What opinion do you agree with?

Exercise 13.

Many people throughout the world like to spend their holidays differently. But the majority of them think that travelling is the best way to have rest and to get fun during their holidays.

1. Read Jane’s opinion about travelling and say what is her idea about it.

JANE:

Travelling? I think travelling is great. For me it’s the best way to spend holidays, to have rest and to enjoy free time. That is why every time I have a chance to go somewhere I do it without any hesitation.

I like everything connected with travelling: packing up the luggage, booking tickets for a plane or a train, doing hundreds of preparations. And every time I set for a flight or go on a journey, I am so excited and happy that I think about nothing else but a trip. I imagine myself sitting in a fast train and looking out of the window: villages, trees and rivers are passing by. Everything is so beautiful and new. Or isn’t it thrilling to fly high up in the sky when the towns, forests and fields are so small down there. I hold my breath when we get higher up in the sky and fly above white clouds.

Yes, I believe travelling is fun and a learning experience also, because while travelling I get to know a lot about the places I visit, meet new people and learn a lot about new cultures and traditions. Travelling helps me to get away from my daily routine, and have a good time while travelling. Isn’t it fantastic?

2. Find in the opinion sentences that can help you to explain:

1. why Jane likes to travel;

2. why Jane is happy and excited about the trip;

3. how Jane likes to spend her holidays;

4. why Jane likes to travel by plane;

5. what Jane thinks about travelling by train;

6. how Jane prepares for her journeys;

7. why Jane thinks that travelling is a learning experience.

3. Look in Jane’s opinion for the ideas to prove that:

• travelling takes a lot of time and efforts;

• travelling by train is exciting;

• travelling by plane is thrilling;

• travelling is fun.

4. Taking into consideration the girl’s opinion about travelling, choose the best title to her story and say why you chose it:

1. Travelling is fun.

2. To travel or not to travel?

3. Travelling is the best way to spend time.

4. Travelling by train is fantastic.

5. Tell your mates what Jane thinks about travelling. The following model might help you.

Jane thinks that …

• First of all, … for example, …

• She also likes … because …

• What’s more, she …

• That is why …

6. Now read Kate’s opinion about travelling and say how she likes to spend time.

KATE:

Some people call me a “couch potato”, because I don’t like to travel. Why should I? Travelling is so troublesome. You have to think about booking tickets, packing all the necessary things, choosing the place to go and plan everything in advance - it’s such a routine.

More than that, travelling is dangerous nowadays. I’ve heard a lot about air-crashes and many people killed in car accidents. Why should I get on risk?

People say that travelling is a good chance to see different places and to learn about other countries and cultures. But I can easily do it at home. There are many interesting educational programmes on TV and there are a lot of books and magazines about various places. They give me much information about different countries and people. It is more comfortable and less expensive.

What’s more, while travelling you deal with a lot of strangers, and I don’t like it very much. So, you see, travelling isn’t for me, is it?

7. Find in the opinion the sentences to explain.

1. why people call Kate a “couch potato”;

2. why Kate thinks that travelling is troublesome;

3. how Kate gets information about other countries;

4. what makes travelling dangerous;

5. why Kate is not sociable.

8. In the opinion Kate speaks about the disadvantages of travelling. Look through the list of disadvantages and complete the following sentences according to the model. Mind that sometimes several answers are possible.

*model* Kate thinks that travelling is … because …

1. Kate thinks that travelling is dangerous, because _______________.

2. Kate thinks that travelling is expensive, because _______________.

3. Kate thinks that travelling is troublesome, because _____________.

4. Kate thinks that travelling is boring, because __________________.

5. Kate thinks that travelling is tiresome, because _________________.

6. Kate thinks that travelling is risky, because ____________________.

7. Kate thinks that travelling is dull, because _____________________.

8. Kate thinks that travelling is costly, because ___________________.

• one should think about tickets

• one should pack a lot of things

• one should think about a place to go

• one should be very careful

• one should spend a lot of money

• one should plan everything in advance

• one should never forget about danger

• one should always deal with a lot of paper work

• one should spend a lot of time in buses, trains or planes

• one can meet a lot of strangers

• one can get into trouble

• one can’t be left alone

• one can’t do what he/she wants

9. Tell us whose opinion is closer to you: Jane’s or Kate’s. Explain why.

What don’t you like about Jane’s (Kate’s) idea about travelling?

Whom would you join if you were given a chance to do it? Why?

Say how you prefer to spend your holidays.

10. What statement do you think more exactly expresses your idea about travelling? Prove it.

“Travelling is a learning experience.”

“It isn’t necessary to travel much if you want to learn a lot about the world.”

11. Jane and Kate have just received a letter from their friend who invites them to go to London. Write an answer and say whether they accept the invitation or refuse it. Explain why they want or aren’t able to go. Start the letter that way:

A Letter of Refusal

Dear ____________,

Thank you very much for your invitation to go to London with you. But I am afraid I won’t be able to join you.

There are several reasons for this. First of all ________________

More_________________________________________________

I also don’t like _______________________________________

More than that, _______________________________________

And that’s why I ______________________________________

I am sorry that I can’t go. Enjoy the trip. I hope to see you soon.

Yours _______________

A Letter of Acceptance

Dear ___________ !

Thank you very much for your invitation to go to London with you. I think that the idea is great. And I’ll go there willingly. You know how much I like to travel and there are several reasons for this. First of all _______________________________

What’s more ____________________________________________

I also think that _________________________________________

I do believe we ________________________________________

That’s why ____________________________________________

Write me about the date and the place we are leaving from. I can’t wait to see you and to go to London. See you soon.

Love, ___________________

11. Your friend invites you to go to Paris with him/her. Write him/her a letter and accept or refuse his/her invitation. Explain why you’d like or can’t go with him/her.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 14.

There are different points of view on tourism and travelling. Study them and say if you agree or disagree with them.

 Isn't it wonderful to discover new places? Travel has always been a part of people's education. It teaches people about art and culture. It teaches them to be understanding. You can also improve your knowledge of foreign languages.

What is more, tourism is the basis of the biggest business in the world. Tourists spend a lot of money. Rich countries can sell cars and computers. But what can poor countries sell? Their beautiful beaches and their wonderful countryside.

Each year our family goes somewhere on holidays. My parents are happy, because they do not have to go to work. I am happy too. I see more of my dad. He is fun on holidays and he gives me more pocket money.

Of course, there are a lot of places to visit in your own country. But why not have something for a change?

I think, thanks to mass tourism, everyone can get the benefits of travel.

David Moore, 13

 It is comfortable. Your family and friends are near you. You don't have to wait at airports. You can watch your favourite videos. You can choose your favourite food. You can speak your own language. So where is this fantastic place? It is home, of course.

And just look at photos in travel leaflets. The beaches are always empty, the people are always friendly and the food always looks delicious. But is travelling really like that?

Unfortunately, in real life dreams very rarely come true.

Besides, tourists have no respect for the countries they visit. The beauty of many places has disappeared for ever. Many places are polluted. So, who needs such holidays?

Alison Bright, 14