Have your say

1. Nothing can match airplanes for speed and comfort, but some people object to flying. Here are their possible objections. Would you like to add to this list? Would you like to cross anything out? Write down your counter-reasons in favour of flying.

1. You take too great a risk. You may crash. Modern jet liners fly too fast and high and it’s dangerous.

2. Flying is too expensive.

3. Planes are too fast and you don’t have time enough to adjust yourself to new surroundings and enjoy the trip.

4. You can’t see anything but clouds while travelling.

5. You get airsick.

6. It’s difficult to book a flight at the height of summer season.

7. Your flight may be delayed or cancelled due to weather conditions and you will have to spend hours at the airport.

8. Your flight may be diverted to another airport.

2. Sum up all the arguments for and against flying.

3. Have you ever travelled by air? Share your experience with the class. Act it out

Learn the dialogue “I’m not keen on flying” and act it out in class.

I’m not Keen on Flying

• So you are off to Murmansk, are you? How are you going?

• By plane. I’m not all that keen on flying though.

• Why not? It’s much quicker than any other way.

• Well, it always makes me nervous. I don’t think it’s natural to be all that way up in the air.

• I know what you mean, but there are very few accidents these days.

• Well, perhaps not many, but when there are there isn’t much you can do about it, is there? Of course I don’t believe that every other flight runs into some kind of trouble, but still...

• Well, I’m sure you’ll be all right.

• I suppose so, but I still don’t like it.

• But it’s all over pretty quickly and then you can forget all about it.

• Not really. I’ll keep thinking about the flight back.

Vocabulary

every other

1. all the rest

e.g. Every other boy in the class knows the answer.

2. alternate

e.g. Write only on every other line.

keen (on), a

(infml) enthusiastic about

e.g. keen on going abroad

run into sb, v

meet unexpectedly

run into sth, v

1. collide with

e.g. The bus ran into a wall.

2. reach (a condition)

e.g. run into debt/ danger/ difficulties

3. reach (a level or figure)

e.g. His income runs into five figures (= is now 10,000 pounds, dollars, etc. or more).

NOTES

accident, n

an unfortunate or undesirable happening which was unexpected and caused injury, loss, suffering or death

meet with an accident

have an unexpected misfortune

by accident (= by chance)

▪Cf.: incident, n

happening of secondary importance

event, n

happening of greater importance both in history and personal life

2. Imagine that you are flying to Singapore. The passenger in the next seat is nervous and scared as she/ he has never flown before. Try to reassure him/ her.

III

TRAINS

Read the passage below and sum up the advantages of travelling by train.

Eurorailing

Thanks to long vacations, students are in the enviable position of being able to travel round Europe by rail and see the sights on the cheap.

The sense of freedom offered by rail travel is unrivalled by any other, except, perhaps, the less safe option of hitch-hiking. Trains are also a great way to meet local people and, compared with other long-distance modes of transport, the greenest you can get. Rail travel allows you to explore the hidden corners of the continent, especially areas where rural lines are still open and trains are still the most common form of public transport. It’s also a relaxing way to travel, whether you are using it as a cheap bed for the night, or as a ring-side seat for a series of stunning views.