II. Read the text

III. Find in the text the equivalents of the following:

с известной регулярностью

городские жители

попасть под машину

проездной билет

контролёр

минимальная з/плата

получать чаевые

брать плату за проезд

Language Focus 1:

to travel by bus, train, plain, ship, boat, bicycle

also by road, rail, air, sea, underground

BUT: to travel in a car/in my car, in a/the taxi, on a/the bus, on a/the train, on foot

to travel on the 6.45 train

to travel at 50 kilometres an hour

IV. Put in the right preposition:

1. Every day city-dwellers travel … bus, … car or … trolleybus. 2. She came to the party … a car. 2. The ticket inspector found out several stowaways … the bus and made them pay the fine. 3. The public transport in Minsk circulate … predictable frequency. 4. I don’t mind going …. car but I don’t want to go … your car. 5. I saw him this morning. He was … the bus. 6. How did you get here? Did you come … the train? 7. Sorry we’re late. We missed the bus, so we had to come … foot. 8. How did you get here? Did you come … train? 9. I decided not to go … car. I went … my bike instead. 10. In big cities there is a possibility to be run … … a car. 11. Because of traffic jams in modern cities often we can’t reach our destination … a very short time. 12. … this reason many city-dwellers prefer underground to buses or trolleybuses. 13. While driving a car you should keep … the right side of the road. 14. London buses first came … the street in 1829. 15. The walls of the London and Moscow undergrounds are plastered … all kinds of ads. 16. We agreed to wait for each other … the bus stop.17. … the rush hour many drivers get nervous but I relax … rush hour and watch other cars.

Language Focus 2:

Prefer to do sth / doing sth

I prefer something to something

I prefer doing something to doing something.

I prefer to do sth rather than (do) something else

F.e. I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.

I prefer driv ing to travel ing by train.

I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.

I prefer to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.

V. Translate into English:

1. Многие жители крупных городов предпочитают метро общественному транспорту. 2. Мой друг предпочитает водить машину сам, чем быть пассажиром. 3. Я предпочитаю путешествовать поездом, чем автобусом. 4. В наши дни многие англичане предпочитают чай кофе. 5. Некоторые предпочитают жить в за городом, а не дышать в городе смогом. 6. Мой маленький брат предпочитает автобус метро, т.к. он боится автоматических дверей в метрополитене. 7. Многие предпочитают покупать проездные билеты, чем общаться с контролёрами. 8. Я предпочитаю заказывать такси по телефону, чем стоять на улице и голосовать (to hail).

VI. Complete the sentences:

1. The sign of the London underground is a red circle crossed with a blue stripe whereas in Minsk it looks like….

2. In London drivers expect to be tipped whereas in Minsk …

3. In London the underground looks like a long, narrow and dimly lit tube whereas in Minsk …

4. In London taxis carry meters indicating the fare to be paid whereas in Minsk …

5. In London traffic keeps to the left whereas in Minsk …

6. In Belarus al bus stops are compulsory whereas in Britain …

VII. Answer the questions:

1. Which city transport is the most convenient? Give your reasons.

2. What makes people travel twice a day hither and thither?

3. Why are most buses, trams and trolleybuses packed?

4. Why do many passengers prefer having travel cards to buying tickets for money?

5. Is it to be regretted that the Minsk metro isn’t that large that you can’t reach suburbs by it?

6. Are you a keen taxi passenger? Why?

7. Does unceasing traffic noise get on your nerves?

VIII. Speak on the following:

1. How does the public transportation system of Belarus compare with that of Great Britain?

2. What are your transport preferences? Explain your choice.

3. Point out both negative and positive sides of the hectic public transport.

4. Have you ever happened to pay a fine? How did it happen?