жд 1 курс english

Ex. 7. Read the text and translate it, using a dictionary, if necessary.

E U R O S T A R

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train operating from London to Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel. It is run by a consortium of French railways (SNCF), Belgian railways (SNCB) and Eurostar UK Ltd. The train started running in 1994. Don‟t confuse Eurostar with Eurotunnel, whose trains carry motor cars, lorries and coaches from one side of the Channel to the other. Eurostar does not carry cars, just passengers. London to Paris by Eurostar is 495 km (about 307 miles); it takes about 2 hours 15 minutes to run from centre to centre at 186 mph.

The service is operated by the eighteen-carriage Class 373 trains consisting of 2nd and 1st class cars. Eurostar is completely non-smoking. Between autumn 2004 and autumn 2005 all Eurostars were refurbished with a new interior design.

In 1st class cars the fare includes an excellent hot airline-style 3-course meal and complimentary (= free) alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, all served at your seat. Two bar cars are at passengers‟ disposal. They are located in cars 6 and 13 and serve tea, coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine, sandwiches, crisps and hot snacks. The bar accepts credit cards as well as cash. You can eat and drink in the bar area (standing space only, there are no seats) or take your meal back to your seat.

All seats on Eurostar must be reserved in advance. If you book your ticket at www.eurostar.com, you can choose which seat in which car you want.

If you want a power socket for a mobile or laptop, choose cars 5 or 14 in 2nd class. In first class, all cars have these facilities.

If you have small children, book seats in cars 1 or 18 (2nd class). These cars are at each end of the train, so less people walk through them to the bar. These cars have bays (= compartments) of 4 seats (with or without a table, your choice), which are much better for families than face-to-back airline-style seating.

Children under 4 go free on Eurostar. A special child fare applies to children from 4 to 11 inclusive. Children aged 12 and over travel at the adult fare. All children under 12 must travel accompanied by an adult.

Unfortunately, you cannot take dogs or other pets on Eurostar, except for guide

dogs.

Unlike traveling by air, you don‟t check in your bags when traveling by Eurostar. You keep them with you, placing small or medium size bags on the luggage racks above your head. Larger bags are placed on the big racks at the end of the coach. Also unlike air travel, there‟s no weight limit. All bags taken onto Eurostar must have a label showing your name and surname.

The London terminal has a left luggage office, where you can leave your luggage. Bags are X-rayed before deposit. The Paris terminal has left luggage lockers. A small locker costs 4.50 euros, a suitcase-sized locker about 7.50 euros for

24 hours, and a locker for two large suitcases around 9.50 euros. There‟s a change machine, which can convert 10, 20 or 50 euro banknotes into the coins needed for the lockers. The Brussels terminal has both luggage lockers and a left luggage office.

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Ex. 8. Each of the sentences below is followed by two paraphrases. Decide which paraphrase (a, b) is closer in meaning to the original statement. Translate the original statement and the paraphrases into Russian.

1.Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train operating from London to Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel.

a)Eurostar is the high-speed railway passenger train connecting London with Paris and Brussels; it runs under the English Channel via the Channel Tunnel.

b)Eurostar is the high-speed railway company; it carries passengers under the English Channel via the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France.

2.London to Paris by Eurostar is about 307 miles; it takes about 2 hours 15 minutes to run from centre to centre at 186 mph.

a)The London-Paris railway line is about 500 km long; journey time is 135 minutes; train speed is 300 km/h.

b)It takes Eurostar over 2 hours to cover the distance of 307 km at a speed of 300 kmh.

3.In 1st class cars the fare includes an excellent hot airline-style 3-course meal and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, all served at your seat.

a)First class on Eurostar guarantees faster checking-in, as well as the improved interior of carriages.

b)First class on Eurostar guarantees meals being personally served at the seat of your choice.

4.If you book your ticket at www.eurostar.com, you can choose which seat in which car you want.

a)You should book your ticket on-line if you want to have a comfortable seat.

b)You can choose which car you want if you book your ticket at www.eurostar.com.

5.All bags taken onto Eurostar must have a label showing your name and surname.

a)All hand baggage taken onto Eurostar must be X-rayed and have the passenger’s name.

b)Both hand luggage and medium size bags must have a sticker showing the passenger’s name and surname.

6.At terminals, there are change machines, which can convert 10, 20 or 50 euro banknotes into the coins needed for the lockers.

a)If you don’t have coins for the left luggage locker, you can use a change machine available at the terminal.

b)Change machines are installed at every terminal operated by Eurostar trains.

Ex. 9. Mark the following statements as „True‟ or „False‟. Correct the false statements.

1. There are both smoking and non-smoking carriages on Eurostar trains.

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2.It took the Eurostar Company one year to completely refurbish all its trains with a new interior design.

3.Between autumn 2004 and autumn 2005, all Eurostars were refurbished with a new interior design.

4.A passenger in the 1st class car should pay extra for alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.

5.Bar cars are located in the middle of the train to provide passengers with access to the restaurants.

6.In the bar, passengers may pay by credit cards or in cash.

7.You can eat and drink in the bar area (standing space only, there are no seats) or take your meal back to your seat.

8.If you haven‟t reserved your ticket beforehand, you wouldn‟t be allowed to take a Eurostar train.

9.Passengers in 1st class carriages have the privilege of using laptops and cell phones.

10.You don‟t have to buy a ticket for your baby when traveling by a Eurostar train.

11.There are no special baggage cars on the Eurostar train; therefore passengers can keep their travel bags and suitcases with them.

12.If you are very fond of your pet and can‟t leave it for a second, Eurostar train won‟t be your choice.

13.Every Eurostar passenger is to follow strict security rules.

14.At the London terminal, it is cheaper to use a small left luggage locker.

15.At the terminal in the French capital, there‟s a change machine, which can convert 10, 20 or 50 dollar bills into the coins needed for the lockers.

Ex. 10. In the sentences below, replace the words in italics with a word (or words) from the text. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1.Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train run by a group of companies or organizations who are working together of SNCF, SNCB and Eurostar UK Ltd.

2.Eurotunnel trains carry motor cars, lorries and buses with comfortable seats used for long journeys from one side of the Channel to the other.

3.Hot airline-style 3-course meal and free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included into the price you pay to travel somewhere by bus, train, plane,etc.

4.The bar cars serve tea, coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine, sandwiches, very thin flat round pieces of potato cooked in oil and eaten cold and hot snacks.

5.The bar accepts credit cards as well as money in the form of coins or notes rather than cheques .

6.If you want to use a mobile or a small computer that you can carry with you on board the train, you‟d better take a ticket for cars in first class.

7.Small children travel without payment on Eurostar.

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8.Eurostar passengers are not allowed to take their animals, which they keep and care for at home. Dogs trained to guide blind people are an exception.

9.You can place small or neither large nor small size bags on the luggage racks above your head.

10.All bags taken onto Eurostar must have a label showing your name and the name that you share with your parents.

11.The Paris terminal has left luggage small cupboards with locks where you can leave your things .

12.A change machine can change into something that can be used in a different way 10, 20 or 50 euro banknotes into the coins needed for the lockers.

T E X T F O R A D D I T I O N A L R E A D I N G

Have you ever read any English books in the original? Below you will find an extract from the Agatha Christie‟s detective novel “4.50 from Paddington”.

You are free to choose between the original variant and the adapted one.

If your choice is an original text, listen to the tape and imitate the speaker as best as you can. After that, translate the text, consulting a dictionary as little as possible.

If you prefer an adapted version, do exercise 1, read the text and give its main idea without consulting a dictionary.

O r i g i n a l t e x t

4 . 5 0 F R O M P A D D I N G T O N

(after A. Christie)

Mrs. McGillicuddy was going along the platform, trying to catch up with the porter who was carrying her suitcase. Mrs. McGillicuddy was burdened with a large number of parcels; the result of a day‟s Christmas shopping. Platform No 1 was rather crowded; people were rushing in several directions at once, to and from undergrounds, left-luggage offices, tea-rooms, information bureaus, indicator boards, to the outside world.

Mrs. McGillicuddy and her parcels were buffeted to and fro, but she arrived at last at the entrance to Platform No 3 and deposited one parcel at her feet while she was looking her bag for the ticket that would enable her to pass stern uniformed guardian at the gate.

At that moment, a loud voice burst into speech over her head. “The train standing at Platform 3” the voice told her, “is the 4.50 for Brackhampton,

Milchester and Roxeter. Passengers for Brackhampton travel at the rear of the train.

Passengers for Carvil change at Roxeter”. The voice shut itself off with a click and then reopened conversation by announcing the arrival at Platform No. 9 of the 4.00 from Birmingham.

Mrs. McGillicuddy found her ticket and presented it. The man clipped it, murmured: “On the right-rear portion.” Mrs. McGillicuddy found her porter outside

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the door of a third-class carriage. “Here you are, lady.” – “I‟m traveling first-class,” said Mrs. McGillicuddy. “You didn‟t say so,” grumbled the porter. He took the suitcase and marched with it to the adjoining coach. The 4.50 was almost empty, as the first-class passengers preferred either the faster morning express or the 6.40 with a dining car. Mrs. McGillicuddy handed the porter his tip, which he received with disappointment, considering it more suitable to third-class than to first-class travel. But Mrs. McGillicuddy, though prepared to spend money on comfortable travel after a night journey from the North and a day‟s feverish shopping, was at no time an extravagant tipper.

She made herself comfortable on the plush cushions with a sigh and opened a magazine. Five minutes later, whistles blew, and the train started. Three minutes later she was asleep. She slept for forty minutes and awoke refreshed. It was quite dark now. “Serving last tea now,” said an attendant, opening the corridor door. But Mrs.

McGillicuddy had already had tea at a large department store. She looked up at the rack where her various parcels reposed, with a pleased expression. Her satisfied gaze returned to the window; a train traveling in the opposite direction rushed by with a screech, making the windows rattle. The train passed through a station. Then it began suddenly to slow down, probably in obedience to a signal. For some minutes it crawled along, stopped; and then began to move forward again, gathering speed. For a time two trains ran parallel, now one gaining a little, now the other. Mrs. McGillicuddy looked from her window through the windows of the parallel carriages. Most of the blinds were down, but occasionally the passengers of the carriages were visible. The other train was not very full and there were many empty coaches. Suddenly in one of the compartments of the passing train Mrs. McGillicuddy saw a man. His hands were round the throat of a woman who faced him; he was slowly, remorselessly strangling her…

Ex. 1. Match the sentences in column A with the synonymous statements in column B.

	A			B
1.	Mrs. McGillicuddy was going along		a)	Mrs. McGillicuddy was carrying
	the platform, trying to catch up with			many small bags.
	the porter.
2.	Mrs. McGillicuddy was	burdened	b) Mrs. McGillicuddy showed the
	with a large number of parcels.			ticket to the very strict looking
				conductor in the uniform.
3.	Mrs. McGillicuddy showed the ticket		c)	Passengers for Brackhampton
	to the stern uniformed guardian at the			travel in the end carriage.
	gate.
4.	Passengers for Brackhampton travel at		d) Mrs. McGillicuddy was trying to
	the rear of the train.			walk the same speed as the porter.
5.	Mrs. McGillicuddy handed the porter		e)	Mrs. McGillicuddy was not poor,
	his tip, which he received with			but she was in no mood to spend
	disappointment, considering	it more		extra money for tips.
	suitable to third-class than to first-class
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	travel.
	6. Mrs.McGillicuddy, though prepared	f) The porter wanted the lady to give
	to spend money on comfortable travel	him more money for his services
	after a night journey from the North	because the lady was a first-class,
	and a day‟s feverish shopping, was at
		not a third-class traveler.
	no time an extravagant tipper.

A d a p t e d t e x t

4 . 5 0 F R O M P A D D I N G T O N

(after A. Christie)

Mrs. McGillicuddy was going along the platform, trying to catch up with the porter who was carrying her suitcase. Mrs. McGillicuddy was burdened with a large number of parcels; the result of a day‟s Christmas shopping. Platforms were crowded; people were rushing in several directions at once, to and from undergrounds, left-luggage offices, tea-rooms, information bureaus, indicator boards, to the outside world.

At long last Mrs. McGillicuddy arrived at Platform No 3. She deposited one parcel at her feet and showed the ticket to the stern uniformed guardian at the gate.

At that moment, she heard a loud announcement: “The train standing at

Platform 3 is the 4.50 for Brackhampton, Milchester and Roxeter. Passengers for Brackhampton travel at the rear of the train. Passengers for Carvil change at

Roxeter”. The voice clicked off and then reopened by announcing the arrival of the 4.00 from Birmingham at Platform No 9.

The conductor clipped the ticket and let the elderly lady in. Mrs. McGillicuddy found her porter outside the door of a third-class carriage. “Here you are, lady.” - “I‟m traveling first-class,” said Mrs. McGillicuddy. “You didn‟t say so,” grumbled the porter. He took the suitcase and marched with it to the first-class coach. The 4.50 was almost empty, because the first-class passengers preferred either the faster morning express or the 6.40 with a dining car. Mrs. McGillicuddy handed the porter his tip, which he received with disappointment, considering it more suitable to third-class than to first-class travel. But Mrs. McGillicuddy, though prepared to spend money on comfortable travel after a night journey from the North and a day‟s intense shopping, was at no time an extravagant tipper.

She made herself comfortable and opened a magazine. Five minutes later, the train started. Three minutes later she was asleep. She slept for forty minutes and awoke refreshed. It was quite dark now. “Serving last tea now,” said the conductor, opening the corridor door. But Mrs. McGillicuddy had already had tea at a large department store.

She looked at the window and saw a train traveling in the opposite direction. The train passed through a station, then it began to slow down and stopped. In some minutes it started to move forward again, gathering speed. For some time, two trains ran parallel. Mrs. McGillicuddy looked from her window through the windows of the parallel carriages. The other train was not very full and there were many empty coaches. Suddenly in one of the compartments of the passing train Mrs.

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McGillicuddy saw a man. His hands were round the throat of a woman who faced him; he was slowly strangling her…

G R A M M A R R E V I E W

Ex. 1. Put the verbs into the correct tense form of Present Simple Active or Present Continuous Active.

1.As a rule, the workers to repair the track in summer.

2.The train to be late because the workers to repair the track.

3.Look! Two aircrafts to fly in the dark sky.

4.This overnight train always to arrive on schedule.

5.My TV set to work better now because we have installed the external antenna.

6.The arrow of compass always to point to the North.

7.The railways in the US to transport only 0.6 per cent of passengers.

8.All these passengers to wait for the suburban train arrival.

9.The train to London to depart from platform No 2 in 5 minutes.

10.Please keep the doors closed while the train to move.

Ex. 2. Put the verbs into the correct tense form of Past Simple Active or Past Continuous Active.

ON THE PLATFORM

The train to stop at a small station. A passenger to look out of the window and to see two women who to sell cakes. The man to want to buy a cake. The women to stand rather far from the carriage. The man to call a boy, who to walk on the platform near the carriage and to ask him: “How much does the cake cost?” “Three pence, sir”, to answer the boy. The man to give him sixpence and to say to him: “Bring me a cake and with the other three pence buy one for yourself”. Some minutes later, the boy to return. He to eat the cake. He to give the man three pence change and to say: “There to be only one cake, sir”.

Ex. 3. Read the sentences and translate them, paying attention to the predicates in the Passive form.

1.The program of railway reforms is being carried out now in Russia.

2.When I came to Leningrad in 1957, the first underground line was still being built.

3.Are they ready with the parcel? – No, it is still being packed.

4.The bridge, which is being upgraded now, will be used for the movement of both road and railway traffic.

5.Newspaper correspondents arrived at the aviation plant when the new passenger airplane was being tested.

6.The construction of this high-speed line is being actively supported by the government because the development of heavy industry in this region requires reliable and speedy railway traffic.

7.The business day was in high gear (в полном разгаре): the mail was being looked through, the documents were being typed, letters were being answered, and talks were being held.

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8.A fleet of 45 300km/h Eurotrains will operate on the 340km Taipei-Kaohsiung high-speed line, which is being constructed now in Taiwan.

Ex. 4. Put the verbs into the required tense forms.

1.Two passengers (to appear – Past Simple Active) on the platform too late just as the train (to pull – Past Continuous Active) out.

2.At present 2,500 km of high-speed lines (to construct – Present Continuous Passive) in Europe and Asia.

3.Paul (to catch – Future Simple Active) the train, if he (to hurry – Present Simple Active) up.

4.A lot of people (to wait – Past Continuous Active) for the train arrival on the platform.

5.Decommissioned (списанные) locomotives (to turn – Present Simple Passive) into scrap or (to leave – Present Simple Passive) to rust in a train depot. Some (to end – Present Simple Active) in railway museums or (to buy – Present Simple Passive) by railfans.

6.Steel rails (to use – Past Simple Passive) in the US for the first time in 1863.

7.The experiment (to be – Past Simple Active) very interesting, it (to watch – Past Continuous Passive) with great attention.

8.When the train (to move – Present Continuous Active), the doors of the carriage (to keep /always – Present Simple Passive) locked for security reasons.

9.At the start of the 1990s, car bodies (to make – Past Simple Passive) mostly of steel but use of aluminum (to increase – Past Continuous Passive) not only for high-speed cars.

10.The dealer (to provide – Future Simple Active) you with a courtesy (бесплатный) car while your vehicle (to repair – Present Continuous Passive).

11.The Tay Bridge (to build – Past Simple Passive) in Scotland in 1878. The bridge (to collapse – Past Simple Active) in 1879 when a train (to cross – Past Continuous Active) it. It (to be – Past Simple Active) one of

Britain‟s first serious rail disasters. The second rail bridge (to complete – Past Simple Passive) over the River Tay in 1888. It (to use / still – Present Continuous Passive).

Ex. 5. Choose the best alternative to complete the sentences.

1. The bridge ___ the island to the mainland.

a) is connecting b) connects c) is connected d) was being connected

2. The movement of trains was stopped on that section of the line because it ___. a) is being repaired b) will repair c) was being repaired d) repairs

3.Passengers want to know what rail companies ___ to improve services.

a)are doing b) does c) were done d) are being done

4.Such materials as reinforced concrete (железобетон) and steel ___ for the construction of modern bridges.

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	a) use b) were being used c) will be used d) are used
5.	Within five years, the railway ___ over seven million passengers a year.
	a) carry b) was carrying		c) will be carried	d) was being carried
6.	The train ___ Moscow; let‟s start packing.
	a) approaches	b) is approaching c) will approach d) was approaching
7.	A lot of foreign correspondents arrived in Japan when a new maglev train ___.
	a) was testing	b) tested	c) was being tested	d) is being tested
8.	The train for Boston ___ from track 2.
	a) is leaving b) leave c) will be left d) were leaving

9.The cigarette ban (запрет) ___ most troublesome for smokers on long train journeys.

a) are b) were c) will be d) isn't

10.The conductor ___ on good-naturedly (доброжелательно) about long train journeys but Donna scarcely (едва ли) heard what he said.

a)babbled b) will babble c) is babbling d) was babbling

Ex. 6. Put special questions. Begin with the question-words given in brackets.

1.The “Repin” train departs from St. Petersburg‟s Finlandsky terminal. (What terminal)

2.A new railway line is being constructed across the desert now. (Where)

3.The accident happened on the level crossing. (Where)

4.Our train is standing at platform No 4 ready to leave. (What platform)

5.Fast trains stop only at large stations on their way. (What stations)

6.We were going to the railway station along the railway track. (Where)

7.Last year, train fares more than doubled because of inflation. (Why)

8.Passengers wait for the arrivals and departures of their trains in the waiting rooms.

(Where)

9.The first-class cars are situated at the front of the trainset. (Where)

10.My elder sister is taking a course to develop her computer skills. (Why)

Ex. 7. Write the comparative and the superlative forms of the adjectives below.

difficult	loud	rare	suitable	bad
high	comfortable	common	close	dangerous
heavy	slow	low	dirty	early
useful	cheap	little	good	famous
fast	expensive	important	powerful	wide
safe	quick	simple	small	late
reliable	simple	easy	strict	convenient
busy	accessible	deep	narrow	broad

Ex. 8. Read the sentences and translate them, paying attention to the italicized adjectives and adverbs.

1.In the US, people prefer to use motor transport or aircrafts because traveling by train is slower than by plane and tickets are sometimes more expensive.

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2.The earliest trains had no sleeping cars. There was no need for them because the railways were short; the longest journey lasted only a few hours, and nearly all trains went in the daytime.

3.In Australia, the traffic is heavier during the winter months, when many tourists travel in passenger trains.

4.The underground railway is the quickest, safest, the most reliable and comfortable means of city transport, which is operating in 80 cities all over the world.

5.It is much more convenient to go by express train because it doesn‟t stop at small stations, and it takes you less time to get to your destination.

6.Semaphore used to (раньше) be the most common device of signaling.

7.Petrol engines are lighter and smaller than diesel engines; they are cheaper, less noisy and go faster; that is why they are used in cars and motorbikes. On the other hand, diesel engines use less fuel, last longer than petrol engines; this is why larger vehicles such as trucks and trains use them. They are also safer than petrol engines, because there is less danger of fire.

8.The Japan‟s fastest trains called Hikari (which means „light‟) cover the distance of 1,068 km from Tokyo to Hakata in less than 7 hours.

9.George Pullman‟s sleeping car was much simpler in design than the sleeping cars of today, but it was much more suitable for long-distance travel than any other kind of cars in use at that time.

10.An electric train is one of the most ecologically friendly kinds of transport because it doesn‟t contaminate (загрязнять) environment with exhausted gases.

Ex. 9. Read the sentences, using the italicized adjectives in the comparative or the superlative form.

1.The West Coast Main Line is busy mixed traffic railway in Britain.

2.George Westinghouse developed a system of air-braking that made travel by train much safe.

3.Quick and accessible form of public transport in London is the London Underground.

4.The rail becomes long when it‟s hot and becomes short when it‟s cold.

5.Convenient and fast way of door-to-door transport used by railways is the container.

6.The railway construction became easy and quick after the invention of special track-laying machines and other equipment.

7.Early form of railroad signal was simply a flag by day or a lamp at night.

8.In Europe, Asia, and Africa, the railway remains one of important carriers of both passengers and large volumes of heavyweight goods.

9.Although there are now fast and modern means of transport, railways still remain safe and popular form of transport.

10.The world‟s long road tunnel links France and Italy under the Europe‟s high peak Mont Blanc.

Ex. 10. Complete the sentences with an adjective from the list.

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