VIII. Topic 'Travelling'
Introductory text.
Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It is always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.
Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun.
Most travellers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them – the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kinds of trees, flowers and plants; animals and birds.
Later, perhaps years later, they will be reminded by the photos of the happy time they have had.
People travel by train, by plane, by boat, by car, and on foot.
All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations.
If we are fond of travelling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand the people is to meet them in their own homes.
Answer the questions.
What do people travel for?
How do the people living in the country spend their holidays?
What do city dwellers usually like?
What do most travellers and holiday-makers take a camera with them for?
Why do people choose different means of travel?
Read as quickly as possible and then translate the following expressions into Russian.
| To spend one's holiday travelling The ruins of ancient towns To enjoy picturesque places For a change of scene To discover different ways of life To try different food To listen to different musical rhythms To spend one's time doing smth To visit museums and art galleries To look at shop windows Views of valleys, plains, waterfalls To be reminded by the photos of smth Means of travel Advantages and disadvantages | To dine at exotic restaurants A city dweller To laze in the sun A traveller A holiday-maker A camera To take pictures of smth A sight A church and a cathedral A castle According to their plans and destinations To be fond of travelling To get to know people Quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains |
Translate into English.
1. Многие люди любят путешествовать.
2. Проводя свой отпуск в путешествиях, люди видят разные страны и континенты.
3. Люди путешествуют, чтобы увидеть новые живописные места, познакомиться с новыми людьми, попробовать национальную еду или просто ради смены обстановки.
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4. Сельские жители предпочитают проводить время в больших городах – посещать музеи и обедать в экзотических ресторанах.
5. Городские жители обычно проводят отпуск у моря или в горах.
6. Туристы и отдыхающие обычно берут с собой фотоаппарат, чтобы делать фотографии достопримечательностей в городах, виды гор, долин, водопадов и т.д.
7. Путешественники выбирают тот или иной способ путешествия в зависимости от их преимуществ и недостатков, места назначения и своих планов.
Why do people travel? *
Our life is impossible without travels – big or small. In our childhood we travelled around our native place, our country getting to know it. Growing older we make sometimes more long and far travels. Of course, we can travel abroad, either. We can travel by plane, by train, by ship, by bus and on foot. Travelling by plane is one of the most quick and comfortable, but at the same time the most expensive. It is the most suitable way of travelling for people who wants to get from one place to another as fast as possible, businessmen, for example. Sometimes it is the only way to get somewhere. Travelling by train is also pleasant. You can see in the window of the carriage the places passing by. If you don’t suffer of seasickness you can go on a voyage. Especially good it is to spend a couple of weeks on board the ship somewhere in warm seas during your holidays. Elderly people like calm river and sea voyages in our country very much. During such travels they stop at some ports and make excursions to the places of interest. You can use bus or coach when your travel is not very far and long. A lot of people like travelling on foot. But it’s not for me. I can’t stand living in tents, dragging heavy things on my back, eating burnt porridge and feeding mosquitoes. Even sitting at the fire and singing songs in the evening doesn’t attract me. I like comfort and conveniences in my life.
But on the other hand during such travels you get to know such things which you will never know any other way. And there you also make friends.
I think, before going somewhere abroad we should explore our own country. Russia is a wonderful country. It has beautiful nature, a lot of historical places that are worth seeing. And it is sometimes very difficult to choose where to go.
Of course, it is worth to begin with our capital - Moscow. There are a lot of monuments, museums, exhibitions, theatres, architectural monuments, places connected with outstanding people of our country.
St.-Petersburg is famous all over the world as a cultural capital of the country. Everybody knows the Hermitage and the Russian Museum, its monuments, public gardens, theatres and beautiful architecture. The houses, streets, squares of St.-Petersburg are described in many works of literature, there are a lot of pictures of the city.
But not everybody knows about our ancient cities of the Golden Ring – Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Rostov, and Uglich. They are full of memorial places connected with our Russian history.
But the nature and historical places of the Ural are not worse. Just remember the churches of Verh Tura, the industrial museums of Nyzhny Taghil and Ekaterinberg, the Kungur cave, the reservation “Reindeer Creaks”, the monument of nature “Talkov Stone”, the monument on the border between Europe and Asia. And our city – Yekaterinburg has a lot of places of interest.
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So, when speaking about our country we can’t help inviting foreign tourists to come here and to see it with their own eyes.
Travelling by Railway.
Although we all agree that the future belongs to air transport the railways today is still one of the most popular means of transport and, besides, it is cheaper.
Let’s have a look at the railway station. The trains come in and go out. We can see a train standing at one of the platforms ready to leave. It’s a long-distance train. It has got a lot of carriages, among them we can see a dining car and a luggage van.
Some of the passengers are looking out of the windows watching the late-comers who are hurrying along the platform to their carriages. Some people are standing on the platform near the train. They have come to see their friends and relatives off. We can hear them saying “Good-bye” to each other. The porters are very busy carrying the passengers’ luggage to the train or pushing it on their trucks. They are taking trunks and suitcases to the luggage van.
On the other platform the train has just come in. The passengers are getting out. Some of them are met by their friends and relatives. This train has made a long journey. There are sleeping carriages at the front part of the train. It’s a slow train, not an express. It stops at many stations.
That train at the third platform is not a long-distance train; it’s a local (suburban) train. There is no dining car in it. There are no sleeping carriages in them too; instead we can see an open carriage with rows of upholstered seats. You can see many people with hand luggage on that platform. At the carriages one can see inspectors checking up the tickets. The guards of the carriage help passengers to find their seats and compartments.
The man standing near the bookstall is a station master. His office is next to the booking office.
People are hurrying in all directions. We see those who haven’t booked their tickets beforehand waiting in queues to the booking office. Further along there are refreshment-rooms crowded with people. You can see them having a nasty meal. Those who have to wait for their train are sitting in the waiting-hall. Some people are standing near the left-luggage office. They want to leave their luggage until the certain time.
Dialogues
Catching a train
Pauline: Second class return ticket to Exmouth, please.
Clerk: Here you are.
P.: Thank you. Which platform for the Exmouth train, please?
C.: Platform three. You’ll have to hurry up. It goes at nine o’clock.
Station announcer: The train standing on platform three is the Exter and Plymouth train. Passengers for Exmouth should change at Sidmouth junctions. It is the Exter and Plymouth train leaving at nine o’clock.
P.: Here’s platform three. I’m only just in time.
T icket collector: Up in the front for Exmouth, miss. First three carriages. Change at Sidmouth Junction.
P.: Oh, do I have to change?
T. C.: Yes, change at Sidmouth junction for Exmouth.
P.: Oh, dear, I’ll have to walk right along the platform with this heavy suitcase. I’ll get a porter. Porter!
Porter: Yes, miss?
P.: I want to Exmouth part of the train.
Porter: Right you are… Up in the front for Exmouth.
P.: See if you can find me a non-smoker, will you?
Porter: Here you are, miss. I’ll put this case on the rack for you, just here.
P.: Oh, thank you.
Booking train tickets in Britain
Passenger: I want a ticket to Manchester, please. Which train must I take?
Booking clerk: If I were you, I should take the 8.35. train.
P.: Do I have to change anywhere?
C.: No, no change, it’s a through train.
P.: Thank you. A ticket to Manchester, please!
C.: Single or return?
P.: Return, please, first class.
C.: Return, Manchester, twenty pounds fifteen pence, please.
P.: Here you are. Can you tell me again what time the train goes?
C.: 8.35. You’ll have to hurry if you want to register your luggage.
Booking train tickets in the USA
Clerk: May I help you?
Foreigner: I’d like to book two roundtrip tickets to Boston.
C.: Okay. When are leaving?
C.: Next Sunday.
C.: What time do you prefer?
F.: As far as I know, there is a train that leaves for Boston at 9a.m. I’d like to go by that train.
C.: Do you prefer a smoking carriage or a car for non-smokers.
F.: A car for non0smokers.
C.: I’ll reserve for you two tickets for the nine o’clock Sunday train.
F.: Roundtrip tickets?
C.: Yes.
F.: How much is it?
C.: 168 dollars.
F.: When does the train arrive to Boston?
C.: At 11.45. a. m. Your name, please?
F.: Oleg Rodimov. Where can I get the tickets?
C.: At the railroad station, window N9.
My Trip by Train. *
Last month I went to Moscow to see my Granny. Of course, I booked a ticket beforehand. It was delivered the next day. For the first time in my life I went by the first class sleeper. On the eve of my trip I packed my only small suitcase and my handbag. Next morning I went to the railway station. My parents saw me off. As usual when you need any transport there is no transport at all. So we had to catch a taxi not to miss the train. We got there just in time. The train was at the platform and the ticket collector checked up the tickets. When I came into the carriage, I saw my compartment was in the middle of it. It was very comfortable in it. There were only two lower berths with a small table between them. I could see bedding on the berths and flowers in a vase on the table. When I turned to the door I saw a mirror on it. My dad put my luggage onto the luggage berth over the door. Soon I said “Good bye!” to my parents and gave them farewell kisses. And I was left alone. The second place in the compartment was vacant. So, luckily I had no any neighbours in the compartment. The train left exactly on time. Soon the steward brought me a card with the time of work of the dining car and the time of arrival and departure to different places. I didn’t want to read or to chat with anybody, so I sat at the window watching the places flashing before my eyes. In the afternoon I went to the dining car to have dinner. It was the first sitting. An attendant served me very quickly. In the morning and in the evening our steward offered us tea or coffee. I listened to several announcements over the train radio and a concert. But then I switched the radio off and lay on the bed to have a nap. At the rumble of the wheels and a soft swaying of the carriage I slept peacefully the whole night and was awaken by our steward the next morning. He told me we would arrive in Moscow in two hours and brought me a cup of very hot and strong tea. After hurried washing I had my continental breakfast – tea and some sandwiches. Then I began to look out of the window at the places we went past. Soon I could see suburbs of Moscow and in half an hour later the train came to the first platform of the Kazansky railway station. I thanked our steward for the trip and got off the train. My cousin with a bouquet met me there. We went past many stalls and kiosks with newspapers, books, souvenirs, travel goods, medicine. The station was crowded with a lot of people and I was very glad to get out of it.
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I should say that there was nothing very interesting in my trip. I don’t like any adventures during the trips. Usually they are not very pleasant. And this trip was very calm, comfortable and peaceful. As I had some very busy days before my travel, I had a very good break for the rest during my trip in the train.
My trip by plane. *
In winter holidays I went to Moscow to see my Granny. Of course, I booked a ticket beforehand. It was delivered the next day. I took a return ticket with a certain date. For the first time in my life I went by the business class. On the eve of my trip I packed my only small suitcase and my handbag. My flight was very early in the morning. My daddy took me and Mum to the airport by our old car. We came there for registration two hours before the take-off. The registration took place at two counters, so the line moved very quickly. When I came up to the checking-in desk, the officer weighed my suitcase and attached a label to it. Then he gave me a boarding pass with the number of the seat in the plane. Then I went to the place of the security check. There I said "Good-bye" to my parents and gave them farewell kisses. After that I went through the security check and my handbag was X-rayed. There are very strict rules now. It is not allowed to take with you any sharp things, gas balloons, sprays and something of the kind. I had none of them. In the departure lounge I met with the other passengers of that flight. Soon we were taken to the plane by the airport coach. I had a window seat. The chief of the plane told us to fasten safety belts and everything about our flight. It was a non-smoking flight. In ten minutes our plane took-off. Soon we saw a steward offering refreshment drinks. Our flight lasted a little more than two hours, so it was a non-stop flight. In an hour we were offered breakfast and juice or tea or coffee. Our plane flew at the altitude of ten thousand metres. I tried to look out of the porthole but saw nothing. There were clouds everywhere. And suddenly the first rays of the sun coloured these clouds in gentle pink and lemon and blue. My neighbours didn't look at such beauty, some of them were reading, and the others were sleeping. The flight was over too quickly for me, I had not time to enjoy it. The chief told us to check if our safety belts were fastened and the plane began to descend (to go down / to glide down). The landing was very soft and we applauded the crew. We landed in Sheremetyevo –1. We thanked our stewards and left the plane. In twenty minutes I could get my suitcase ant went to the exit. There I was met by my cousin. We didn't take any taxi or bus. My cousin's husband was waiting for us at the entrance door of the airport. In spite of all traffic jams we got home rather quickly – in an hour we were sitting at the table having our brunch.
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A Trip to Prague. *
I couldn't even imagine that my last school summer would be so wonderful. My parents decided to make me a birthday present – to go to Prague for two weeks. They did it in a secret and told me about the trip only a week before the leaving. They booked a trip at a travel agency and they organized everything: visa, tickets for a flight to Prague, our living in a hotel and a programme of excursions. We had only to give them our passports, an application and to pay the bill. Our flight was early in the morning and we came to the airport by taxi two hours before the take-off. The registration began soon after our arrival and we came to the checking-in desk. Clerks checked our tickets and weighed our luggage very quickly. The labels were attached to our suitcases and boarding passes were given. I could see the numbers of seats on them. My seat was at the window. Then we went through the immigration and customs and our hand luggage was X-rayed. After that we waited our flight to be announced in the departure lounge. Of course, my parents went to a duty-free shop. Soon it was announced our flight was boarding at gate 6. In several minutes we were in the jet. When we were going to take off the stewardess told us to fasten the safety belts. During the flight I tried to look out of the window but there were clouds everywhere and I felt asleep. But Mum awoke me to have breakfast. The flight lasted four hours. When we landed safely in Prague we applauded the pilots and thanked our stewardess. The weather was fine there. We got our luggage and at the entrance door we were met by a travel agent. There was a transfer from the airport to our hotel. Our being in Prague was wonderful. The city itself was a miracle for me. We wandered around the city all day long. We left our hotel just after the breakfast and came back about nine or ten o’clock in the evening. We visited practically all sights of Prague. When we could not walk any more we went to any café or restaurant, dined there and had a short rest. Sometimes we went somewhere without any purpose, just enjoying the architecture of the city. We couldn’t imagine what we would see just round the corner. That summer Prague was sunny, hot and full of flowers and greenery. But the previous summer was a disaster for the Prague citizens. There was a great flood when a lot of historic buildings, even whole residential areas were under water. They worked hard and by the next summer they restored practically everything. We couldn’t help admiring them. Very often we sat down in one of the numerous parks and discussed our impressions. We spent about seven films making pictures of everything we saw. We bought a lot of souvenirs too. And, of course, we drank a lot of Check beer. On the eve of our leaving we went to the concert of symphonic music combined with the Kruzhovitzky fountains and the play of colours. It was a miracle. The music, the fountains and colours united in one whole. It was a farewell greeting of Prague for us. Next morning we left Prague.
All aboard!
Well, I know that a lot of people get pleasure travelling by ship, but not me. I am seasick. I just can't stand any rolling. But even now I can't understand how my elderly aunt could manage to make me to go on a voyage along the Volga on board a ship with her. I should say that my aunt is a rather original person. Being in her late seventies she doesn't like to stay at home and watch different serials and gossips or grumble at something or somebody. No, vice versa, she is fond of travelling, taking pictures, playing cards till the early hours; she is a very adventurous old lady. Of course, she doesn't travel on her own now, but there is always a chaperon – usually one of young relatives of hers. That time it was my turn to accompany her. By the moment of the beginning of the voyage I had passed all my exams at the institute and I was dog-tired. I couldn't see our stuffy and dusty city and all my textbooks any more. I was pale and skinny, so the aunt demanded me to be her chaperon. The only thing I had to do was to pack my dresses and came on time to my aunt's. The rest was arranged by her. Later she described me her visit to the travel agency, as she had been choosing the route, the dates, the ship, clearing out the smallest details of her future voyage. But she complained that those young people who worked with her were too nervous and couldn't understand her simplest explanations and demands.
[1] qualify ['kwɔlıfaı] – be equipped by training; have certain experience
[2] Yorkshire ['j?:k?ı?] – a county in England
[3] custard – a composition of milk and eggs, sweetened, and baked or boiled
[4] centenary – the hundredth birthday of someone or something
[5] highlights – key moments and events
[6] boycott – a decision to stay away from an event in protest against something
[7] truce – a pause accepted by both sides in a conflict
[8] cancelled – not held (here)
[9] ban – exclusion. Someone 'banned' from an event is forbidden to take part in it.
[10] apartheid – the system of separate development within South Africa for black people and white people (now it doesn't exist there)
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[11] traces – very small amounts of a substance
[12] The Canadian Shield is an area of very ancient rock covering about 1.8 million square miles centred on Hudson Bay, extending west and north from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arctic Ocean. It is a region of rounded hills, numerous lakes and muskeg (swamps). The Shield contains a wealth of minerals.
[13] Данный текст имеет, главным образом, справочный характер.
