British Holidaymakers

The traditional British holiday at home is not dead. In fact, it could be making a comeback. Because of worries about traveling abroad, many British people decided to investigate (1) _____ a lot closer to home. Popular (2) _____ such as Brighton in the south and Scarborough or Blackpool in the north have never really lost their (3) _____. However, some seaside towns, which until recently have struggled, are attracting more holidaymakers.

Once they get there, holidaymakers need to be able to get around. While the car is still preferred, the majority of tourists will try at least one other (4) _____ of transport during their holiday. Trains, for instance. Although few people would choose to start their two week break by taking the (5) _____ train, a large number of them will enjoy the luxury of a resorted wooden carriage on one of the many historical (6) _____ in operation around the country. And for those who do make it to the sea, many are tempted by a (7) _____ ride to nearby islands or a short (8) _____ on a pleasure boat. We may not be tempted by a prospect of a three-week (9) _____ to exotic and (10) _____ countries, but our love of the sea is clearly not lost.

However, a quick look inside the (11) _____ lounges of a major airports will confirm that we are still queuing up in our thousands to (12) _____ in for a flight in search of the one thing the British Isles cannot guarantee – sunshine.

1.	A reports	B arrivals	C cultures	D resorts
2.	A destinations	B directions	C venues	D excursions
3.	A popularity	B fame	C growth	D inhabitants
4.	A way	B method	C means	D sort
5.	A direct	B express	C rapid	D delayed
6.	A platforms	B runways	C rails	D railways
7.	A transport	B ferry	C sail	D ship
8.	A run	B package	C cruise	D ticket
9.	A voyage	B sail	C flight	D travel
10.	A distant	B away	C further	D long
11.	A departure	B going	C exit	D holiday
12.	A book	B register	C check	D go

2. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap.

Ellen Macarthur

Imagine you are sailing at night with a hurricane blowing, thousands of miles from the nearest dry land. Suddenly, there is _________ loud noise and your sail brakes free. Your only chance ________ survival is to climb the mast in the darkness and fix ________, even though you haven’t slept for two days. It’s all just part of a typical working day for Ellen Macarthur, the first woman to sail alone ________ the world.

Ellen ________ to go on sailing trips ________ holiday with her aunt when she was eight years old and she fell in love with it. She _______ go sailing whenever she could and she saved all her pocket money until finally she ________ able to buy her first boat. When she was 18, Ellen sailed alone around the coast of Britain, _______ was a great achievement. Now, as well as ________ a famous sailor, she is an author and her stories of her adventures at sea are very popular. She likes _______ keep in touch with people while she’s in the middle of the ocean, ________ search for her online and you might be able to send her an email!

• Decide whether these statements are true or false.

1. Ellen Macarthur started sailing when she was eight.

2. She bought her first boat when she was eighteen.

3. She was the first woman to sail around Britain.

4. She communicates with people while she is at sea.

• Think of or find in the Internet the information about other extraordinary people beating the long distances around the world in different ways.

3. Read the hiking information and do the comprehension task.

Hiking

Long used as an exercise in military training programs, hiking has become a popular recreational activity, both for itself and as a means to enjoy such other wilderness activities as camping and canoeing. In the United States the National Scenic Trail Act of 1968, which made large tracts of land available to the public for recreational use, contributed greatly to the growth of hiking as a pastime. The act helped to set up a system of hiking trails that run throughout the country.

Short hikes over mild terrain are easily accomplished; longer hikes require special equipment. Hiking boots of sturdy leather-and-rubber construction are essential. Clothing made from such durable materials as denim and wool is also favored by hikers. Sleeping bags, tents and other equipment are needed for a hike that lasts more than a day. A hiker may also wish to take along equipment such as portable camp stoves, cameras, fishing poles and lanterns.

A hiker tries to maintain a steady pace that is comfortable for himself / herself or the group. A speed of 3.3 to 4 km / his generally considered pleasant, although it may be modified according to the length and characteristics of the trail.

Thousands of miles of paths are marked and maintained by trail clubs across the United States. Trails vary in length from a few miles in suburban areas to the 3,237-km Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Maine to Georgia. The 4,176-km Pacific Crest Trail extends from the Mexico-California border to the Washington-Canada border, stretching across mountains and desert and passing near the tallest and oldest trees on earth. Other trails along the Continental Divide and within the Grand Canyon are also well traveled.

To plan a hike, information, maps and instructional pamphlets may be obtained from the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., and from organizations such as Sierra Club, the Appalachian Mountain Club, American Youth Hostels, Inc., the International Backpackers Association, the National Hikers and Ski Tours Association.

• Do you consider hiking an extreme kind of pastime / traveling? Why is it still popular?

• Is hiking popular in your country? If so, what hiking routes can you name?

• Have you ever been on a hiking trail?

• Have you ever had unpredictable situations on a hiking tour? (e.g. you were lost, you lost all of your equipment, you met an enormous hungry bear in a wild forest, etc.)

4. Study customs peculiarities and procedures, sample of declaration form, fill it out. Try to give examples of customs documents in your own country.

Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country. Depending on local legislation and regulations, the import or export of some goods may be restricted or forbidden, and the customs agency enforces these rules. A customs duty is a tariff or tax on the export of goods. Commercial goods not yet cleared through customs are held in a customs area, often called a bonded store, until processed. All authorized ports are recognized customs area. Customs procedures for arriving passengers at many international airports, and some road crossings, are separated into Red and Green Channels. Passengers with goods to declare (carrying items above the permitted customs limits and / or carrying prohibited items) should go through the Red Channel. Passengers with nothing to declare (carrying goods within the customs limits only and not carrying prohibited items) can go through the Green Channel. It is possible that the guards will ask you to open the bag. (It doesn’t happen so often and at the opposite of what people may think the customs officers are quite polite). But, if a passenger going through the Green Channel is found to have goods above the customs limits on them or carrying prohibited items, he may be prosecuted for making a false declaration to customs.

Declaration formis a special customs document to be filled in writing or electronically by travelers in order to declare the carried things.

It is not needed to fill out the custom declaration if you travel just with your personal items (clothes, notebook, camera, mobile phone, etc.) and if you don’t have with you big sum of money.

The most common situation for which you need to fill out the declaration are:

• big sum of money (several thousands of Dollars);

• goods, presents the total value of which exceed the sum of 200 euro or equiv.;

• more than 1 liter of spirits, 2 of wine and 5 of beer;

• cigarettes max 200 or 200 gram of tobacco;

• Antiques and works of arts, musical instruments;

• Flora and fauna objects, their parts and products obtained of them;

• Food for personal use which value is more than 50 euro;

• Lost or sent separately luggage (e.g. when your bag didn’t arrive with you).

This list provides only the most common situation, but exist also other limitations (e.g. weapons, radioactive materials, etc). The values and the items described in the list can change with the time.

Summary of basic custom rules:

Hong Kongis a free port and generally does not impose duties on imported or exported goods, with the exception of liquors, tobacco, methyl alcohol and hydrocarbon oil. Residents leaving the territory with a valid Hong Kong Identity Card for 24 hours or more may import up to 1 liter of alcohol and 19 cigarettes or 15 cigars.

Indonesia. No customs for mailed goods below or equal to US$50.

European Union. The basic customs law is harmonized across Europe. This includes customs duties and restrictions. Customs tax is about 150€.

Germany. From 22€ is VAT (value-added tax – ПДВ) payable. There are national restrictions especially in weapons and drugs.

Romania.Customs may be very strict, especially for mailed goods. Taxes may be stiff.

Slovakia. Up to 22€ there are no taxes (it is free). From 22€ up to 150€, it is necessary to pay VAT (DPH in Slovak) which is 19%. From 150€ it is necessary to pay VAT and customs. Customs may be from 0 to 10%, the amount depending on the type of imported goods.

5. Read the following text and think or describe unusual / strange local laws you would warn foreign tourists visiting your country about.