Text"Travelling by Air"
It was a cold gray day without wind. By nightfall it would rain. There was the spasmodic engine whine of unseen planes. The plane from New York had been delayed and the echoing voice had announced in French and English over the public-address system that the flight for Rome had been put back by a half-hour.
The usual gloom of airports, that mixture of haste and apprehension which has become the atmosphere of travel because nobody waits comfortably for the take-off of an airplane, was intensified by the weather. The neon light made everyone look poor and unwell. There was a feeling that if each traveler had the chance to choose again, he would cancel his passage and go by boat or train or automobile.
In a corner of the restaurant a man and a woman waited, drinking coffee.
Then the voice in French and English announced that the passengers were asked to pass through Customs: the plane for Rome, flight No. 804, was ready and was loading. The man hurried past the Customs and out on to the wet tarmac toward the waiting plane. As the plane taxied off toward the starting point on the runway, the man saw his wife and children outside the restaurant now, waving, then settled back in his seat, relieved The plane gathered speed for the take off.
1. Comprehension questions:
1. What was the weather like?
2. What is the typical atmosphere of travel?
3. What did neon light make everyone look like?
4. Why did one have a feeling that each traveler would gladly cancel his flight?
5. What did the voice in French announce?
6. Who was in the restaurant, waiting for the plane?
7. What did the man feel when he settled in his seat?
2. Find in the text equivalents to the following words and phrases:
1) двигатель, 2) опаздывать, З) система оповещения, 4) сдать билеты (аннулировать полет), 5) взлетное поле, 6) прибытие, 7) объявлять (по радио), 8) пройти таможенный досмотр, 9) выруливать, 10) взлетная полоса 11) набирать скорость.
3. Fill in the blanks with prepositions.
1) The voice announced ... French and English that the plane had been delayed 2) The information will be announced ... the public-address system. 3) The flight ... New York had been put...... half an hour. 4)Everybody was waiting comfortable... the take off. 5) He looked as if he could cancel his flight and go ... boater ... train. 6) The passengers were instructed to pass ... Customs. 7) The man hurried ... the Customs ... the waiting plane. 8) His wife arid children were standing ... the restaurant now, waving, then he settled ... his seat.
4. Math the words which have something in common:
landing, scales, flight, take off, delay, overweight, luggage, plane, stewardess, additional charge, weather, airsickness, seat belts, suit case.