Text 5 hitch-hiking

Hitch-hikers travel by getting rides in other people's cars. When they want drivers to give them a lift, they stand on the roadside and raise their hand or put out their thumb. Most hitch-hikers also carry a sign with the name of the place they want to go to. But is it safe to travel in such a way?

Personally, I think that hitch-hiking is a unique opportunity to see different cities and countries. This way of travelling is for enthusiastic people who want to reduce their road expenses. If you want to travel but have no money, hitch-hiking is a single way out. Hitch-hiking will help you get where you want to go for nothing.

But nowadays hitch-hiking is less common than it used to be some years ago. There have been cases of hitch-hikers or the drivers who picked them up being attacked or killed. That is why people, especially young women, should avoid hitching alone. It is also necessary to be always friendly and polite with drivers in order to avoid conflicts. Besides, a lot of people say that hitch­hiking is not for those who like comfort. Sometimes you will have to walk, that is why you should travel light. You should also prepare for your trip beforehand. You should have a good idea of how to get where you are going and be informed about road conditions and weather forecast.

To sum up, hitch-hiking is both exciting and dangerous. Anyway, if you have decided to hitch­hike, you should consult other people and ask them to share their impressions.

TEXT 6                                 TRAVELLING BY TRAIN

Nowadays people travel more often than they did in the past. There are different means of trav­el that provide you with comfort and security, so passengers have a great variety of choice avail­able for them. Travelling by train is very popular with many people, though it has a number of disadvantages as well.

I am fond of travelling by train because I have speed, comfort and pleasure combined. While travelling I can walk around, look through the windows to enjoy a splendid view of the whole countryside and sit where I can stretch my legs. If I am hungry, I can go to the dining-car and have a meal. Trains can run in bad weather. What is more, as trains are electrically-powered, they are considered to be less harmful to the environment than other forms of transport. The service is popular with passengers because it is fast, efficient, comfortable and quiet.

However, some people say that they don't like travelling by train. Firstly, they always have to stand in a long line in order to buy train tickets beforehand. Secondly, you cannot stop where you want. Thirdly, when you travel by train, you always have to get to the railway station first. Finally, travelling by train is not very convenient if the trip is long. Of course, travelling by train is not as fast as travelling by plane. But one of the latest inventions is a high-speed train that can run more than 200 km/h.

To conclude, it is up to you to decide whether to travel by train or not. Anyway, travelling by train has both advantages and disadvantages.

TEXT 7                                  MEDICAL TRAVELLING

Travelling abroad for medical treatment has been increasingly growing lately. But why do many people choose to go to foreign clinics and is medical travel as beneficial as it seems to be?

Medical tourists go to foreign countries for different reasons. Firstly, many patients want to undergo certain medical procedures for lower prices. For example, the cost of different opera­tions in India, Thailand or South Africa is much lower than in the United States or Western Europe. Secondly, medical travel gives people the opportunity not only to receive first-rate care from highly qualified specialists, but also to have a holiday in an exotic country. Finally, many people go abroad in order to avoid long waiting periods. In such countries as the USA or Britain a person may wait for a certain medical procedure for a year or even longer. But in other coun­tries a patient can receive the needed treatment immediately.

Nevertheless, some people say that undergoing treatment abroad may be rather risky. For instance, infectious diseases in such countries as Thailand or Malaysia are different from those in North America and Europe. Foreign diseases may be extremely dangerous to weakened patients. What is more, long flights should be avoided after certain medical procedures. Additionally, some holiday-related activities such as sunbathing or swimming may worsen patients' health. But to my mind, medical tourism is great because people can combine leisure with medical procedures.

To conclude, medical travel can save your money and give you an opportunity to rest and visit other countries. However, one should take all possible risks into consideration before making the final decision to go abroad.