English for Fun

Airplane Fun

Annoying Passengers

Task 1. Answer these questions:

1. When was the last time you went on a plane?

2. Did you have a good flight?

3. What were the other passengers like?

4. Do you recognize some of the things that passengers do in the list below?

5. How do you feel about the passengers who:

- Act innocently after jumping in the queue as people are waiting to check their bags in.

- Bring massive carry-on bags that block up the overhead locker.

- Ask you (ever so kindly) to move to another seat so that they can sit next to their friend/husband/child/wife, etc, etc.

- Stand in front of the movie screen while you’re trying to watch the film.

- Speak very loudly behind you during the flight.

- Grab the back of your seat as they get up or down, disturbing you while you are enjoying nap, reading a book, or drinking a cup of hot coffee.

- Lean really far back in the seat in front of you, leaving you with even less space than you had before.

- Play their walkman/dismay/MP3 player so loud that you can feel the drum and bass rhythm without hearing the words to the song.

- Try to open the toilet doors, and fail to understand that “OCCUPIED” means that you are sitting in the toilet.

- Talk to you while you’re working reading a great novel, or using a personal electric device.

- Try to read your newspaper, or watch the film on your computer.

- Fall asleep and dribble on your arm.

- Pretend that they are experts on air travel and explain in boring detail everything that is happening.

- Stand up before the seat belt sign goes off in an attempt to get off the plane quicker.

Task 2. Read these stories to answer these questions:

1. What makes people use sophisticated methods for smuggling?

2. What other methods of smuggling do you remember?

3. What does a ‘swallower’ refer to?