Episode 255

EPISODE 255
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

HOW DO WE TRAVEL?

 

John: How was your flight (= when you travel by plane)?
Mark: The worst flight in my life! And how was your journey (= when you travel from one place to another) from Warsaw?
John: Ok. Did you come here on business?
Mark: Yes, I go on a business trip (= when you go somewhere for a short time and come back home soon) every month. I really hate it.
John: Why?
Mark: Because I hate flying and I have to fly very often. I’m dreaming of a voyage (= when you travel by ship from one place to another).
John: It would take too much time! But I would like to go on a cruise (= when you travel on a large ship for pleasure). It would be nice.
Mark: I’ve heard it is not very interesting. I would prefer to go on a tour (= when you visit different places for pleasure and you travel by bus, for example) around Europe.
John: You would be really tired at the end of your holiday! I can’t imagine spending my holiday in a coach (= a long-distance bus)!
Mark: Ok, you have a point. I could stay in a hotel and go on as many excursions (= when you travel for pleasure with a group of people) as possible.
John: That sounds really nice!

 

 

More contexts for the new words:

The toilets are two flights up.
(= two sets of stairs higher)

They are touring to promote their new album.
(= They are on a tour to promote their new album)

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Match the words to their definitions.

1. a flight                                   a. travelling and visiting different places
2. a business trip                     b. a long-distance bus
3. a voyage                                c. a short trip for pleasure with a large group of people
4. a cruise                                 d. a trip by plane
5. a tour                                    e. a trip connected with work
6. an excursion                       f. a trip by ship form one place to another
7. a coach                                 g. travelling on a large ship for pleasure

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Add the missing vowels (a, e, I, o, u), then answer the questions.

1. Do you often go on BSNSS TRPS ……………………………? Do you like them?
2. Which do you prefer: travelling by CCH ……………………….., or taking a FLGHT …………………..?
3. On holiday, do you prefer to stay at the hotel for the whole time, or do you like to have many XCRSNS ……………………………?

 

 

ENGLISH IN USE

 

Today we will look at sentences which describe hypothetical situations.

Look at these examples:

I would like to go on a cruise.
I would prefer to go on a tour.

 

If we want to talk about hypothetical situations, we use „would” and a basic form of verbs. Here there are some examples:

 

I would love to go to this party.
I would never buy this car.

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ Did you hear that the Sphinx excursion was cancelled?
B/ Sure I did. My wife FLEW OFF THE HANDLE when she found out. She wanted to see the Sphinx so badly.

When you fly off the handle, you suddenly become extremely angry without a good reason.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

1. If time FLIES BY, it seems to pass very quickly.

 

Six months flew by, and it was time to come home again.

 

2. If ideas or opinions are FLYING AROUND (or ABOUT), people are talking about them a lot.

 

There are a lot of wild theories flying around.
The fire was so suspicious that rumours started flying around almost immediately.

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Match A’s sentences with appropriate B’s replies.

A1: Why did John get so angry?
A2: How long were you abroad?
A3: They say Sue’s pregnant.

 

B1: Six months, but it flew by really fast.
B2:He flies off the handle every time the mail is late.
B3: Ah, well, there are lots of crazy ideas flying around.

 

 

NEWS

 

THE SPHINX

Each day sees hundreds of excursions organized to see the most easily recognizable landmark of Egypt – the Sphinx. Yet more often than not the hordes of tourists seem to be disappointed. Why? First of all, no one has told them that the monument is situated right next to a motorway! As a result, experiencing any sense of mystery or moving back in time is out of the question. Secondly, the statue is in a really bad condition, lacking the nose and deteriorating all over. And finally, the sheer number of people visiting it every day make the sightseeing an exhausting experience. So, if you’re thinking of seeing the Sphinx – think again!

 

GLOSSARY

– a landmark – a famous building or object that you can see and recognize easily
– hordes – large groups
– to deteriorate – to become worse
– sheer – this word is used to emphasise the amount or degree of something

 

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