. Show me your cash, __________?

12. You have got a camera, _________?

13. I am through, __________?

14. Undeclared money is liable to confiscation, __________?

15. You filled in the entry declaration upon arrival, _________?

Task 18.a) Unscramble these words.

 LMSFAIIOTRE - _______________

 HLEOYCGOTN - _______________

 AEECCMOLNNT- _______________

b) Use all three words to make a sentence of your own.

Task 19. Find 20 words from Units 6 and 7.

 

D	E	S	C	R	I	P	T	I	O	N	D
E	A	Y	H	O	W	A	R	N	V	T	I
T	L	S	A	A	A	P	A	C	I	O	S
A	L	T	N	D	T	A	V	L	O	U	T
I	O	E	N	T	R	Y	E	U	L	R	R
N	W	M	E	D	E	A	L	D	A	I	I
L	A	B	L	E	A	F	L	E	T	S	B
O	N	C	O	D	T	U	E	X	I	T	U
S	C	A	S	H	E	N	F	P	O	R	T
S	E	G	R	E	S	I	D	E	N	C	E
D	A	M	A	G	E	O	C	R	I	M	E
H	D	E	S	T	I	N	A	T	I	O	N

 

Task 20. Make a written translation of the text and think about the title for it.

    The electronic customs declaration of goods, i.e. when goods are declared at a customs office by submitting a customs declaration in electronic form via the electronic communications channels, is widely practiced in the world today. In Russia, the first electronic customs declaration was submitted in 2002.

    The advantages of the Internet declaration are that there is usually no need for the declarant to be personally present at the customs office, and that customs clearance is performed rather quickly, taking as little as 15 minutes to release the goods after the e-declaration is sent out. Also, after sending the e-declaration, the declarant receives electronic notifications concerning all the stages of the declaration movement: receipt at the customs office, acceptance, release, etc.

    However, using the Internet declaration is not as simple as merely switching on the Internet. The declarant must sign the relevant agreement with the Federal Customs Service, and his information systems must meet certain information security requirements and pass a special test.

Task 21. Make a written translation of the text into English.

Студент пытался провезти в желудке кило кокаина

    Таможенники в аэропорту Манчестера были поражены, увидев прилетевшего чернокожего студента. Парень бережно поддерживал руками свой живот, вздутый, как у женщины на пятом месяце беременности.

    Подозрительного субъекта задержали и просветили на рентгене. Оказалось, что в желудке у него запрятано 67 упаковок с кокаином общим весом 1 килограмм. Содержимое желудка пассажира по стоимости тянуло на 300 тысяч евро – абсолютный рекорд. Наркокурьеров с такой богатой «начинкой» британцам ловить ещё не приходилось.

     Студент заявил, что понятия не имел, что это наркотики. «Я думал, глотаю что-то другое и провезу в Британию в виде подарка другу», - лепетал задержанный. Ответомемубылдружныйсмехтаможенников.

 

 

IV. Listening

 

Watch the video for the unit and fulfill the tasks suggested by the teacher.