The journey of a lifetime

If you were planning a trip to some far-flung corner of the globe, what means of travel would you choose? Would you be one of those intrepid types who set off with nothing but a backpack, a map, and a prayer? Would you whiz across the globe on a supersonic jet? Or would you opt for a long, languorous sea crossing on a luxury cruise liner? Before setting off for India, we agonized long and hard over the best way to travel. Chris, my traveling companion, suggested we fly direct (at bucket shop prices of course!) and then backpack across the country. Backpacking appealed to me, but not flying. I was dying to travel overland across Europe and Asia and experience the sights, smells and sounds of each different country. Hitch-hiking was a seductive idea but it was also potentially risky. So what form of transport would offer us flexibility and adventure without risk? Coach travel was unappealing. In the end, there was only one option. We took the train. Did the trip measure up to our expectations? You bet it did! There is something incredibly exciting about boarding a night train and walking up in a different country.

We rattled through valleys and over mountains, peering through grimy windows at the stunning scenery. We visited ruins steeped in history and bustling modern cities. And we had adventures galore. In Italy, we fell in with some locals who were celebrating a village festival. We partied for hours and, when everyone had gone home, we camped out under the stars. In Russia we got lost while we were visiting the Kremlin and were nearly arrested for vagrancy! We became impervious to the vicissitudes of train travel. Roasting in sweltering compartments by day and shivering in unheated carriages by night all seemed part of the adventure. We learnt to cope with the vagaries of foreign timetables and became adept at communicating by means of hand signals. By the time we reached India, we were already seasoned travelers. So take a tip from me when you come to plan your grand tour. If you want to savour the experience to the full, while having the time of your life, take the train. You don’t believe me? Just try it for yourself. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

d) Now study the list below. It includes some of the features of a well-written article. Find examples of these in the model article in c).

A well-written article:

• usually has an appropriate title.

• often addresses the reader directly.

• has a lively tone.

• is vivid and descriptive.

• appeals to the reader’s imagination.

• draws on the writer’s personal experience.

• may include narrative tenses.

• often contains rhetorical questions.

• is often semi-formal.

(New Proficiency Writing. St’s book. pp.40-42)

7. Read the model article, then go through this list to answer the questions below. Has the writer succeeded in writing a good article?

1. Is the text set out as an article?

2. Is it written in an appropriate style and tone?

3. Has the writer forgotten to give the article a title?

4. Does the article appeal directly to the reader?

5. Is it difficult to follow?

6. Is it organised into clear paragraphs?

7. Does each paragraph introduce and develop a fresh topic?

8. Has the writer forgotten to include a topic sentence in each paragraph?

9. Does the writer expand on, explain or illustrate the topic sentence in each paragraph?

10. Does the writer discuss the benefits and the drawbacks of tourism?

11. Does the writer give sufficient weight to both sides of the question?