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Answer the following questions.
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1. What is the largest city in the USA? 2. Where is New York situated? 3. What is the population of New York? 4. Why is the nickname of New York "the Big Apple"? 5. Who was the New York area populated by in early times? 6. When was Manhattan bought from the local Indians? How much did it cost? 7. How many parts does New York consist of? What are they? 8. How are the districts of New York linked together? 9. How many parts is Manhattan divided into? 10. What avenue of Manhattan is the dividing line? 11. What world-famous streets in New York do you know? What are they famous for? 12. When was the first skyscraper in New York built? What was its height? 13. What statue is the symbol of American democracy? 14. Where does the Statue of Liberty stand? 15. What country gave this statue to America as a present? When? Why? 16. What is there in the hands of Liberty? 17. What most important branches of industry are there?
UNIT 8
Travelling
People have travelled since the earliest days of the human history. In primitive times they didn’t travel for pleasure. They travelled on foot and their journeys were long, tiring and often dangerous. Later they travelled not from necessity, but for the joy and excitement of seeing and experiencing new things. Travelling has now become a highly organized business. There are cars and splendid roads, express trains, huge ships and jet airliners, all of which provide us with comforts and security.
Modern life is impossible without travelling. One can travel by air, by rail, by sea or by road. The choice of the means of travelling depends on its purpose. If you go on a business trip you had better go by airplane. Some people are scared of flying. Planes make them nervous. Air transport is really safer compared to road transport. Travelling by air has many advantages; it is convenient and much faster than travelling by car, train or sea. It saves your time, but it doesn’t save money. Distances more than 2000 km can now be covered by modern passenger planes on non-stop flights without landing to refuel.
Before you get on board the plane you have your luggage registered. It is weighed and labelled. You are not allowed to take bulky luggage with you. Before the flight you have to spend some time at the airport. In the hall of the airport there are a lot of people waiting for boarding the plane. Some people like watching the planes taking off and landing. Then you hear your flight announced and the passengers are invited to board the plane and take their seats.
The airplane armchairs are very cosy, and they are equipped with safety belts which must be fastened during both take-off and landing. Sometimes the order to fasten the belts may be given during the flight. When all the passengers are on board and when the captain and his crew are ready in the cockpit, the plane moves to the end of the runway. Finally, permission is received from the control tower and the plane moves faster and faster and finally takes off.
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When the plane takes off, the stewardess gives the passengers all the information about the flight. She asks the passengers to fasten seat-belts and not to smoke during the flight. The stewardesses are usually very amiable and cater to the passengers' wants and needs. If you want something during the flight, you are to press a button with a pictogram of a hostess of the air, and she will immediately come to your help. During the flight the passengers do whatever they like – some of them read, others sleep or look through the porthole at the beautiful scenery. Sometimes you can see the land below which looks like a map.
When you reach your place of destination in a few hours you realize all the advantages of travelling by air. It is only unpleasant thing about that kind of travelling is that during take-off and landing ears hurt a little. Some people chew a gum to relieve this little discomfort. Sometimes yawning and swallowing helps.
Railway transport is still one of the cheapest ways of travelling. But such journeys are usually long and tiresome. Trains stop at many stations and are often delayed. It is usually stuffy in the cars. There are two or four berths in a compartment. Many people prefer to travel on a lower berth with the face to the engine.
Travelling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advantages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars which make even the longest journey enjoyable. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes. That is why many people prefer them to all other means.
Many people prefer travelling by sea for pleasure because it is very comfortable. One may travel either by sea or by river on board a sea liner or a river cruise ship. If the weather is fine you can enjoy the fresh air and the picturesque banks. A sea-voyage is very pleasant. However, if the sea is rough, some passengers are not much of sailors; they suffer from sea-sickness. Those who are not afraid of the rough sea, can stay up on deck and walk up and down the deck in any weather but storm. Ships usually reach the port of destination on time according to their schedule.
Many people like to travel by car. The advantages of this way of spending a holiday are that you can plan your trip. You don’t have to buy a ticket and you are not afraid of missing your train or airplane. But at the same time you are to think about many other things. For example, how to repair your car if it breaks down or if a tire is flat.
At present, taking into account travelling expenditures which are inevitable, no matter how you choose to travel, many our compatriots think that the best way of travelling is hiking. Many families are fond of hiking which is becoming very popular nowadays. There are picturesque places with forests, lakes and rivers near the city. Some people travel not only to enjoy these places but also to see ancient monuments and other places of cultural and historical interest.
Vocabulary
to travel on foot – путешествовать, странствовать пешком
journey – путешествие, поездка
tiring – изнурительный, утомительный
road – дорога, путь, шоссе
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express train – экспресс
ship – корабль, морское судно
jet airliner – реактивный авиалайнер
to travel by air – путешествовать самолетом
to travel by rail – путешествовать по железной дороге
to travel by sea – путешествовать по морю
to depend on smth.– зависеть от
purpose – назначение, намерение, цель
to go on a business trip – поехать в командировку
to scare – пугать; испугать, напугать
to travel by car – путешествовать на автомобиле
to travel by train – путешествовать на поезде
to cover a distance – покрывать, пролетать расстояние
landing – посадка, приземление
to refuel – заправляться горючим
to have one’s luggage registered – зарегистрировать багаж
to weigh – взвешивать; весить, иметь вес
to label – прикреплять ярлык, этикетку, навешивать бирку
to allow – позволять, разрешать
bulky luggage – большой, занимающий много места багаж
flight – полет; перелет; рейс
to wait for boarding the plane – ждать посадки на самолет
to take off – взлетать
to land – приземляться, делать посадку
to announce a flight – объявлять рейс
to board the plane – садиться на самолет
cosy – удобный, уютный
to fasten a safety belt (seat-belt) – пристегнуть ремень безопасности
take off – взлет
captain – капитан
crew – экипаж, команда
cockpit – кабина (в самолете)
runway – взлетно-посадочная полоса
control tower – диспетчерская вышка; контрольно-диспетчерский пункт
stewardess – стюардесса, бортпроводница
to cater – обеспечивать, обслуживать
to look through the porthole – смотреть в иллюминатор
place of destination – место назначения
to hurt – болеть; страдать от боли; испытывать боль
to chew a gum – жевать жевательную резинку
to yawn – зевать
to swallow – глотать, проглатывать
tiresome – надоедливый, утомительный
to stop at a station – останавливаться на станции
to delay – опаздывать
stuffy – душный
car – вагон
berth – спальное место
compartment – купе
sleeping car – спальный вагон
dining car – вагон-ресторан
speed – скорость
cruise ship – круизное судно
sea voyage – плавание по морю, морское путешествие
rough sea – бурное море
to be not much of a sailor – плохо переносить морское путешествие
to suffer from sea-sickness – страдать от морской болезни
to stay up on deck – оставаться на палубе
to walk up and down the deck – ходить взад и вперёд по палубе
storm – шторм; буря, гроза, ураган
port of destination – порт назначения
schedule – расписание, график
trip – путешествие; поездка, экскурсия
to miss a train (an airplane) – не успеть на поезд (самолет)
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tire (tyre) – шина; покрышка
to take into account – принимать во внимание
travelling expenditures – дорожные расходы
compatriot – соотечественник
to hike – гулять, ходить пешком; путешествовать на любом транспорте
I. Give Russian equivalents to the following word combinations:
to travel on foot; journey; splendid road; express train; huge ship; jet airliner; to provide smb. with comforts and security; to travel by air (by rail, by road); to depend on smth.; purpose; to go on business trip; to go by airplane; to scare; to cover a distance; to get on board the plane; to take bulky luggage; to spend some time at the airport; to wait for boarding the plane; to take off; to land; to announce a flight; to be on board; captain; crew; cockpit; to give the passengers all the information about the flight; to cater; tiresome; stuffy; compartment; to travel on a lower berth with the face to the engine; speed; sea liner; cruise ship; rough sea; to be not much of a sailor; storm; to reach the port of destination on time; schedule; to hike.
II. Give English equivalents to the following word combinations:
путешествовать по морю; путешествовать на автомобиле (на поезде); экономить время и деньги; заправляться горючим; зарегистрировать багаж; садиться на самолет; пристегнуть ремень безопасности; взлет; посадка; взлетно-посадочная полоса; диспетчерская вышка; стюардесса; смотреть в иллюминатор; место назначения; во время взлета и посадки болят уши; жевать жевательную резинку, чтобы уменьшить дискомфорт; зевать; глотать; останавливаться на станции; опаздывать; спальный вагон; вагон-ресторан; морское путешествие; страдать морской болезнью; оставаться на палубе; ходить взад и вперёд по палубе; не успеть на поезд (самолет); принимать во внимание дорожные расходы.
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