Comprehension check

Ex. 1. Answer the questions.

1. How long before departure time is it advisable to arrive at the airport?

2. What airport formalities is the passenger requested to complete be­fore he boards the plane?

3. What do you do if you have excess luggage?

4. What can you carry to the cabin free of charge?

5. What electric signs must the passenger obey?

6. What are the usual landing formalities and customs regulations?

7. Is the passenger's vaccination certificate always checked? Why?

8. What do you do if you have nothing to declare?

9. Some passengers' luggage may be gone through carefully. Is that a regular occurrence? Why is it done?

Ex. 2. Find the equivalents to the following words and phrases:

1. двигатель, 2) опаздывать, 3) система оповещения, 4) сдать билеты (аннулировать полет), 5) взлетное поле, 6) прибытие, 7) объявлять (по ра­дио), 8) пройти таможенный досмотр, 9) выруливать, 10) взлетная полоса, 11) на­бирать скорость.

Ex. 3. Fill in the blanks with prepositions.

1) The voice announced ... French and English that the plane had been delayed. 2) The information will be announced ... the public‑address system. 3) The flight ... New York had been put…. half an hour. 4) Everybody was waiting comfortably ... the take off. 5) He looked as if he could cancel his flight and go ... boat or ... train. 6) The passengers were instructed to pass ... Customs. 7) The man hurried ... the Customs ... the waiting plane. 8) His wife and children were standing ... the restaurant now, waving, then he settled ... his seat.

Ex. 4. Match the words and phrases in column A with those in column B.

А В

1) fasten the belts а) видимость

2) aircrash b) высота

3) altitude с) пристегнуть ремни

4) tag d) беспосадочный полет

5) landing e) авиакатастрофа

6) hit an air‑pocket f) попасть в воздушную яму

7) visibility g) воздушные потоки

8) nonstop flight h) посадка (приземление)

9) air currents i) бирка

Ex. 5. Give Russian equivalents to the following words and phrases and use them in sentences of your own.

1. put the plane into a steep climb; 2) get airsick; 3) gain height; 4) intense alarm; 5) hit an air‑pocket; 6) concrete runway; 7) according to statistics; 8) air crashes; 9) blind flying; 10) pilot's cabin; 11) air hostess (stewardess); 12) touch the ground; 13) safe flight.

Ex. 6. Match the words which have something in common:

landing, scales, flight, take off, delay, overweight, luggage, plane, stewardess, additional charge, weather, airsickness, seat belts, suit case.

Ex. 7. Give a word or a phrase for the following definition.

1) get on/into a plane;

2) reach a place/the end of a journey;

3) area of land for an aircraft to take off from;

4) height (above sea level);

5) fall on the ground suddenly, violently and noisily.

Ex. 8. Give the synonyms for:

1) airfield 3) by air 5) airhostess

2) aircraft 4) seat belt 6) inquiry office

Ex. 9. Work in groups. Discuss the following problems with your partner.

What would you do in each situation?

Who would you speak to?

What would you say to that person?

1. You arrive in good time at the airport but discover that you have lost your ticket. The ticket clerk says your name is not on the computer.

2. You are a non‑smoker but the only seat available on the plane is in the smoking section. After take‑off you find that your neighbour is a chain smoker and he doesn’t speak English.

3. You arrive at Melbourne Airport, Australia, for a one‑week visit. The immigration officer tells you that you may not enter the country because your vaccination certificate is not valid.

4. You are departing from an airport abroad. You are stopped by a security guard, who clearly thinks you look very suspicious. She asks you these questions:

What has been the purpose of your visit?

Where have you been staying?

Who have you been in contact with?

Who packed your case?

Before you open the case, please tell me exactly what it contains.

5. You want to get home before the weekend. The only flight tonight is on an airline with a bad reputation. Your favoutite airline has no flight until tomorrow.

Ex. 10. Nothing can match airplanes for speed and comfort, but some people object to air travel. Read their possible objections and give your counter reasons (arguments) in favour of flying.

1. you take too great risk, b) modern airplanes fly too quickly and this is dangerous, c) flying is too expensive, d) planes are too fast and don’t have time enough to acclimatize yourself to new surroundings and climate, e) you can’t see anything but clouds while travelling, f) you get airsick, g) it’s difficult to get tickets at the height of summer season.