Transcribe and read out these words
UNIT 2
THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL
I
1. Study the table “The Best Way to Travel” and the notes. Learn the new vocabulary.
2. Explain why some people prefer this or that way of travelling.
|
| is... | because it is... | |
by plane/ air
train/ rail(way)
car/ coach
 boat/ sea
bicycle/ bike
balloon
hitch-hiking
on foot
on a boat/ ...
| the fastest
 safest
cheapest
greenest
most pleasant/ enjoyable
reliable/ comfortable
exhilarating/ relaxing
romantic/ adventurous
convenient for business/ long-distance/
 leisure travel
| |
 You...
| ||
take a train/ bus/ your seat on the plane
catch your flight/ train/ coach/ bus/ boat
board the plane/ train
go on board/ get on an airliner/ a liner
embark on a sea voyage/ a crossing
get into the train/ your car/ the coach
behind the wheel
into your berth/ window seat
on your (motor)bike
 thumb a lift/ pick up a ride
| ||
| You don’t need/ have to worry about... | ||
time-tables/ schedules
booking tickets/ a berth/ a passage
the fare
missing your flight/ train/ coach
changing trains/ planes
cancelled/ diverted fights
jet-lag
traffic jams
 heavy/ bad weather conditions
excess luggage
airport security/ the customs
getting stuck in the mud/ at the airport
having a flat tire
running out of petrol
parking space/ restrictions
| 
| |
| You can/ may... | |||||
get away from it all
back to nature
| 
| wander off the beaten track by the side of a picturesque lake explore woodland trails clifftop paths the hidden corners of the country | |||
| have/ enjoy independence the freedom to do as you please a meal in the dining car a bird’s eye view of the world a chance to meet local people | 
| ||||
watch wildlife
beautiful scenery flying past you
rapidly changing scenes/ the land below
see magnificent/ stunning views on the way
the real countryside
hear birds singing/ the cries of sea gulls
feel the sun on your skin
a fresh wind blowing on your face
  the joy of speed
| |||||
| ...and you... | |||||
arrive at/ come to/ reach your destination
disembark
alight
 get off/ out of the car/ boat/ plane/ train/ coach
| |||||
safe and sound
fresh and uncrumpled
well-rested
 on time
full of unforgettable impressions
| No wonder, a lot of/ most people prefer... | ||||
| flying/ air travel train/ rail travel driving/ car travel/ coach travel | |||||
| cycling sailing/ sea travel hitch-hiking walking | ||||
NOTES
airport, n
public flying ground for commercial use by airliners
▪Cf.: airfield, n
area of open, level ground, with hangers, workshops, offices, etc. for operations of (esp. military) aircraft
air terminal, n
terminus (in a town or city centre) to or from which passengers, etc. travel to or from an airport
berth, n
1. sleeping place in a train, ship, etc.
2. place at a wharf, etc. where a ship can be tied up
berth, v
1. (naut) find, have a sleeping-place (for)
2. moor (a ship) in harbour, tie up (a ship) at a wharf, etc.
board, v
get on or into (a ship, train, bus, etc.), go/ get on board
e.g. The highjackers boarded the plane at London Airport.
Syn.: take (a train, bus, etc.)
On board
in or on (a ship or public vehicle)
e.g. (go/ get) on board the train/ aircraft/ ship; As soon as I’m on board I always feel sick.
▪Cf.: aboard, adv, prp
on or into (a ship, train, bus, aircraft, etc.)
e.g. The boat is ready to leave. All aboard! The plane crashed killing all the 200 people aboard.
overboard, adv
over the side of the ship or boat into the water
e.g. fall/ jump overboard
Usage: At the beginning of your journey you get in(to) a very small boat but with a bigger boat you get on(to) it, go on board or (fml) embark. At the end of your voyage, you get out of a very small boat, but with a larger boat you get off it or (fml) disembark. You get on or board a plane and get off it. You get into/ board a train and you get off it, get out of it, or (fml) alight from it. You get into a car and get out of it.
boat, n
1. a small open vehicle for travelling across water
e.g. a fishing/ sailing/ rowing boat; We’ll cross the river by/ in a boat. We had to take to the boats (= get into the ship’s lifeboats) because the ship was sinking.
2. (infml) any ship
e.g. Are you going to America by boat or by air?
Usage: Boats are usu. smaller than ships but the word can be used informally of a larger passenger ship (e.g. There were over 2000 passengers on the ship/ boat.).
When you are in control of a boat, you row a rowing boat, sail a sailing boat, and sail or pilot other kinds of boats. When you direct the course of a boat you steer or pilot it. As a passenger, you travel by boat, or on a particular boat
car, n
1. (also motorcar BrE fml, automobile AmE fml) a road vehicle with usu. four wheels which is driven by a motor and used as a means of travel for a small number of people.
Usage: When you are in control of a car you drive it, and when you direct its course you steer it (e.g. She got into her car and drove (it) home. She steered (the car) carefully through the narrow gap.). As a passenger, you travel by car or ride in a particular car.
2. (esp. in comb.) railway carriage
e.g. This train has a restaurant/ dining/ sleeping car.
carriage, n
1. a wheeled vehicle, esp. a private horse-drawn one
2. (car AmE) a railway passenger vehicle
e.g. I’ll be in the third carriage from the front of the train.
coach, n
1. (bus AmE) a comfortable bus used for long-distance travel or touring
e.g. We went to Switzerland by coach. This hotel welcomes coach parties (= groups of people travelling in coaches).
2. (also carriage BrE, car AmE) a railway passenger carriage
deck, n
a floor built across a ship all or part of its length
e.g. Let’s go up on deck and sit in the sunshine. Our cabin is on the lower deck.
deckchair, n (also beach chair AmE)
a folding chair with a long seat of cloth (usu. brightly coloured canvas), used out of doors
e.g. sitting on deckchairs on the beach
deckhand, n
a man or boy who does unskilled work on a ship
drive, v
1. move or travel in (a vehicle with more than two wheels) while guiding and controlling it
e.g. drive a car/ train/ bus; Shall we stop for lunch or shall we drive on?
2. take (sb) in a vehicle
e.g. Can you drive me to the station?
Usage: If you are in control of a car you drive it, if you are in control of a ship you pilot it, if you are in control of a bicycle you ride it. If you direct the course of a car, ship, or bicycle you steer it. But when talking about a plane, fly and pilot mean both being in control of it and directing its course (e.g. to fly/ pilot an airplane).
▪Cf.: ride, v
1. travel along, controlling and sitting on (a horse or other animal, a bicycle or motorcycle)
e.g. I’ll ride the old horse and you ride the pony. He got on his bicycle and slowly rode off down the road.
2. (in, on) be carried along on an animal, on or in a vehicle, etc.; travel
e.g. riding on a camel; riding in an open carriage
3. (esp. AmE) travel in, esp. habitually
e.g. riding the freight trains
4. (of a vehicle) travel over a surface in a stated manner
e.g. This car rides smoothly.
ride, n
a journey on a n animal, in a vehicle, etc.
e.g. a ride on a donkey; Shall we go for a ride in the car?
fare, n
1. money charged for a journey by bus, ship, taxi, etc.
e.g. to pay one’s train fare; The bus company will prosecute any fare dodgers (= people who try to avoid paying their fares) it catches.
2. passenger in a hired vehicle
e.g. The taxi-driver had only 6 fares all day.
flash, v
move quickly
e.g. The train flashed past me.
go off, v
leave suddenly
e.g. The painter left his family and went off to live on a tropical island. Are you all ready? Off we go, then!
Syn.: go away, start off, set off, set out, get off, take off
e.g. The children were always excited to set off on a camping trip. We have to get off on our journey now.
highway, n
(esp. AmE) a broad main road used esp. by traffic going in both directions, and often leading from one town to another
▪Cf.: motorway, n (expressway, freeway AmE)
a very wide road built for fast long-distance travel
e.g. The M1 is one of the longest motorways in Britain.
On time
at exactly the right time
e.g. Peter wants the discussion to start on time.
▪Cf.: in time
with enough time to spare; not late
e.g. I missed my chance to get a university place because I didn’t send my application in time.
on the/ one’s way to
travelling towards
e.g. The pilgrims were on the way to Canterbury.
▪Cf.: in the way of
interfering with, preventing from doing sth
e.g. Her social life got in the way of her studies.
park, v
1. place or leave (a motor-vehicle) in a car park, in a drive, etc.
e.g. Where can we park (the car)?
2. (infml) put (a person or thing) somewhere
e.g. Where can I park this suitcase?
parking, n
area for the parking of motor-vehicles
passenger, n
1. person being conveyed by bus, taxi, tram, train, ship, aircraft, etc.
2. (infml) member of a team, crew, etc. who does no effective work
fellow-passenger, n
▪Cf.: fellow traveller
rush-hour, n
when crowds of people are travelling to or from work in a large town
e.g. We were caught in the rush-hour traffic.
ship, n
a large boat for carrying people or goods on the sea
e.g. a naval/ merchant/ cruise/ sailing ship
Syn.: vessel, n
(fml) a ship or large boat
e.g. A French naval vessel in the harbour; a fishing/ motor vessel
liner, n
a large passenger ship of a steamship company
e.g. an ocean liner
steamer, n (also steamship)
a large non-military ship driven by steam power
traffic, n
1. (movement of) people and vehicles along roads and streets, of aircraft in the sky
e.g. There was a lot of traffic on the roads yesterday.
2. transport business done by a railway, steamship line, airline, etc.
3. illegal trading
e.g. the drug traffic
traffic, v
trade
e.g. trafficking in snakes
traffic island, n
platform in the centre of a busy road for pedestrians, when crossing
traffic jam, n
a lot of cars, etc. crowded together so that movement is difficult or impossible
traffic light(s), n
coloured lights by the roadside controlling traffic
▪Cf.: transport, n (also transportation, esp. in AmE)
1. carrying (to another place) or being carried; means of carrying, the transport of goods by air; road transport
2. (as an adjective) of or for carrying (to another place)
e.g. London’s transport system; transport charges; The Department of Transport is responsible for roads and railways.
trail, n
a path across rough country made by the passing of people or animals
train, n
a line of connected railway carriages pulled by an engine
e.g. electric/ express/ fast/ mail/ passenger/ local (= suburban)/ goods (= freight AmE) train; to miss/ catch the train; to change trains; the train is in; The train pulled into the station on time.
through train, n
allowing a continuous journey
e.g. Is this a through train or do I have to change?
wander, v
1. go from place to place without any special purpose or destination
e.g. wander up and down the roads; wander through/ over the world
2. leave the right path or direction
e.g. They have wandered away (= are lost). We wandered for miles and miles in the mist.
3. allow the thoughts to go from subject to subject
e.g. Don’t wander from the subject/ point. His mind is wandering.
wanderer, n
person or animal that wanders
wanderings, n (pl)
1. long travels; journeys
e.g. tell the story of one’s wanderings
2. confused speech during illness (esp. high fever)
wanderlust, n
strong desire to travel
e.g. the spirit of wanderlust
FOCUS ON VOCABULARY
Transcribe and read out these words.
picturesque, wander, transport (n), automobile, adventurous, divert, destination, schedule, disembark, exhilarating