2020-08-05
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People have always travelled. People have searched for food, fled from danger and always wondered what is round the next corner, what is over the horizon.
Today we sometimes travel for similar reasons. But we also travel for business, as tourists and to visit friends and relatives. And there must be many other reasons.
More people travel now than ever before. Tourism is the reason why most people travel. And this includes the British. Many British people spend their holidays both in Spain and in the South-West of England (a well-known holiday region). Spain, Greece, Morocco and Ireland earn more from tourism than from anything else. Even a shop can earn a fortune: Harrods in London earns much from tourists.
According to a recent sociological survey, the people who travel the most are the Germans, the Americans, The French and the British.
Questions:
1. What are the reasons for travelling?
2. What have people always wanted to know?
3. There are a lot of people who travel, aren’t they?
4. Do the British like touring?
5. What is a well-known holiday region in Britain?
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YIII. Read and translate the text. Ask questions on this text and retell it
Going Abroad
While travelling abroad you have to go through customs, sometimes several times.
As a rule the customs officers check your passports and visas if they are required. When coming to some countries you may need a health certificate. If you have anything to declare, then you are to fill in the declaration form.
The customs officers may ask you to show your luggage to them. Usually articles for personal use and wear and gifts are not liable to duty anywhere. If you are carrying much currency you should also declare it. If you are carrying weapons you need a permit. Also some items are liable to duty; if you carry only a small amount of them, they are duty free.
Occasionally the customs officers may take some of your things for a more detailed inspection but usually they return them soon.
Don’t try to break the customs rules and regulations because you may have a lot of troubles.
IX. Read these dialogues, translate and act them out:
• Passport control officer: Your passport, please.
Traveller: Here you are.
Passport control officer: How long are you staying in Ukraine?
Traveller: Two months. I am here on business.
Passport control officer: Your passport and visa are in order. Have a pleasant stay.
Traveller: Thank you.
• At a Passport and Customs Desk.
- Your passport, please. How long are you planning to stay in the country?
- Three weeks. Could I prolong my entrance visa in case of necessity?
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- Sure. Our officials shall care about it.
- Can you put your bags on the table, and your customs form, please?
- How much do they weigh?
- 23 kilos. I’m sorry, but you will have to pay an excess luggage charge.
- Oh! It is only three kilos over-weight.
- Yes, sir. That is 6 dollars. Thank you. Have you anything to declare?
- Pardon?
- Alcohol, cigarettes, fresh fruit, plants?
- Oh, no.
- Open your suitcase, please. Any gifts?
- Only one bottle of vodka.
- All right. It is duty free. As you probably know, it is forbidden to bring in more than two bottles of alcohol and two blocks of cigarettes to England. And no limitations as to currency. Here is your form.
- Thank you.
- Not at all. Next please.
Funny Stories.
• The well-known singer Enrico Caruso was once driving not far from New York. Something went wrong with his car and he had to spend some time in the house of a farmer. Soon they became friendly and the farmer asked Caruso’s name.
When the farmer heard the name, he rose to his feet. “My, I never thought I should see a man like you in my kitchen, sir”, he cried out. “Caruso. The great traveller. Robinson Caruso!”.
• A passenger on a railway station complaints to a porter, “There are two clocks at this station and they both tell different times”. And the porter replies, “Why should we have two clocks if they tell the same time?”.
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