Travelling and Transport

Maturita topic 11, general part, at Cambridge B2 First level. The specific part of this topic is Washington, D.C., New York and Other Places of Interest.

What to talk about

• why people travel – holidays, business, studying, visiting relatives
• means of transport – advantages and disadvantages
• public transport in your town
• preparing for a trip – planning, booking, packing, documents
• travel experiences – a trip you remember; problems when travelling
• the impact of transport and tourism on the environment

Model answer

People travel for many reasons – to relax, to get to know other cultures, to learn languages, for business or to visit friends and relatives. Thanks to cheap flights and the internet, travelling has become much easier than it was for our parents, and young people today often travel on their own.

Each means of transport has its advantages and disadvantages. Travelling by car is comfortable and flexible – you can stop wherever you want – but it can be expensive, you can get stuck in traffic jams, and it isn’t very environmentally friendly. Flying is the fastest way to travel long distances, but it’s the worst for the environment, and you have to check in, go through security and sometimes wait for delayed flights. Trains are comfortable and you can read or work on the way; in Europe there are more and more fast and night trains. Buses and coaches are usually the cheapest option. In towns, public transport – buses, trams and the metro in Prague – is the most practical, and many people also ride bikes or electric scooters.

In my town I usually take the bus to school. Public transport here is quite reliable, but in the evening and at weekends the buses don’t run very often, so I’m planning to get my driving licence soon.

Before a trip, I always do some research online. I book accommodation and tickets in advance, check the weather and make a list of things to pack so that I don’t forget my passport or ID card, my phone charger and travel insurance. Last summer I went on an interrailing trip around Europe with two friends. We travelled by train from Prague to Vienna, Venice and Munich and stayed in hostels. The only problem was that we missed a connection in Austria, but in the end it turned into an adventure – we spent a night in a small town we’d never heard of.

In the future, I think transport will have to become greener – electric cars, better railways and fewer short flights. And one day I’d love to go on a road trip across the USA, from New York to San Francisco.

Vocabulary

Grammar worth showing

• past simple vs. past continuous: We were waiting for the train when it started to rain.
• past perfect: When we arrived at the station, the train had already left.
• comparatives and superlatives: Flying is the fastest but the least eco-friendly way to travel.

Useful phrases

• The most convenient way to get there is…
• It takes about two hours by train.
• The best trip I’ve ever been on was…
• Looking back, I’d…
• One day I’d love to…

Speaking practice

Part 1 – about you

Part 3 / 4 – discussion