2. Find the words in the box in the text. Then complete the sentences.

era nostalgia grueling altitude impeccable nomads icon opulence

1. She was tired after the long and ………… journey.

2. We were impressed by the ………… manners of the smartly dressed porters.

3. The age of the railway brought an ………… of prosperity.

4. He was stuck by the ………… of the Blue Train, with its elaborate furnishings and en-suite bathrooms.

5. Breathing becomes more difficult at high ………….

6. The ………… travelled far looking for grass for their animals.

7. The historic …………, Mallard, is the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives.

8. He had always felt a certain amount of ………… for his life on the railways.

3. Choose the most appropriate alternative in the text. Sometimes both alternatives are correct.

When we read that the Quinghai-Tibet line was open, we knew we 1) weren’t able to / had to go on it. We were so busy before we left London that we didn’t 2) manage / succeed to organize the train journey. Once we were in China, we didn’t have much access to the Internet and 3) weren’t able to / didn’t have to get much information. Still, we found a good travel agency and 4) could / managed to get tickets. We travelled first to Colmud and stopped there – for one day only, but we 5) managed to / were able to pack a lot into it.

The train journey from Colmud to Lhasa takes a day. Although most of it is really high, we didn’t have any altitude problems and we 6) were able to / had to enjoy the fabulous scenery. Our train attendant was very helpful. Her English wasn’t great, but she still 7) had to / succeeded in getting her message across and pointing out interesting sights to us, such as herds of wild Tibetan antelopes.

Before 2006, you 8) could / were able to travel to Lhasa from Colmud, but you 9) couldn’t / didn’t have to get there in comfort – you 10) could / had to take a slow, uncomfortable bus. Not any more – Lhasa is officially open to tourists!

4. Choose the correct option.

I’m Irish and I’ve always lived in Ireland but a couple of years ago I 1) ……… very interested in Japanese culture, so when my dad suggested going there on holiday it sounded 2) ……… a really good idea. So, last April we – that’s my parents, my seven-year-old brother Charlie and me – flew to Tokyo. At first, everything 3) ……… amazing. It all 4) ……… so different from Ireland – the people, the language, the shops, and the food, which we’d been a bit nervous about, tasted 5) ………. But after three days my dad 6) ……… ill with a stomach infection and he didn’t want to leave the hotel. Also, Charlie 7) ……… tired of going round Tokyo, so my mum suggested that we should visit a special children’s theme park called Kidzania. At first I 8) ……… afraid it would only be suitable for small children but I was pleased we went in the end. What happens is you choose a job, you 9) ……… dressed up in the clothes of that job and you act it out, so you can 10) ……… like you are really doing that job. Charlie, for example, 11) ……… a pilot – well, he wore a pilot’s clothes and pretended to fly a plane, while I chose to be a doctor. I felt a bit 12) ……… at first, but in the end I had a really good time. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Tokyo.

1 a went b looked c became d turned

2 a what b like c as d so

3 a kept b stood c was d went

4 a became b stayed c got d seemed

5 a great b greatly c greater d greatest

6 a appeared b fell c went d stayed

7 a went b got c remained d turned

8 a seemed b stood c came d was

9 a keep b appear c get d become

10 a sound b taste c seem d feel

11 a became b got c went d did

11. strangely b fool c embarrassed d shame