Part II Travelling

I. Words and word combinations to be remembered

to go through the customs – пройти таможенный досмотр

a customs duty – таможенная пошлина

to smuggle smth. into the country – провести что-либо контрабандой

have you (got) anything to declare? – У вас есть что-то. для предъявления таможне?

valuables – ценности

a check-in counter – стойка регистрации

to have one’s luggage weighed – должны взвесить свой багаж

to label – навесить бирку, наклеить ярлык

to board a plane (ship) – сесть на самолет (пароход)

boarding pass – посадочный талон

an immigration form – иммиграционный бланк

a security check – проверка безопасности

to take measures against hijacking – принять меры против угона самолёта

to reach the port of destination – добраться до места назначения

with a delay – с опозданием

departure lounge – зал ожидания

jet-lag – разница во времени при перелете в разные часовые пояса

block letters – печатные буквы

to pay extra – платить дополнительно

nationality – гражданство, подданство

duty free shop – беспошлинный магазин

at the invitation of – по приглашению

II. Read, translate and reproduce the text

The rules for passengers who are going abroad are similar in most countries, but sometimes there might be a slight difference in formalities.

If, for instance, you are supposed to begin with going through the customs, you'd better fill in the customs declaration before you talk to the customs officer. An experienced customs officer usually "smells" a smuggler, but he may ask any passenger routine questions, for instance, "Have you got anything to declare?" or "Any spirits, tobacco, presents?" The usual answers would be, "Yes, I've got some valuables, but I've put them all down in the declaration", or "I've got two blocks of cigarettes for my own use" or something of that kind.

Then you go to the check-in counter where your ticket is looked at, your things are weighed and labeled, a claim-check for each piece of luggage is inserted in the ticket and you are given a boarding pass, which has a seat number on it. Of course, if your luggage weighs more than 2Okgs. you have to pay extra. The next formality is filling in the immigration form and going through passport control. The form has to be filled in in block letters. You write your name, nationality, permanent address and the purpose of your trip. In most countries there is also a security check when your carry-on luggage is inspected. This is an anti-hijacking measure, and anything that might be dangerous or disturbing to other passengers must be handed to one of the crew and only returned to the owner after the plane has reached its destination.

After fulfilling all these formalities you go to the departure lounge where you can have a snack, read a paper, buy something in the duty-free shop and wait for the announcement to board the plane.

Some of these formalities are repeated when you arrive at your destination. The customs declaration and the immigration form are often filled in on board the plane. At the airport you may be met by a specially trained dog who will make sure that you are not carrying drugs, and the immigration officer might want to know at whose invitation you are coming and whether you have a return ticket.