1. He arrived... his destination... time. 2. The train arrived... Moscow early... the morning. 3. I went straight... the platform to look... my carriage. 4. As the driver drove... breakneck speed I felt my heart sink.5. If you are not pressed... time, you may travel... water. 6. Mother asked me to book her a cabin... a ship. 7. I hate seeing people.... 8. On our way... Moscow we had to change stations. 9. Though I did my best I failed to catch the... train.
2. Read the following text & make up your own questions so as to cover the main ideas of the text.
Travelling by Train in Britain.
One of the first things a foreigner notices about British railways is the platforms. They are higher than in most parts of the world. The platform is almost on a level with the floor of the carriages. You do not, therefore, have to climb up into a railway carriage in Britain. This makes it a little easier to get in & out of the carriage with your luggage.
The trains that go to & from London are very crowded at the times when people are travelling to work each day. There are cheap tickets after a certain time of the day, usually about 9.30 when everyone has gone to work. These are called cheap day return tickets. It is often nearly 50 % (fifty per cent) cheaper to travel to London after 9.30 than before this time.
On many fast trains to London there is a dining - car in which you can buy lunch, dinner or coffee. On others there is a buffet at which it is possible to buy snacks & drinks. Sometimes a waiter from the dining - car brings round cups of coffee to the passengers.
There are only two classes in Britainfirst & second. A firstclass ticket costs 50 % more than a secondclass ticket. On long iourneys there is a ticket inspector, who visits every passenger to see if he has the right ticket & is not travelling in the wrong class.
In England train passengers seldom converse with their fellowtravellers even on a long journeythis is more a national custom than a matter of etiquette.
When the passenger reaches the end of his journey & leaves the train, he has to give his ticket to the ticket collector at the exit before he can leave the station. If he has luggage & wants someone to carry it for him to a waiting car or taxi, he must ask a porter. The porter does not make a charge for his service, but he expects a tip.
3. You agree, dont you, that railway is a very popular means of communication. Nevertheless many of us prefer, sometimes have, to apply to air service or travel by sea. Read the text & ask your own questions.
Last Wednesday I went down to Southampton Docks to see my partner off to New York on one of our largest liners. What colossal ships these cruisers are when you see them from the landingstage along the quay. I had a pass, so I went on board & had a look round. From the top deck I could see the huge cranes lifting the cargo & depositing it in the hold. I saw members of the crew carrying out their duties in various parts of the ship while the captain watched the operations & gave his orders from the bridge. Then the siren sounded & the visitors made for the gangways. Finally the ship began to move off, & the passengers, leaning over the rails, waved goodbye to their friends standing below amongst the crowd. Slowly she left the harbour, passing beyond the pier, & gradually disappeared in the distance.
A few days later I myself had to go to Paris. The journey was urgent & I went by air. A special bus provide by the company took us to the airport. On the airfield we saw a large plane waiting for us.We climbed into it, & at exactly twelve oclock it took off. Very soon our magic carpet reached the sea, & shortly afterwards we saw the French coast. It wasnt long before we arrived at our destination. Our pilot made a perfect landing & we got our of the plane.
