THE LANGUAGES COUNCIL

VOCABULARY Idioms 1) Ants in your pants 3) Backseat driver 2) Babe in the woods 4) Bee in your bonnet . FLUENCY 1) Read the following text about travelling and try to fill in the gaps with the words below. Luggage Departure lounge Check in Boarding pass Final call Flight Duty free Marie and I left early in the morning to catch the first bus to London. The (1)_________ was at 10 but we wanted to spend some time shopping in the airport. My sister is always looking for a bargain and the (2)__________ prices are sometimes very good. At the (3)________ we gave the airline representative our (4)_________ and then we were free to shop. First we cleared the security control. I never like putting my camera and film through the X-ray machine but we had no choice. The alarm went off because I forgot to take my mobile out of my pocket. But we didnt waste any more time. Marie went straight to the duty-free shop and I went to look at the cheap electronics. The (5)________ was really busy. I love airports because they are full of different people. There were people from every country and from many different ethnic groups and everybody was spending money. You can buy luggage, Cds, electronics, clothes and lots more. I nearly lost my (6)_________ in the bookshop. I put it down on the shop counter and left it there. Luckily the assistant saw it happen and followed me out of the shop to give me it back. It was good timing because two minutes later I heard the (7)________ for our flight. We were so busy shopping that we nearly missed it. We had a great time; sometimes I think travelling is better than arriving. 2) Read the following text about travelling and try to fill in the gaps with the words below. Trip rush hour checked into traffic ticket dining room Unpack brochures It was really late when we (1)________ the hotel. The receptionist was a little grumpy but we were so tired we didnt care. I went to bed and fell asleep immediately. Next morning I opened the curtains and was shocked at the view. There were concrete buildings everywhere with (2)________ in all of the streets. It was (3)_______ and many people were going to work or to school. The streets were like long concrete valleys. I went to (4)_______ my bags, had a quick wash and went down to find the (5)_______ to have breakfast. Marie was waiting for me; in fact she woke up an hour earlier and went out to buy us (6)_______ for a musical. We were going to see Cats that evening. But now at breakfast we had to plan our day. It was a short (7)________ so we had to timetable all of our activities. Marie spread a map on the table and we took out all of the tourist (8)_______ and we went to work. 3) You need to get to the airport to catch a plane. Its ten miles away, and its the rush hour. Which do you think is the quickest way of getting there, and why? Choose from the options below. Go by bus go by car go by taxi go by train Go by motorbike go by bike go on foot

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4) Divide these words and phrases into two categories: cars and taxis and buses and trains. Get a lift a double Decker share a taxi Hitchhike takes the underground buy a return ticket Reserve a first class seat catch the number 9 Miss the inter city express use public transport pay the fare Put your foot down its delayed go on the sleeper Miss your connection change at Swindon Sit in the passenger seat Sit on the top deck a buffet car stuck in a traffic jam Get on/off get in/out of a bus lane A taxi rank hail a taxi 5) Whats the difference between the following? a. Bus and coach b. Train and tram c. Helicopter and hovercraft d. Passenger and pedestrian 1e. Travel and commute 6) Which word goes with all three sentences in each section? You may need to change the tense of the word. Take, ride, drive, catch 1 At the weekend I love to __________ into the country on my bike. We went on a __________ in a helicopter last week. The bus __________ from the airport was very pleasant. 12 The quickest way to get here is to __________ a taxi. We __________ the 12.45 to Milan, and changed there. How long does it __________ to get there? 13 Hurry up! Well be late if we dont __________ the next bus. Ill have to go Im afraid. I have a train to __________. If we dont leave before 5 well be __________ in a traffic jam. 4 Its a wonderful __________ through the mountains into Switzerland. I learned to __________ with my dad, and passed my test four days after my seventeenth birthday. Do you need a special license to __________ a minibus? 7) Match the types of trips below to the texts that describe them.

a)Go on a boat trip b)go on an excursion c)go on a voyage d)Go on a journey e)go on a walk f)go on a guided tour g)Go on an expedition h)go on a business trip
11.We have been planning it for years. Its one of the last remaining unexplored areas of rainforest in the world, and who knows what we will find there. In the party, there will be scientists and ecologists as well as experienced adventurers because we could discover new species of plants and animals. 22. Well, Ive booked it. We have to be in front of the hotel at six oclock in the morning, and, as soon as everybody has taken their seat, well set off for Warwick and Stratford. Its motorway most of the way, but there should be some nice views when we get near Warwick. We have two hours at the castle and all afternoon to visit Shakespeares house. We have to be back on the coach for the drive home at six. 33. It was a lovely afternoon, so we put on our coats and boots and headed off for Hare Hill. We took the dog, too. The path along the river is very narrow so we went in single file until we reached New bridge village. And its a really steep climb to the top of the hill. We were exhausted by the time we got home. 14. We went up on deck. The strong breeze immediately hit us in the face. I looked far out across the huge desert of green-blue that lay before us, but I could see no land. It would be three more days before we reached the coast of South America.
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25. There were hundreds of people on the platform, and, carrying two suitcases, and a rucksack on his back;
William began to worry that he wouldnt be able to find his seat. It would take two days travelling on this old train across some of the most lonely and beautiful scenery in the world before he reached the little village in the foothills where he was going to work. 36. Ill be arriving at Linate Airport at 3, travelling club class. Could you arrange for a driver to be waiting for me? I have to be at Head Office for the meeting at four thirty. I will only be carrying hand luggage a briefcase and an overnight bag so I shouldnt be delayed in customs. 47. It was the highlight of the holiday. We booked a trip along the River Umacinta between Mexico and Guatemala. It was wonderful. We travelled for two hours past forested banks watching the alligators, visited a Mayan ruin, and stopped for lunch in an old village. 58. On the left, you can see St Pauls Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Were going inside now. Could you all stay together, please? 8) Prepare to talk about the most unusual or exciting journey you have ever been on. 1a. Where did you go? 2b. Who did you go with? 3c. How did you travel? 4d. What did you see and what happened during the journey? 5e. What was special about it?

Listening
1. How long did he stay in London? 2. When did he leave? 3. When did he arrive? 4. How did he get to the hotel? 5. What did he get for free in the hotel? 6. When did he have dinner? 7. What did he have for dinner? 8. What tour choices did he have on Saturday morning? 9. Which tour did he choose? 10. Where did he have lunch? 11. What did he do in the afternoon? 12. Where did he have dinner? 13. What kind of food did he have for dinner? 14. Where did he dance? 15. When did he get back to the hotel? 16. When did he leave London?

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