Reading

Read the text and search for answers to the following ques­tions.

a) What procedures is every passenger involved in?

b) What do passengers have to go through on the arrival?

c) What are the inconveniences of air travel?

d) What activities fill in the flight time?

e) In what key is the extract written?

From Parkinson Law by C. Northcote Parkinson

There is a modern technique that is effective and certain. The method depends on air travel and the filling in of forms. The high official who is given enough of each will very soon be­gin to talk of retirement.

The essence of this technique is so to arrange matters that the conferences are held at places the maximum distance apart and in climates offering the sharpest contrast in heat and cold. There should be no possibility of a restful sea journey. It must be air travel all the way. Most flights will involve take off at 2.50 a.m. reporting at the air-field at 1.30 and weighing baggage at the terminal at 12.45. Arrival will be scheduled for 3.10 a.m. on the next day but one. The aircraft will, invariably, however, be somewhat overdue, touching down in fact at 3.57 a.m. so that passengers will be clear of customs and immigration by about 4.35. Most of the flight time will of course be spent filling in various declarations about currency and health, how much you have in dollars (U.S.), pounds (sterling), franks, marks, guilders, yen, lire, and pounds (Australian); how much in letters of credit, travelers' cheques, postage stamps and postal orders? When were you born and what was your grandmother's maiden name? How many children have you and why? What will be the length of your stay and where? What is the object of your visit, if any? Have you had chicken pox and why not? Have you a visa for Patagonia and a re-entry permit for Hong Kong? The penalty for making a false declaration is life imprisonment. Fasten your belts, please. We are about to land in Rangoon. Local time is 2.47 a.m. Outside temperature is 110 F. We shall stop here for approximately one hour. Breakfast will be served on the aircraft five hours after take-off. No smoking, please.