Conversational Topic Travelling

Conversational Topic Travelling

Modern life is impossible without travelling. Thousands of people travel every day either on business or for pleasure. They can travel by air, by rail, by sea or by road. Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too. Travelling by train is slower than by plane but it has its advantages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars which make even the longest journey enjoyable. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes. That is why many people prefer them to all other means.

Travelling by sea is popular mostly for pleasure trips. On board large ships and small river boats people can visit foreign countries and different places of interest within their own countries. Trips on the Volga, the Dnieper, the Yenisei, the Black Sea are very popular today. As for me I prefer travelling by car. I think it is very convenient. You needn’t reserve your tickets. You needn’t carry heavy suitcases. You can stop wherever you wish and spend at any place as much time as you like. Every year my friend and I go somewhere to the South for holidays. The Black Sea is one of the beautiful places which attracts holiday-makers all over the world. There are many rest-homes, sanatoriums and tourist camps there. But it is also possible to rent a room or a furnished house for a couple of weeks there. Sometimes we place ourselves in a tent on the sea shore enjoying fresh air and the sun all day long. As a rule I make new friends there. In the daytime we play volleyball, tennis, swim in the warm water of the sea and sunbathe. In the evening I like to sit on the beach watching the sea and enjoying the sunset. I’m fond of mountaineering. So I do a lot of climbings together with my friends. Time passes quickly and soon we have to make our way back. We return home sunburnt and full of impressions.

I). People began travelling long ago. The very first travellers were explorers who went on trips to find wealth, fame or something else. Their journeys were very dangerous but still people keep on going to the unknown lands. Nowadays it is not as dangerous and much more convenient. Do you want to go somewhere? Hundreds of companies are there to help you. They will take care of your tickets and make all reservations needed. You don’t speak the language of the country you go to? There are interpreters to help you.

With modern services you can go round the world. You can choose means of transport you like: plane, train, ship, bicycle or you can travel hiking. Tourism became a very profitable business because people are ready to spend their money for the great opportunity to have a great time learning about new countries, going sightseeing, resting and enjoying themselves.

II) I like to travel. First of all, the members of our family usually have long walks in the country. Such walks are called hikes. If we want to see the country-side we have to spend a part of our summer holidays on hikes. During such hikes we see a lot of interesting places, sometimes we meet interesting people. It’s useful for all members of our family. We take our rucksacks. We don’t think about tickets and there is no need to hurry up.

As for me, it’s more comfortable to travel by train than by plane. But it’s difficult to buy tickets for the plane. That is why we buy our tickets beforehand. When I travel by plane, I don’t spend a lot of time going from one place to another. I like to fly. If I travel by train or by plane my friends come to see me off at the railway-station or at the airport.

I like to travel by car. It’s interesting too, because you can see many things in a short time. When we go by car, we don’t take tickets. We put all things we need in a car. We don’t carry them. Sometimes we go to the seaside for a few days. As usual the weather is warm and we can swim. It’s a pleasure to watch white ships. So I can say that I enjoy all kinds of travelling.

Glossary

modern life - современная жизнь

impossible – невожможно

either on business or for pleasure.- либо … либо…

travelling by air – путешествовать на самолёте

expensive – дорогой

travelling by train – путешествовать на поезде

advantages – преимущества

sleeping cars – спальные вагоны

dining cars – ресторан

journey – путешествие

enjoyable – приятный

Speed – скорость

Safety – безопасность

travelling by sea – путешествовать по морю

On board a ship – на борту корабля

as for me – что касается меня

Convenient – удобный

You needn’t – вам не нужно …

To reserve tickets – бронировать билеты

to carry – носить

heavy suitcases –тяжёлые чемоданы

somewhere – куда-нибудь

a rest-home – дом отдыха

sanatoriums – санаторий

a tourist camp – туристический лагерь

possible – возможно

to rent a room – арендовать комнату

a furnished house – меблированный дом

for a couple of weeks – на пару недель

to place oneself – расположиться

a tent – палатка

on the sea shore – на берегу моря

all day long – целый день

As a rule – как правило, обычно

to make friends – заводить друзей

in the daytime – днём

sunbathe – загорать

the beach – пляж

the sunset. – закат

mountaineering – альпинизм

climbing – восхождение

sunburnt – загорелый

impressions – впечатление

an explorer – исследователь

to find wealth – искать богатство

fame – слава

dangerous – опасный

to keep on – продолжать

unknown lands – неизведанные земли

nowadays – в настоящее время

to take care of – заботиться о …

a ticket – билет

an interpreter – переводчик

service – обслуживание

means of transport – средства транспорта

hiking – поход

a profitable business – выгодное дело

opportunity – возможность

to go sightseeing – осматривать достопримечательности

I. Answer the questions.

1. What means of travelling do you know?

2. Which means of travelling are the most popular with the passengers? Why?

3. Which is the fastest way of travelling?

4. Have you ever travelled by air?

5. How do people usually travel when they go abroad? Why?

6. When you travel within the country, do you usually go by car, by plane, by ship or by train?

7. What are the advantages of travelling by railway?

8. When did you last travel by train?

9. Do you like to change trains?

10. Is travelling by sea faster or slower than by train?

11. What are the most popular sea trips in our count­ry?

12. Do you agree that travelling by sea is always enjoy­able?

13. Have you seen a storm on sea?

14. What makes travelling by car enjoyable?

15. What are the disadvantages of travelling by car?

16. Where do you usually spend your holiday?

17. Where do you stay when you go to the South?

18. What is the best time for travelling and tourism?

II. Read the text and ask some questions.

Travel is extremely important nowadays. Two hundred years ago, most people never travelled further than a few kilometres. Whenever they travelled they walked, or went by carriage, or on horseback. But in the last quarter of the twentieth century, people have travelled a lot. Many people travel 50 or 100 kilometres daily by public trans­port or private car. Millions of people travel long dis­tances abroad on business trips or for holidays every year. Even a housewife who is going shopping may travel twenty kilometres.

For most people, speed is a very important factor when they are travelling. They want to reach their destination as quickly as possible. There are now planes that can cross the Atlantic in just over three hours. Other people prefer comfort to speed. They like to relax during the journey and enjoy themselves as much as pos­sible. For almost everyone, safety is the most important fac­tor. For example, many people never fly because they be­lieve it is dangerous. In fact, it is probably much more dangerous to travel by car or to walk across a street.

III. Explain what the proverbs mean:

1. When at Rome, do as the Romans do.

2. All the roads lead to Rome.

3. Rome was not built in a day.

4. So many countries, so many customs.

5. No man is a prophet in his own country.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04