On the Platform

The train to stop at a small station. A passenger to look out of the window and to see two women who to sell cakes. The man to want to buy a cake. The women to stand rather far from the carriage. The man to call a boy, who to walk on the platform near the carriage and to ask him: “How much does the cake cost?” “Three pence, sir”, to answer the boy. The man to give him sixpence and to say to him: “Bring me a cake and with the other three pence buy one for yourself”. Some minutes later, the boy to return. He to eat the cake. He to give the man three pence change and to say: “There to be only one cake, sir”.

Ex. 3. Read the sentences and translate them, paying attention to the predicates in the Passive form.

1. The program of railway reforms is being carried out now in Russia.

2. When I came to Leningrad in 1957, the first underground line was still being built.

3. Are they ready with the parcel? – No, it is still being packed.

4. The bridge, which is being upgraded now, will be used for the movement of both road and railway traffic.

5. Newspaper correspondents arrived at the aviation plant when the new passenger airplane was being tested.

6. The construction of this high-speed line is being actively supported by the government because the development of heavy industry in this region requires reliable and speedy railway traffic.

7. The business day was in high gear (в полном разгаре): the mail was being looked through, the documents were being typed, letters were being answered, and talks were being held.

8. A fleet of 45 300km/h Eurotrains will operate on the 340km Taipei-Kaohsiung high-speed line, which is being constructed now in Taiwan.

Ex. 4. Put the verbs into the required tense forms.

1. Two passengers (to appear – Past Simple Active) on the platform too late just as the train (to pull – Past Continuous Active) out.

2. At present 2,500 km of high-speed lines (to construct – Present Continuous Passive) in Europe and Asia.

3. Paul (to catch – Future Simple Active) the train, if he (to hurry – Present Simple Active) up.

4. A lot of people (to wait – Past Continuous Active) for the train arrival on the platform.

5. Decommissioned (списанные) locomotives (to turn – Present Simple Passive) into scrap or (to leave – Present Simple Passive) to rust in a train depot. Some (to end – Present Simple Active) in railway museums or (to buy – Present Simple Passive) by railfans.

6. Steel rails (to use – Past Simple Passive) in the US for the first time in 1863.

7. The experiment (to be – Past Simple Active) very interesting, it (to watch – Past Continuous Passive) with great attention.

8. When the train (to move – Present Continuous Active), the doors of the carriage (to keep /always – Present Simple Passive) locked for security reasons.

9. At the start of the 1990s, car bodies (to make – Past Simple Passive) mostly of steel but use of aluminum (to increase – Past Continuous Passive) not only for high-speed cars.

10. The dealer (to provide – Future Simple Active) you with a courtesy (бесплатный) car while your vehicle (to repair – Present Continuous Passive).

11. The Tay Bridge (to build – Past Simple Passive) in Scotland in 1878. The bridge (to collapse – Past Simple Active) in 1879 when a train (to cross – Past Continuous Active) it. It (to be – Past Simple Active) one of Britain’s first serious rail disasters. The second rail bridge (to complete – Past Simple Passive) over the River Tay in 1888. It (to use / still – Present Continuous Passive).

Ex. 5. Choose the best alternative to complete the sentences.

1. The bridge ___ the island to the mainland.

a) is connecting b) connects c) is connected d) was being connected

2. The movement of trains was stopped on that section of the line because it ___.

a) is being repaired b) will repair c) was being repaired d) repairs

3. Passengers want to know what rail companies ___ to improve services.

a) are doing b) does c) were done d) are being done

4. Such materials as reinforced concrete (железобетон) and steel ___ for the construction of modern bridges.

a) use b) were being used c) will be used d) are used

5. Within five years, the railway ___ over seven million passengers a year.

a) carry b) was carrying c) will be carried d) was being carried

6. The train ___ Moscow; let’s start packing.

a) approaches b) is approaching c) will approach d) was approaching

7. A lot of foreign correspondents arrived in Japan when a new maglev train ___.

a) was testing b) tested c) was being tested d) is being tested

8. The train for Boston ___ from track 2.

a) is leaving b) leave c) will be left d) were leaving

8. The cigarette ban (запрет) ___ most troublesome for smokers on long train journeys.

a) are b) were c) will be d) isn't

8. The conductor ___ on good-naturedly (доброжелательно) about long train journeys but Donna scarcely (едва ли) heard what he said.

a) babbled b) will babble c) is babbling d) was babbling

Ex. 6. Put special questions. Begin with the question-words given in brackets.

1. The “Repin” train departs from St. Petersburg’s Finlandsky terminal. (What terminal)

2. A new railway line is being constructed across the desert now. (Where)

3. The accident happened on the level crossing. (Where)

4. Our train is standing at platform No 4 ready to leave. (What platform)

5. Fast trains stop only at large stations on their way. (What stations)

6. We were going to the railway station along the railway track. (Where)

7. Last year, train fares more than doubled because of inflation. (Why)

8. Passengers wait for the arrivals and departures of their trains in the waiting rooms. (Where)

9. The first-class cars are situated at the front of the trainset. (Where)

10. My elder sister is taking a course to develop her computer skills. (Why)

Ex. 7. Write the comparative and the superlative forms of the adjectives below.

difficult high heavy useful fast safe reliable busy

loud comfortable slow cheap expensive quick simple accessible

rare common low little important simple easy deep

suitable close dirty good powerful small strict narrow

bad dangerous early famous wide late convenient broad

Ex. 8. Read the sentences and translate them, paying attention to the italicized adjectives and adverbs.

1. In the US, people prefer to use motor transport or aircrafts because traveling by train is slower than by plane and tickets are sometimes more expensive.

2. The earliest trains had no sleeping cars. There was no need for them because the railways were short; the longest journey lasted only a few hours, and nearly all trains went in the daytime.

3. In Australia, the traffic is heavier during the winter months, when many tourists travel in passenger trains.

4. The underground railway is the quickest, safest, the most reliable and comfortable means of city transport, which is operating in 80 cities all over the world.

5. It is much more convenient to go by express train because it doesn’t stop at small stations, and it takes you less time to get to your destination.

6. Semaphore used to (раньше) be the most common device of signaling.

7. Petrol engines are lighter and smaller than diesel engines; they are cheaper, less noisy and go faster; that is why they are used in cars and motorbikes. On the other hand, diesel engines use less fuel, last longer than petrol engines; this is why larger vehicles such as trucks and trains use them. They are also safer than petrol engines, because there is less danger of fire.

8. The Japan’s fastest trains called Hikari (which means ‘light’) cover the distance of 1,068 km from Tokyo to Hakata in less than 7 hours.

9. George Pullman’s sleeping car was much simpler in design than the sleeping cars of today, but it was much more suitable for long-distance travel than any other kind of cars in use at that time.

10. An electric train is one of the most ecologically friendly kinds of transport because it doesn’t contaminate (загрязнять) environment with exhausted gases.

Ex. 9. Read the sentences, using the italicized adjectives in the comparative or the superlative form.

1. The West Coast Main Line is busy mixed traffic railway in Britain.

2. George Westinghouse developed a system of air-braking that made travel by train much safe.

3. Quick and accessible form of public transport in London is the London Underground.

4. The rail becomes long when it’s hot and becomes short when it’s cold.

5. Convenient and fast way of door-to-door transport used by railways is the container.

6. The railway construction became easy and quick after the invention of special track-laying machines and other equipment.

7. Early form of railroad signal was simply a flag by day or a lamp at night.

8. In Europe, Asia, and Africa, the railway remains one of important carriers of both passengers and large volumes of heavyweight goods.

9. Although there are now fast and modern means of transport, railways still remain safe and popular form of transport.

10. The world’s long road tunnel links France and Italy under the Europe’s high peak Mont Blanc.

Ex. 10. Complete the sentences with an adjective from the list.

Statistically, it is ___ to travel by air than to drive a car. Signaling systems on high-speed railways are ___ than signal devices on usual lines. Indian Railway is one of ___ and ___ rail networks in the world that carries more than sixteen million passengers daily. Diesel and electric locos are ___ and ___ than steam locos. The engine trouble was ___ than we expected. The Konkan Railway in India crosses 2,134 bridges and viaducts. This rail line has ___ viaduct in Asia (its height is 64m) and ___ railway tunnel in India (its length is 6.5km). ___ metro system in the world is built in St.Petersburg: some stations and tunnels lie 100-120 meters below the surface. The Moscow-St. Petersburg railway is ___ and ___ mainline in our country. Broken stone (щебёнка) is ___ material for ballast. The first locomotive called “Rocket” was much ___ and ___ than modern locomotives. ___ trains in the world carry such freight as iron ore and coal. ___ passenger cars, about 5 m long and 2 m wide, were practically stagecoaches with railroad wheels. Soon ___ cars with six wheels instead of four were introduced.

the deepest the oldest the biggest the busiest the tallest the longest the heaviest the earliest the most famous the most suitable smaller lighter safer cleaner larger more efficient more complex more serious

Ex. 11. Read the sentences and translate them, paying attention to the modal verbs must, should, can, may.

1. Drivers of express and fast trains must have a rest after 3 hours of work.

2. The tickets should not be thrown away as conductors may check them during the trip.

3. What can you do while traveling by train? You can read a novel or do a crossword puzzle, you can stare out of the window or talk to your traveling companion, you just can sit back and listen to the clicking of the carriage over the rails.

4. This ticket may only be used by the person who has bought it.

5. In Metro, when the passengers get on the escalator, they should stand on the right so that people who hurry can run by on the left.

6. All trains must be regularly serviced, so that passengers can be sure that they are traveling in safety.

7. The inside body of the passenger car should be finished with materials that are easily washed.

8. Passengers may pay the subway fare with tokens or they may buy a pass for a specific period of time.

9. Additional carriages can be coupled (прицеплять) to the train as needed.

10. Several locomotives must be used to draw such a long and heavy container train.

11. A common carrier (компания грузопассажирских перевозок) may remove a passenger from its service for the refusal to pay a fare.

12. You should check all your electrical equipment regularly.

Ex. 12. Match the two parts of the sentences.

The Trans-Europe expresses are equipped with interurban telephones… A wagon must be cleaned before… Train tickets can be booked now over the Internet or mobile phones… You should be at the airport… In Hungary, students and children between the age of 6 and 14… Passengers should keep their tickets… Tobacco cannot be advertised… Special cars must be used for transporting… Passengers shouldn’t walk across the railway lines… Stephenson’s first steam locomotive could draw…

there is a footbridge at the end of the platform. may get train tickets 50% cheaper. though this method carries an additional surcharge. on public transport. oil and other liquid goods. a small train of loaded cars at a speed of 13 mph. an hour before departure. till the end of the trip. over which the traveler can contact office or home. it will be used for another run.

Ex. 13. Complete the sentences with a modal verb.

1. Passengers ___ check their tickets after buying to be sure that it is the correct ticket.

2. In Hungary, children under 6 years and seniors over 65 years from EU countries ___ travel by rail without charge.

3. On this section of the line, the trains’ speed ___ be limited to 40 mph.

4. ___ you show me the nearest way to the station?

5. Baggage ___ not be left unattended in the terminal building.

6. Passengers ___ go by subway all day long for the same fare if they only change trains but don’t go out of the station.

7. You ___ call the station to enquire about train times.

8. Trains ___ run according to the timetable.

9. As Finland has the same railway gauge (ширина колеи) as Russia, high-speed trains ___ cross the border without stopping.

10. Such long and heavy container trains ___ be powered by several locos.

Ex. 14. Read the sentences and translate them, paying attention to the equivalents of the modal verbs. If possible, replace the equivalents with the appropriate modal verbs.