Travelling within Britain by Air
Britain’s size means that internal air travel only makes sense over longish distances, where it can save a great deal of time – for example, London to Scotland, or to one of the many offshore islands. Air fares can be expensive, but if you book well ahead, fares can be up to three times cheaper than if you just turn up at the airport – although you are still always guaranteed a seat. The British Airways shuttle flights that operate between London and such cities as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester are extremely popular with business travellers. At peak times of the day, flights leave every hour, while at other times there is usually a flight every two hours. Bad weather can cause delays or diversions during the winter months. Even on domestic flights, security is stringent, and you should never leave your bags unattended.
1. An air travel inside the country. __________
2. Islands that are in the sea and not far from the coast. __________
3. To arrive at an airport, especially in a way that is unexpected. __________
4. Frequent flights between two places. __________
5. The period when the greatest number of people are doing the same thing, using the same service, etc. __________
6. A change in the direction or the act of changing something .__________
F. Use the words given in the brackets to form a word that fits in the space and read the text. Consult a dictionary if required.
Airports
The main London airport is Heathrow (LHR), which is 15 miles west. Gatwick (LGW), the second airport, is (1) situated (SITUATE) 27 miles south of London. In addition there are two other airports: London City (10 miles east), which handles European business flights (2) _______ (MAIN), and Stansted (37 miles north) which handles international flights and is fast (3) _______ (DEVELOP) as the airport for cut-price flights to all over the world. Heathrow and Gatwick handle by far the most international flights and both have easy and convenient transport into (4) _______ (CENTRE) London.
Arriving from Heathrow
There is a direct service by train from Heathrow to Paddington station, which takes 15 minutes and leaves every 15 minutes. It is quite an (5) _______ (EXPEND) option. The underground also goes direct to and from central London (Piccadilly Circus) to Heathrow via the Piccadilly line. The underground is much (6) _______ (CHEAP) than the train, but it can take up to 90 minutes. If your destination is west London the underground may prove to be the most sensible form of transport.
Coaches and busses (Airbus A1 and A2) run (7) _______ (REGULAR) from the airport throughout the day and night. Again, if your destination is west London this will prove (8) _______ (CONVENIENCE), otherwise the end of the journey is Victoria coach station and you will have to organize the remainder of the journey from there.
Black taxis and local taxi services are available from Heathrow to London and the (9) _______ (SURROUND) area (around to central London). There is a black taxi rank where you can queue, although other taxi services will need to be (10) _______ (PRE-ORDER).
Arriving from Gatwick
The Victoria to Gatwick Express train runs every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes during the night. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
In (11) _______ (ADD), there is a regular bus service (Flightline 777) to Victoria coach station throughout the day and night.
There is no black taxi rank at Gatwick, but local taxi services are available (around £40 to central London). Ask at the information desk.
Arriving from other London airports
· London city: links to London via overground train or Docklands Light railway. A taxi will cost around £20.
· Stansted: train to Liverpool Street station and National Express bus service. A taxi will cost about ₤35.
· Luton airport: a bus service to London. A taxi will cost about £50.
Grammar Focus
Uses of ‘have something done’
A.
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ü Introduction · Compare these situations. Example: Claire decorated the room. Claire hadthe room decorated. (She did the work herself.) (A decorator did the work.) · We can use have in a passive structure. Claire had the room decorated means that she arranged for a decorator to do it for her as a professional service.
ü Form · Look at these examples.
· Note that we can use the perfect or the continuous (have had, are having). · In negatives and questions in simple tenses, we use a form of do. Example: Mark doesn’t have his suits cleaned at Fastclean. We didn’t have new windows put in because it was too expensive. Do you have your car serviced regularly? Where did you have your hair cut?
ü Get something done · We can also use get something done. Example: We must have another key made. |
OR
We must get another key made.
· The sentences have the same meaning, but getis more informal than have.
· Here are some more examples with get.
Example: Laura got her shoes repaired.
We’re gettingthe carpet cleaned.
Where did you get your hair cut?
Do you get your heating checkedevery year?
ü Havemeaning ‘experience’
· We can use havein this structure with the meaning ‘experience something’, often something unpleasant.
Example: We had all our money stolen.
The car had its mirror pulled off.
B. Read about each situation and write sentences with have something done.
Example: Melanie is paying the man who has repaired her bicycle.
Melanie has had her bicycle repaired.
1. David went to the hospital. A nurse bandaged his arm.
_______________________________________________________________
2. Daniel is going to the dentist. She’s going to fill his tooth.
_______________________________________________________________
3. Laura is walking around town while her photos are being developed.
_______________________________________________________________
C.Look again at Exercise B. The jobs are all done now. Complete the questions using get something done.
Example: Mike: Where did you get your bicycle repaired, Melanie?
1. Harriet: Why ___________________________________________
2. Emma: Where ___________________________________________
3. Sarah: Where ___________________________________________
D. Havemeaning ‘experience’ .