Unit two traveling by train

Text A

Mistaken identity (after m. Twain)

Ex. 1. Practice the reading of the following words.

crowd, official, vacant, would, to whisper, conductor, to realize, politeness, grateful, couple, entirely, disposal, to touch, comfortable, to bow, above, below, to burn, whole, attitude, companion, recognize.

Ex. 2. Copy the following words and phrases and memorize their meanings.

to add – добавлять to appear – появляться to arrive in /at – прибывать в (город, страну) / на станцию (аэропорт) arrival – прибытие to change – менять, изменять to change trains – делать пересадку (с поезда на поезд) compartment – купе to depart – отправляться departure – отправление entire (= whole, total) – весь, общий, целый to fix – устанавливать; прикреплять to get on (= to board, to take) the train – заходить (садиться) в поезд to get off the train – выходить из поезда to improve – улучшать, усовершенствовать improvement – улучшение, усовершенствование luggage rack – багажная полка to notice – замечать to serve – служить, обслуживать service – обслуживание, услуга; перевозки, движение to try – пытаться, пробовать

Ex. 3. Read the sentences and translate them.

1. The passengers were invited to get on the train and take their seats.

2. Where can I change my traveler’s cheques into dollars?

3. The dining car was crowded but we were served rather fast.

4. If you buy train tickets in advance (заранее), 1% will be added to the price.

5. The railway is developing a major change program to improve the quality of passenger services.

6. Foreign tourists are provided by AMTRAK (“American Track” – the major passenger railroad company) with the railway tickets for 14, 21 and 60 days, which allow them to go by any train in any compartment and to change trains in any place and at any time.

7. A luggage rack is a metal frame fixed to the roof of a car and used for carrying bags, cases and other large objects.

8. Travel from Berlin to St. Petersburg by direct train. It departs from Berlin on Fridays and Sundays all year round at 15:15 and arrives in St. Petersburg (at the Vitebsky terminal) at 06:15 two nights later.

9. One of the first things a foreigner notices about the British railways is the platforms. They are almost on a level with the floor of the carriage. This makes it easier for passengers to get on and off the car with their luggage.

10. The first double-deck buses appeared in London in 1851. At that time, the upper deck had no roof and the passengers were given raincoats to put on if it started to rain.

11. The information about the platform number and times of the train’s arrival and departure can be received in the enquiry office.

12. During the World War II, the underground stations served as air-raid shelters for thousands of Londoners.

13. When the engine driver saw the car on the track, he tried to brake but it was too late.

Ex. 4. Match the two parts of the sentences.

There are 5 minutes left …	where I had boarded the train.
Various services are proposed for passengers in high-class trains …	on the luggage racks at the end of the coach.
As it was very stuffy (душно) in the compartment …	to the roof of the house.
On the Eurostar train, passengers put large bags …	in 2007 it added 2,000 employees.
The ticket inspector asked me …	a change of train in Paris.
Train journeys from the UK into Europe often involve …	my traveling companion tried to open the window but it was locked.
The company had 650 employees; …	they had grown to forty-two rail systems.
The workmen fixed the antenna …	20 minutes late.
The train arrived at the station …	before the train departure.
The first railways appeared in India in 1853, and by the time of India’s independence in 1947, …	such as interurban telephone calls, branch press, first-aid kits, food and security.

Ex. 5. Guess the meaning of the italicized words, using their dictionary definitions.

• aboard → on or onto a train; in a carriage

• berth → a place for someone to sleep in a ship or on a train

• booking office → a place where you can buy train or bus tickets

• conductor → someone who checks passengers’ tickets on the train

• crowd → a large group of people

• fare → the price you pay to travel somewhere by bus, train, or plane

• porter → someone whose job is to carry people’s bags at railway stations,

airports, etc.

• suitcase → a large case with a handle, used for carrying clothes and

possessions when you travel

• tip → a small amount of additional money that you give to someone such

as a waiter or a taxi driver

• traveling companion → a person that travels with you

Ex. 6. Read the sentences, replacing the Russian words with their English equivalents.

1. Увеличение in train плата за проезд has aroused public indignation (возмущение).

2. Проводник punched our tickets and showed us our seats.

3. In the US, if you take носильщик to carry your чемоданы в вагон, it is necessary to give him чаевые.

4. Eddy is a great попутчик – funny and sensible at the same time.

5. I don’t go to football games because I don’t like big толпа.

6. Children under 14 travel by train half-плата за проезд.

7. I asked in касса whether they could поменять my ticket.

8. The boy carried my bags up to my room and then stood waiting for чаевые.

9. Police Superintendent Tony Thompson said 144 passengers had bought tickets, but there could have been more or fewer в поезде.

10. In купе, passengers put their чемоданы into a special box under the lower полка.

11. Плата за проезд on the London Underground depends on the distance you travel.

12. If you want to become a train проводник, you can complete the course in 23 weeks. This course включать both classroom instruction and on-the-job training.

13. In Britain, railway stations usually have билетные кассы, ticket machines, or both, although on some lines tickets are sold в поезде.

14. He and his bride зашли в поезд, and проводник announced: "All aboard!"

Ex. 7. Read the text, filling the gaps with a word from the list.

Every Friday, I drive to the station and to 1___ to London to meet my boyfriend. I 2___ the flat at 6 o’clock. The 3___ is terrible at that time and the journey takes 20 minutes. I get on a train to Cambridge first and then 4___. I listen to the announcement (объявление) about which 5___ to go to and then I 6___ to find a seat. If I haven't bought the 7___ in advance I sometimes have to (приходится) stand 8___. In London, there are usually 9___ of tourists with large 10___ waiting for tickets in front of the 11___. I squeeze (пробираться, протискиваться) past them and join the queue at the 12___ and wait for a taxi. If I’m at the back of the 13___, I feel impatient and nervous. I really hate 14___. My boyfriend always says: ‘Why don’t you 15___ ?’ but that takes even longer. The taxi 16___ from the station is £4.50. Altogether, the 17___ costs me about £30. Should I 18___ my job and work in London or should I get a new boyfriend?

all the way booking office catch the bus change change trains crowds fare get on the train leave platform queue round trip suitcases taxi rank ticket traffic try waiting

Ex. 8. Match the verbs in column A with their Russian equivalents in column B. Consult the dictionary if necessary.

A	B
to bother	узнавать, признавать
to burn	выворачивать наизнанку
to continue	показывать, указывать
to disappear	следовать
to interrupt	поворачиваться, отворачиваться
to feel hurt	угождать
to follow	говорить шёпотом, шептать
to hand	исчезать
to please	гореть
to point	(при)касаться, дотрагиваться
to realize	давать, вручать
to recognize	прерывать
to touch	надоедать, беспокоить
to turn one’s back	продолжать
to turn inside out	понимать, осознавать
to whisper	обижаться

Ex. 9. Complete the sentences with the required verbs from Ex. 8. Four verbs should be used twice. Mind your grammar!

1. I ___ that you are very busy, but could I talk to you for a few minutes?

2. You don’t have to ___, no one can hear us.

3. In English the letter Q is always ___ by a U.

4. The plane came down so low that its wings ___ the trees.

5. She watched the boat sail out to sea until it ___ over the horizon.

6. That security guy never ___ me. I always have to show him my ID.

7. The teacher ___ at Marcus and told him to come to the front of the class.

8. An average household candle will ___ for about six hours.

9. Alice ___ deeply ___ that he hadn’t called back.

10. Sorry to ___ you, but could you help me one more time with the copier?

11. You should ___ the jeans ___ before you wash it.

12. The project’s organizers hope the government will ___ funding it next year.

13. She’s hard to ___. Everything has to be perfect.

14. We hadn’t seen each other in thirty years, but I ___ her right away.

15. The compass arrow always ___ north.

16. Train service was ___ for about ten minutes.

17. The patrol car ___ the BMW for a few miles and then lost it.

18. The letter had mysteriously ___ from the file overnight.

19. All the delegates entered the room; they were each ___ a name-badge.

20. When on stage, try not to ___ on the audience.

Ex. 10. (A) Practice the following expressions and memorize their meanings.

• (We have) nothing left – (У нас) ничего не осталось.

• to be in (good, bad) mood – быть в (хорошем, плохом) настроении

• to be at smb.’s disposal – быть в чьём-либо распоряжении

• to be of service to smb. – оказывать услугу кому-либо

• to make smb. comfortable – помочь кому-либо устроиться

• to make oneself comfortable – устроиться (удобно)

(B) Read the sentences and translate them.

1. I’ve only got a few dollars left.

2. There were a couple of vacant seats left at the back of the bus.

3. Hurry up! We don’t have much time left.

4. Nothing was left of the house.

5. Suddenly, for the first time in months, I found myself in a very good mood.

6. The good weather put him in an excellent mood.

7. The boss is in a bad mood, you’d better come some other time.

8. He is in a much better mood than usual.

9. Jasper had a lot of cash at his disposal.

10. The company’s car was at my disposal.

11. Please allow me to be of service to you.

12. We try to make ourselves comfortable on the hard bench, but there is no back to lean against.

13. Look, why don’t you sit down and make yourself comfortable?

14. Come in and make yourself comfortable.

Ex. 11. (A) Pay attention to the phrase:

(I) asked … if (I) could … .

(Я) спросил (поинтересовался), могу ли (я) … .

1. I asked the clerk in the booking office if I could change my ticket.

2. I asked my traveling companion if he could help me to put my suitcase on the luggage rack.

3. The conductor asked me if I could take the upper berth.

4. The old lady asked the porter if he could carry her luggage to the taxi stop.

5. The passenger asked the official in the information bureau if he could tell why the train was being late.

(B) Make your own sentences, using the phrase given above.

Ex. 12. Make sure you know the following words. If not, consult a dictionary.

angrily, attitude, below, bow, couple, except, expression, grateful, politeness, same, speech, suddenly.

Ex. 13. Read the story by Mark Twain part by part; translate it and be ready to do exercises 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.