Words and expressions

overseas passport – заграничный паспорт

similar – подобный, похожий

to weigh – взвешивать

to prohibit – запрещать

to declare – вносить в декларацию

luggage – багаж

customs officer – работник таможни

to pay customs (duties) – платить таможенную пошлину

to fill in – заполнять

measure – мера

block letters – печатные буквы

snack – легкая закуска

destination – назначение, цель

duty-free – не облагаемый таможенной пошлиной

drug – наркотик

convenience – удобство, комфорт

to go through the customs – проходить таможенный досмотр

currency – валюта

valuable – ценный

commodity – товар

explosive – взрывчатое вещество

personal belongings – личные вещи

to conceal – скрывать утаивать

Embassy – посольство

duration of the visit – продолжительность визита

Consulate – консульство

single /multiple visa – однократная /многократная виза

Task 2. Match the English and Russian equivalents.

drug вносить что-либо в декларацию

law взвешивать

at the customs запрет

to weigh закон

to declare smth наркотик

commodity в таможне

prohibition товар

Task 3. Give the English equivalents.

Например, ценный, объявление, отличие / различие, билет, декларация при въезде / выезде, неудобство, печатные буквы, багаж не облагаемый таможенной пошлиной, цель, работник таможни.

Task 4. Translate underlined words and phrases into English.

1. You write your name, nationality, постоянный адрес и цель of your trip.

2. В аэропорту you may be met by a specially trained dog who will make sure that you are not carrying наркотики.

3. Правила for passengers who are going abroad are похожи in most countries.

4. The immigration officer might want to know чье приглашение you are coming and whether you have обратный билет.

Task 5. Practice the following dialogues.

1. Business Visa.

Secretary: Consular Department. Mr Horn: Good morning. This is Horn speaking. Secretary: Good morning, Mr Horn. Could I help you? Mr Horn: Five days ago I sent you my passport to obtain a business trip to Russia. Secretary: Wait a minute, Mr Horn. I'll make some inquiries. (After two minutes' interval.) Yes, Mr Horn, we have your completed application form and your passport. But you did not send us three passport-size photographs.

Mr Horn: I'm afraid I didn't. The thing is, I don't have them.

Secretary: Then go to the local photographer and have the pictures taken.

Mr Horn: Thank you. If I send the photographs tomorrow, when can I have my passport back?

Secretary: We need at least seven clear days to issue a visa. In your case we'll do it in three days.

Mr Horn: You are very kind, thank you. Good-bye.

Secretary: Good-bye, Mr Horn.

2. Tourist Visa.

Miss Dodge: Good afternoon. Could I speak to somebody from the Russian Consular Department, please?

Secretary: Good afternoon. Secretary's speaking.

Miss Dodge: My name is Dodge. I am going to visit Russia as a tourist.

Secretary: You are welcome. Miss Dodge.

Miss Dodge: Should I apply for a visa personally or by post?

Secretary: Any way you wish.

Miss Dodge: What documents should I submit to the Consular Department, please?

Secretary: A completed application form, your passport, three recent passport-size photographs, and a letter from your travel agent. Miss Dodge: Do I have to get in touch with a travel agency? Secretary: Yes, Miss Dodge. All individual tourist trips to Russia are arranged through the "Intourist" Travel agency. Miss Dodge: Can't I arrange it through the Consular Department? Secretary: I'm afraid, Miss Dodge, you cannot. It is done for your convenience. The "Intourist" will take care of the tickets and your hotel accommodation in Russia. Miss Dodge: Thank you very much. When you are open? Secretary: Monday through Friday. Our Consular office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on all legal holidays. Miss Dodge: Thank you again. Miss Secretary. Secretary: You are welcome. Good-bye.

Miss Dodge: Good-bye.

Task 6. Read and retell the stories.

1. A Clever Old Man

An Englishman was travelling in Alaska, in a village there he met an old man who was nearly one hundred years old. He could hardly read, and he couldn't write at all, but he knew a lot of interesting things about medicine, science and industry. As the old man told his stories, the Englishman grew more and more interested in him as a person. "And he has learnt all this without books, far from modern civilization! He's the cleverest man I've ever met!" he thought. "Could you tell me a few things about the near future?" he asked. "Certainly!" the old man answered. "It's going to get colder next week, some important visitors are coming to this country and the president's going to give them an interview next Wednesday". "Fantastic!" the Englishman exclaimed. "How did you find all that out?" "I heard it on the radio," was the answer.

2. What does 'GB' Mean?

An Englishman, who couldn't drive, bought a car. As he had to learn to drive, he went to a driving school and took driving lessons. While he was learning, he had a large 'L' plate on the back of his car to show that he was a learner. After some time he took the driving test and passed it. He got a driving license and was then able to drive without the 'L' plate. He decided to spend his holiday abroad, and so he had to fix a 'GB' plate on his car, because every car that leaves Great Britain must have a GB' plate on it. One day his little son was playing with another boy, and they were discussing the new car. "Why did your father have an 'L' on the back of his car at first, and now a 'GB'? What does that mean?' the other boy asked. "Well," the car driver's son answered, 'That's very simple: 'L' means learning, and 'GB' means getting better."