Reading and Comprehension

In this era of the jumbo jet and mass air travel, passenger handling must be economic and efficient. To achieve this, the world’s airlines are using computers to aid passengers reservations and check - in procedures. Reservations and check – in staff are able to instruct and question the computer by using a keyboard. Information is obtained almost instantly in visual form on a small TV – type screen, which is known as a CRT display. When a passenger wants to book a seat on a particular flight, the reservations staff check the computer to see if seats are available. When the booking is made, the passenger’s name and any special requests that he may make are recorded by the computer. At check – in, staff are able to retrieve this information and check visually whether the passenger has a confirmed seat and, if not, whether they can allocate one. Instructions for such things as special diets, which have to be arranged well before flight departure, are automatically retrieved from the computer in advance so that the airline staff have sufficient time to carry out the requests. At check – in, the passenger’s baggage is weighed and labeled. Also, his ticket, passport and health documents are inspected to see that they are in order.

Unit 5

DEPARTURE

Dialogue

Mr. Marshall kisses his wife good-bye. Carrying only his cabin bag and briefcase, he walks through an entrance marked “Passengers Only”. He checks his watch as he hurries towards the Passport Control desk. He has plenty of time to visit the duty-free shop in the departure lounge to buy the perfume he wants as a surprise for his wife, and his duty-free Scotch and cigarettes. At Passport Control he hands over his passport for inspection.

Mr. Marshall: Good morning.

Passport Officer: Morning, sir. Where are you off to this time?

Mr. Marshall: Bahrain.

Passport Officer: Again. Business?

Mr. Marshall: Yes, I have to attend a conference for my company.

Passport Officer: Your passport, sir. Everything is in order.

Mr. Marshall: Thank you.

Mr. Marshall goes to the duty-free shop…

Shop girl: Can I help you, sir?

Mr. Marshall: Yes, I`d like a bottle of White Label, 200 king-size tipped cigarettes and some perfume for my wife.

Shop girl: You can get the cigarettes and whisky, but I`m afraid you`ll have to go to the counter over there for the perfume.

Mr. Marshall: Oh, see. How much do you want for the whisky and cigarettes?

Shop girl: That will be £ 2.75 in all. Could I see your boarding card, please? Thank you.

Mr. Marshall: These formalities seem to be peculiar to this airport. I don`t remember doing this before.

Shop girl: They vary around the world. In some places you`re given a receipt and the purchases are handed to you on the aircraft or after you`ve landed at your destination. Shall I put them in a bag for you?

Mr. Marshall: No, thank you. There`s plenty of room in my cabin bag. There, that`s fine. Now, where is the perfume counter?

Shop girl: Just over there, sir. Go to the far end. There`s no one waiting.

Mr. Marshall: Good, thank you.

Assistant: Is there something you`d like, sir?

Mr. Marshall: Yes, some perfume for my wife.

Assistant: Have you anything in mind?

Mr. Marshall: Not really. It’s to be a surprise. She has lots of Chanel and Dior. I thought I’d get something different.

Assistant: Well, we do have a wide selection. I can recommend Quadrille by Balenciaga, or Ma Griffe by Carven.

Mr. Marshall: I think I’ll take the Ma Griffe.

Assistant: Yes, sir. What size?

Mr. Marshall: Something like than one there.

Assistant: That’s half-ounce bottle.

Mr. Marshall: That will do nicely. How much is that?

Assistant: £ 3.50

Mr. Marshall: They should be calling my flight by now.

Assistant: Which one is that?

Mr. Marshall: The XA101, 9.30 departure.

Assistant: There’s announcement on the public address system, now, sir.

Mr. Marshall: Oh, good.

Assistant: You have plenty of time. If you look over there at that closed-circuittelevision screen you’ll see they’re boarding at Gate 5. Here’s your package and your change.

Mr. Marshall: I’ll pop it into my cabin bag. Makes things easier to have everything together when you go through Customs. Good-bye, and thanks for your help with the perfume.

Assistant: I’m sure your wife will like it.

EXERCISES

I. Translate the following words:

entrance; to mark; to hand over; to vary; to give a receipt; to call one’s flight; the public address system; to board the flight at Gate 5; on arrival; to submit to inspection by Customs and Health officials; to have passport inspected; to pass through Passport Control; to purchase; to depend on regulations; the duty-free allowances; to be alerted for the flight; to commence boarding; to inform of smth; the number of the gate; the amount of duty-free goods; destination; the flight number; time of departure; to renew passport (visa).

II. Translate the following sentences into Russian:

Passenger have to submit to inspection by Customs, Passport and Health officials. The amount of duty-free goods that a passenger can have depends on the regulations. The duty-free allowances are available from the staff of the duty-free shop. Passengers are alerted for their flights by announcements over the PA system, boards or TV sets. Passengers are informed of the flight number, time of departure, the number of the gate from which boarding will commence. Will you walk through an entrance marked “Passengers Only”? At Passport Control you’ll have to hand over your passport for inspection. The formalities vary around the world. They are calling your flight. There’s the announcement on the PA system. Look over there at the closed circuit TV screen. They’re boarding at Gate 5. In some places passengers are given a receipt and purchases are handed to them on the aircraft or after they have landed at the destination. When leaving a country, passengers usually first have their passports inspected. Is my passport in order? – I’m afraid you’ll have to have it renewed.

III. Answer the following questions:

Who inspects the baggage, passports and Health certificates? Where are passports inspected? Which way are passengers alerted for their flights? What articles can be purchased at the duty-free shops? Where are duty-free shops provided? What does the amount of duty-free goods that a passenger can take depend on? Where are the duty-free allowances for individual destinations available from? What information is given to passengers by announcements over the PA system and boards? Who has to submit to inspection by Customs officials?

IV. Translate the following words into English:

система оповещения; после прибытия; выдать квитанцию; покупать; количество вещей, не подлежащих обложению таможенной пошлиной; начать посадку; номер выхода к самолёту; предупредить о рейсе; информировать о номере выхода; предъявить для проверки; зависеть от.

V. Act out dialogues on the following situations:

1. A businessman is nervous as he is almost late for his flight because of coach delay. He is afraid he has no time for check-in procedures.

2. A passenger has got too many gifts but he’d like to buy a bottle of Whisky for his friend. Give him some information concerning the amount of duty-free goods.

VI. Test. Translate the following sentences into English:

Что мы должны предъявить для проверки? Ваш паспорт в порядке? Боюсь, что вам необходимо продлить срок его действия. Должны мы предъявить посадочный талон продавцу магазина? Какие формальности кажутся вам необычными? Подождите минутку, вам выдадут квитанцию, а покупки вручат вам на борту самолёта. Вы получили квитанцию? Кто вам её дал? Где мы можем получить покупки? Какой рейс объявляют? Вы слышали номер выхода к самолёту? Где производят посадку на наш рейс? Где можно узнать нормы беспошлинных товаров? Как оповещают пассажиров о времени регистрации, о номере рейса и времени вылета? Где будут производить посадку на рейс 101? Когда объявят посадку на наш рейс? Уже объявили посадку на наш рейс? Вы должны пройти через дверь с надписью “Только пассажиры”. Не могли бы вы узнать нормы беспошлинных товаров? Какие нормы провоза багажа? Что я должен предъявить для проверки? Вы уже проверили мой паспорт?

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16