One of the most frequent public means of ground transport is the train. Railways provide a variety of passenger services. Although rail passenger service in the United States has become limited, it is still a major form of transportation in Europe.

Countries and cities eager for tourist business often offer transportation bargains. The best known is probably the Eurorail pass which allows unlimited train travel in Western European countries for specific periods of time.

Exercise 1: Choose the most suitable word or phrase to complete each sentence.

a/ The train couldn’t leave until the _____________ waved his green flag.

conductor guard steward captain

b/ The _______________ was crowded with passengers waiting for the train.

platform quay runway pavement

c/ Mary looked up the fastest train to Glasgow in the _____________.

catalogue timetable dictionary programme

d/ The train was very crowded because there were only four ____________.

carriages wagons trucks vehicles

e/ David missed his train because of the queue in the ticket _____________.

agency room lounge office

Exercise 2: Which way of travelling do the following words and expressions refer to?

Aisle seat / window seat, fill up with petrol, seat reservation, spare wheel, platform, driver, waiting room, accelerate, carriage, timetable, boot, compartment, sleeper, luggage rack

Exercise 3: Decide which answer best fits each space.

A journey by passenger train involves work by many people in various departments. The /1/ ________________ first finds the time of a train from a /2/ ____________ or an /3/ _____________. He or she then buys a ticket at a /4/ ___________ and perhaps reserves a seat at the same time. The traveller may have tea and a sandwich in a station buffet. A member of the traffic department announces the trains. From the /5/ ___________ one goes through the /6/ ___________ directly onto the right /7/ ____________. Then he or she /8/ ___________ the train. The guard instructs the driver to start the train. The guard’s duty is to make sure the train is safe and to get it away on time. The /9/ _________ checks or collects passengers‘ tickets while the train is moving. If there is a /10/ ___________ or a buffet, it has been stocked with food and drink, and the chef is preparing the next meal.

1. voyager tourist mover traveller

2. timetable announcement plan scheme

3. advise office inquiry office bureau of departures left-luggage office

4. booking office inquiry office reserved seat office left-luggage office

5. railway station waiting hall entrance underpass

6. overpass underground underpassage crossing

7. runway embarkation platform assembly area

8. gets on gets in gets down gets out

9. porter station chief shunter guard

10.couchette car sleeping car dining car postal car

You will hear George talking at the Information desk in London Victoria station. Decide whether these sentences are true, false or not mentioned.

1. George is asking about a return ticket from London via Paris.
2. Prague Intercity ticket doesn’t include seat reservation.
3. Information about Inter-Rail tickets is available at office No. 10.
4. The Paris-Prague Intercity is to leave from the second platform.

1. George was not entitled to a price reduction as the Czech Republic is not covered by the Eurail Pass.
2. George was not entitled to a price reduction as registered.
3. The dining car can be found in the front part of the train.
4. George booked a window seat in a smoking compartment.

a/ Welcome to Flight BA 126 from London to Zurich. In accordance with international flying regulations we ask you to pay attention to the demonstration of the use of life jackets. You will find them under your seat. The emergency exits on the aircraft are clearly marked by arrows on either side at the front and in the centre of the aircraft. Lunch will be served during the flight. We hope you enjoy your flight.

b/We are now beginning our descent and in a few minutes will land at London Heathrow. Please fasten your seat belts and put out your cigarettes. Don’t unfasten your seat belts until the aircraft comes to a halt. Passengers in transit for other destinations in the United Kingdom are required to go through customs at Heathrow to identify their luggage.

c/This is the last call for Flight 675 for Rome and Athens. Would passengers who have not yet checked in please report immediately to Check-in Counter 27, and then proceed to passport control, and afterwards to Gate 30.

Exercise 1: Put these events in order. Some may happen more than once.

the plane takes off the captain welcomes you over the intercom

arrive at the airport the stewardess serves you your meal

the plane lands go through passport control

check in go through customs

go to the departure lounge the security officer checks your hand baggage

collect your luggage the stewardess brings round duty free goods

board the plane the stewardess gives you your boarding card

fasten your seat-belt put your hand baggage in the locker over your seat

leave the plane the stewardess explains how to put on the life jacket

leave the airport unfasten your seat-belt

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer.

1. The plane circled over the airport until the ____________ was clear.

highway landing runway terminal

2. If you carry too much luggage, the airline will charge an _________ baggage fee.

additional excess extra over

3. The check ____________ time at the airport was eight o’clock.

by in out up

4. Our ____________ was delayed owing to bad weather conditions.

airline airway flight runway

Mr and Mrs Novotný and their two children arrive at Heathrow airport for their holiday. Complete the table.

Length of stay

Return ticket

To declare

Foreign currency

3. Road Transport

Exercise 1: Below is a list of things you do when starting a car. Put them in the right order. There are two items that do not belong in the list. Which are they?

a/ put the car in gear b/ start the engine c/ put your foot on the brake

d/ change gear e/ get in f/ put the key in the ignition

g/ open the door h/ look in the mirror i/ put your turn indicator on

j/ sound your horn k/ pull out l/ put your foot on the accelerator

Exercise 2: Choose the word which best fits each space.

When you are driving abroad you should make sure that you have all your documents with you. These 1 ___________ your passport, your driving licence and insurance papers. It 2 _____________ be very inconvenient if you 3 ___________ any of these or if you cannot find 4 ____________ quickly. You must also make sure that your car has a nationality plate which shows the country where the car is registered: for 5 ___________, GB for Great Britain, F for France, A for Norway and so on. In some 6 _____________ you have to pay if you don’t 7 _____________ motoring laws and this can sometimes cost you a lot of money. For instance, you may have to pay immediately if you are stopped by a police officer for taking no notice of traffic lights, speed 8 _____________ or if you allow children 9 __________ the age of twelve to 10 ___________ in the front seat of a vehicle.

1 include make mean contain

2 should can is has

3 miss hide lose pass

4 that those their them

5 once example general fact

6 countries positions ways routes

7 do allow obey continue

8 marks spots limits members

9 under lower over behind

10follow pass travel wait

 

Listening

At Europcar company in Prague: Listen to the dialogue and answer the questions.

1. What does a Ford Mondeo cost to hire?

2. How long does the tourist want the car for?

3. How does want to pay?

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences. The first letter of each word is given.

1. A b__________ enables motorists to by towns on the m_________ r_________ instead of going through them. A r__________ r__________ goes around the town, allowing you to enter it at the most convenient point.

2. A o_______-w_______ street is one where all traffic must go in the same direction.

3. The r_________ h__________ is the time when most people are going to vork or going home. That is why there are is many t__________ j___________.

4. H_________ h________ are the people who f_________ d_________ motorists to ask them for a ride.

5. You only have to s________ d_______ when approaching a z________ c__________.

6. P__________ seeing a car approaching must stay on the p__________.

7. Never o____________ another car when approaching a bend in the road.

8. When lorry drivers get tired, they usually stop for a while in a l_____________ -b_______. Some people prefer to spend the night in a m_______________.

9. The place where the road crosses railway lines is called a junction, or c_____________.

 

4. Bouting Holiday

Exercise 1: The table given below is incomplete in some places Find the correct words from the list underneath to fill the gaps.

airliner board bridge captain cockpit corridor departure lounge

freight get off goods land sail station train voyage

By rail By sea By air

ship aircraft

passenger train liner

port airport

platform quay

journey flight

catch, get on embark

disembark disembark

arrive dock

depart, leave take off

engine

engine driver pilot

gangway aisle

cargo

Exercise 1: Put the words in the correct order using the right tense. Decide on the logical order of the individual steps.

the / ask / bellboy / Finally / guest / his / room / take / the / to / to

ask / First / for / guest’s / identification / the / I

ask / complete / form / guest / Next / registration / the / the / to

give / guest / his / key / room / the / Then

computer / check / reservations / the / Then / the / in

Pre-listening activity: read about the reservation systems and try to explain what CRS – computerized reservations system – is.

To get into a resort hotel without a reservation is almost impossible, unless one arrives off season. Reservations can be made in a variety of ways. The hotel can be called directly, or an airline can be asked to make the reservation. In 1965 Holiday Inns introduced the hotel industry’s first computerized reservation system. As computer technology has improved, so have reservation systems. Today it is possible, through one call, to make a reservation for a hotel anywhere in the world. Hotel chains maintain their own computer systems and independent hotel usually have agents take care of booking for them.

Listen to the dialogue and fill in the reservation form below.

RESERVATION FORM

Guest name

Arrival date Number of nights

Room type Single Double Suite

Method of payment Cash Traveller’s cheques Credit card

Card number

Address

Exercise 1: Here is a list of the things that usually happen if you eat at a restaurant. Put the events in the right order. Then match the events with the phrases in the right-hand box.

A the waiter brings you the menu 1 ”Would you like something to drink with your meal?

B you ask for the bill 2 ”Would you like a table by the window?”

C you have coffee 3 ”Could we have the menu, please?”

D the waiter shows you to your table 4 ”Could we have the bill, please?”

E the waiter takes your order for dessert 5 ”I’ll have the roast lamb with green beans and new

potatoes.”

F you sit down 6 ”Nothing else for me, thank you.”

G you enter the restaurant and ask for 7 ”Anything for dessert, madam?”

a table

H the waiter brings you your starter 8 ”I’d like some coffee, please.”

I the waiter takes your order for drinks 9 ”Do you take credit cards?”

J the waiter brings your main course 10 ”And for the main course, sir?”

K you leave a tip 11 ”How would you like your steak, sir? Rare, medium

or well done?”

L you leave your coat with the 12 ”Could we have a table for two, please?”

cloakroom attendant

M you order starters and main course

N you collect your coats

O you leave the restaurant

Exercise 2: Choose the most suitable word or phrase in each sentence.

1. Waiter, could you bring me my account/ bill / addition please ?
2. It’s a very popular restaurant – we should apply for / book / keep a table.
3. Please help / serve / wait yourself to salads from the salad bar.
4. This dish / plate / serving is a speciality of this restaurant.
5. Have you decided what to have for your main course / food / helping ?

Exercise 3: Choose the right expression.

1. Waiter, can I see the __________ , please?

card of wines list of wines wine list wine menu

2. All the food is this little restaurant is ______________.

handmade home-.based home-made self-made

3. A new restaurant has opened here which specializes in French _____________.

cook cuisine feeding kitchen

4. This voucher ____________ you to a free meal in our new restaurant.

allows credits entitles grants

5. At many restaurants a service ____________ is included in the bill.

charge gratuity tax tip

You will hear a telephone conversation between two guests in a hotel and the hotel desk clerk.

ROOM SERVICE

Room number 1________

Sandwiches 2 ___________ Salads 4 ____________

cheese chicken

cheese and tomato cheese

ham ham

beef beef

chicken

Toasted sandwiches 3____________ Drinks 5 ____________

cheese tea

cheese and tomato coffee

cheese and ham chocolate

wine

Other drinks

Wake up call time 6 ____________

Taxi /time/ 7 ____________

1. Money

You will hear part of a radio program discussing the problems of banking and money. Listen to the article about credit cards and fill in the missing words.

All the banks offer either Visa or Access 1 ___________ to their customers. Card-holders can use the card to pay for goods and services world-wide, wherever the appropriate sign is displayed, by signing a sales slip which is overprinted with the card details in a special machine. Use of credit cards is subject to a 2 _____________ which is initially set fairly low until you have proved your ability to pay back.

The trader receives his money from the credit card company within two or three days, but 3____________ receive their bills only at monthly intervals. They can either pay in full by a set date when no 4 ____________ is charged, or can make a minimum payment of 5% of the amount outstanding. An advantage to the customer is that a loan has been obtained without approaching the bank manager but interest, at a high rate, has to be paid on the 5 __________.

Exercise 1: Match the words and phrases in the left-hand column with their meanings on the right.

1 current account A a written order on a printed form telling a bank to

pay money to the person named

2 to guarantee payment B not to be protected from stealing

3 to be signed in the presence of sb C to undertake responsibility for paying money

4 encashable cheques D a person to whom money is to be paid

5 the payee E money kept in the bank

6 to be endorsed by F to write your name while someone is present

7 not to be safe from theft G to write your signature on the back of a cheque

Exercise 2: Fill in the missing words:

a/ What is the present ____________ of exchange?

b/ He went to the bank to ___________ a traveller’s cheque.

c/ Did you __________ by credit card?

d/ Help me to _____________crowns to euros.

e/ We had to pay a 2 % ___________ when we exchanged money.

f/ I had to give __________ of identity.

g/ There is an ____________ office at the next corner.

h/ He used the ATM to ___________ money from his account.

Exercise 1: What words are missing?

a/ Does the postman __________ letters on Sunday?

b/ We’ll send the birthday card as ________ __________.

c/ The parcel with the glasses was marked ___________.

d/ When you’ve finished, put the letter in the ___________ and seal it.

e/ On the front write the name of the ___________ and the exact address.

f/ Don’t forget to put the correct _____________ on the envelope.

g/ If you send the letter registered, they will give you a ______________.

1. Health Care

At the Information Desk

The English tourist travelling to Prague is given details about accident and emergency treatment in the Czech Republic.

Medical cover is less important for holidays in Prague than in some other cities, since British citizens receive accident and emergency treatment free of charge in the Czech Republic, thanks to a reciprocal agreement between the two countries.

In an emergency, calling 155 will get you an ambulance with life-saving equipment. It is is practical, you could go directly to the Nemocnice Na Homolce which is the hospital that’s both best appointed and most accustomed to handling foreigners. Less urgent matters can be dealt with at the Fakultní Poliklinika. You can redeem your prescriptions at any pharmacist.

Dental treatment is available at the Poliklinika. If your agony doesn’t coincide with its opening hours, Prague’s emergency dentist at Vladislavova 22 will temporarily cap or permanently extract the offending tooth. Opticians can be found where you see a sign saying ”oční optika”.

AIDS in on its way, and most observers agree that in Prague HIV will spread through its young heterosexual population. Remarkably few Czechs use condoms, however, there are vending machines in the vestibules of most metro stations, all open 24 hours a day. Look for the boxes with the sign ”Men’s Shop”.

Exercise 1: Choose the most suitable word or phrase.

1. There were ten people waiting in the doctor/s office / surgery / ward.

2. George’s cut arm took over a week to cure / heal / look after.
3. I’ve been digging the garden and now my back aches / pains / injures.

4. The doctor can’t say what is wrong with you until she cures / examines / recovers you.

5. I seem to have caught / infected / taken a cold.

Exercise 2: Complete each sentence a – g with one of the endings 1 – 7.

a/ I think we should send for an ambulance …

b/ Some people go jogging every morning …

c/ It would be a good idea for you to go to the dentist’s …

d/ The doctor gave Andy an injection …

e/ I’m going to hospital tomorrow …

f/ Susan took two aspirins …

g/ The doctor gave me a prescription …

1/ … to have that bad tooth of yours taken out.

2/ … to take old Mrs Jones to hospital.

3/ … to get rid of her headache.

4/ … to reduce the pain and help him sleep.

5/ … to take to the chemist’s.

6/ … to keep fit, or to lose some weight.

7/ … to have an operation on my foot.

You will hear descriptions of two Czech Health Spas. Fill in the missing expressions /one word for each gap/ to complete the sentences.

The town Mariánské Lázně with its excellent urban layout is often described in the world as the pearl of European 1 _____________.

Mariánské Lázně has 40 2 ___________ which differ by their chemical composition. All of them do, however, contain a great amount of free carbon dioxide and all are cool. 3 ____________ indications are extremely varied with regard to the great variety of local therapeutical sources.

Ranking first are kidney 4 __________ and diseases of the urinary discharge system, disorders of metabolism, diseases of upper respiratory tract and skin diseases. Specialised institutions are orientated to the 5 ___________ of nervous disorders and 6 _____________ states.

Františkovy Lázně has a vast wealth of natural 1 _______ sources suitable for the 2 __________

and vascular diseases, gynaecological disorders and disorders of the motor system. The spa has 24 springs of strong carbonic water saturated with minerals. Twelve springs are used for 3 _________

and 4 _________. The rich local deposit of sulphurferric peat is used for 5 __________ and baths.

Exercise 3: Body and Health Quiz

Exercise 4: Fill in correctly pain / ache / hurt .

a/ After running he felt a __________ in his side. d/ He often gets stomach_________.

b/ She _________ her back when she fell. e/ My back tooth is ___________.

c/ They took the boy to the doctor when his left ear began to __________.

Exercise 5: Fill in the missing words:

Malcolm _________ an infection. He ________ and sneezed and had a ________ throat and a bad __________. He went to the doctor’s ________. The nurse took his _________, and the G.P. made out a _________ for an antibiotic and told him to ________ 3 times a day. He _________ quickly and after a few days he was __________ again.

Exercise 6: What does it mean?

1. I’m feeling a bit under the weather.
2. I’m not feeling myself today.
3. I’ve got a touch of flu.
4. I think I am going down with something.
5. He’s feeling a bit off colour today.
6. She’s nothing but skin and bone.
7. He’s passed out. He’s come round.

You will hear part of a radio programme in which travel insurance is discussed. Complete:

1. We buy travel insurance to: ______________________________.
2. Your travel insurance policy should cover particularly: _______________ and ___________.
3. Credit card holders may get ______________________________.
4. No travel insurance policy will cover you against losses as a result of exchange rate movements or against : ____________________________________.
5. If you are taking your own car abroad or are likely to be hiring a vehicle you should have an ______________________ and your motor insurance certificate - ___________________.

Exercise 1: Join the terms in column A with their meanings in column B.

visa the official residence of an ambassador and his staff

passport taxes paid on goods coming into a country /the place where

taxes are collected/

consular office a mark put on a passport by the authorities of a country to show

that the bearer may travel to, or in, that country

customs a document of identification, necessary for foreign travel

embassy an agency which looks after the country’s residents in a foreign

country

A full passport will get you into the Czech Republic, although if it has less than a year to run you could have problems. A British Visitor’s Card won’t be accepted. West Europeans and US citizens no longer need a visa.

On arrival, you are allowed to import unlimited amounts of personal effects and up to 250 cigarettes, two litres of wine, a litre of spirits, and half a litre of perfume. Any extra should be declared and duty paid, although the happy-go-lucky customs information service claims that long-term visitors can bring any amount that’s proportional to their stay. Gifts worth up to 1,000 CZK can also be imported duty-free.

The standard prohibitions apply to both arrival and departure – no hard porn, no heroin, no Semtex, etc.- and Czech currency is still not meant to be imported or exported. X-ray machines can damage films, and a single stroke by a metal detector can wipe out computer data. If you have either, it’s a good idea to pack it separately and have it inspected by hand.

Listen to the information given to a tourist traveling to Great Britain. Fill in missing words.

It seems obvious but don’t leave home without:

1. the necessary /1/ _________________________
2. a valid /2/ ___________________
3. any necessary /3/ _____________________ /you are exempt if you are a citizen of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa or the USA/
4. a /4/ ____________________ if you are going to take up paid employment /this only applies to non-EU nationals/
5. an /5/ ____________________ /you are unlikely to need one to enter but check if one is needed to re-enter your own country/
6. a /6/ ____________________ /you may already be covered if your country has a reciprocal agreement with Britain/
7. where appropriate, a /7/ ___________________
8. again, where appropriate, an /8/ __________________
9. a /9/ ___________________ if you are intending to drive
10. the right clothes /a mix of light, warm and waterproof/

/Information from Cadogan City Guides/

Praguers tend to be polite and shake hands a lot but there are only a few peculiar habits that you really need to know. They can be mastered in a day and often ease social intercourse considerably.

1. When entering a Czech house, make an indication to remove your shoes. Your host may well waive the requirement, but the reflex will be seen as a sign of good breeding.
2. If you are staying in a private flat and find yourself receiving strange looks as you walk around your tenement, say good day and smile. The greeting is ubiquitous even among perfect strangers, and elderly people can get particularly cross if they’re ignored.
3. If you are sharing a café table with the Czech people and they are served food, say bon appetite. Smile graciously in the reverse situation. On leaving, it is traditional to say see you later.
4. When in a pub, never pour beer from one glass to another. If you do so, in extreme cases, you may be asked to leave.
5. Still on the theme of drink, you must always stare into your companion’s eyes when drinking a toast. Failure to do so implies a certain untrustworthiness.
6. The man should always precede the woman into an unknown Prague bar or a café. The theory is that if a fight is taking place, the man is thus ready to fend off the barstool. It’s unclear how the rule applies in the case of groups. Men should enter together, presumably to minimize the risk of being picked off one by one.
7. Perhaps related to above, women can expect to be treated as sex objects or sweetly incompetent morons by all male Praguers. You will come across a huge amount of naked flesh and tissue paper pornography during your stay.

You will hear part of the information about the rules of etiquette given to the tourists in Russia.

1. When visiting Russia you should bring a gift to the family who invites you to their home.
2. On public transportation give up your seat to local people.
3. Refusing a drink or toast is accepted because vodka can catch up with you.
4. Women should be accompanied by men in restaurants and in hotels.
5. Foreign people are forbidden to enter Russian Orthodox Churches.
6. Before leaving on a long trip, you should sit quietly for two minutes.