A way to get to know the world

Different types of tourism

For all ages and interests

The negative impact of tourism

The most popular destinations

Travelling tips

Nature-friendly tourism

A.          

Tourism has become a popular activity. Indeed, nowadays people travel more, and further, than they used to. The main reasons for tourism are: recreation, leisure and business. When travelling for recreation, people want to escape their stressful daily routine and to relax. Beach holidays are an example of leisure tourism. Business trips involve going to some distant place in order to settle business issues.

B.           

When people travel, they broaden their horizons. Whether on a business trip or on a honeymoon, people want to explore the place they are in. They go on excursions, try new activities like diving or mountain climbing, learn about the historical background of the place, and buy souvenirs to remind them of the local cultural peculiarities. Sometimes they find out amazing facts about people and places, and about themselves, too!

C.           

Trips can be spontaneous or well-planned, but before any planning is done, you need to decide where you want to go. Lots of people prefer places where they can enjoy the sea and the sun, that’s why tourism in countries like Turkey, Thailand, Bali, Cyprus is quite a profitable industry. People who like winter leisure activities go to ski resorts in France, Austria, Iceland, Serbia and so on.

D.          

A new branch of tourism is ecotourism. It involves visiting relatively untouched places in remote areas. Ecotourism is often misinterpreted as any form of tourism involving wildlife - but it’s completely different from jungle tourism or safari. Eco-tourists are against disturbing the environment; even taking photos is not recommended. Take only memories and leave only footprints is a very popular slogan for them.

E.           

By educational tourism, most people mean different versions of Learn and Travel Programmes for students. But it’s not only for the young and brave. Lots of training and educational programmes for adults are offered in different corners of the world. Retired people participate in these programmes too. They gladly enroll on overseas courses ranging from gardening and design to computer skills and programming.

F.           

With all the benefits of travelling, it’s still a very expensive activity and may not fit every budget. To reduce the costs, avoid travelling in high season when flight tickets, hotels, food and excursions are overpriced. Remember that, as well as the well-known, popular, and therefore most expensive, destinations, there are less prestigious but even more interesting places. When planning a trip, find out about low-cost airlines, discounts and special offers.

G.          

If possible, consider means of transport other than the plane. Rapidly increasing numbers of flights have put the environment in danger. Planes pollute the air, which results in global warming. In fact, tourism is not harmless fun as many may think: new airports and tourist infrastructure, pollution, and crowds of noisy tourists make wild animals migrate, which may decrease their population or even make them extinct.

Чтение 48.

 

Прочитайте тексты и установите соответствие между текстами и их заголовками: к каждому тексту, обозначенному буквами А–G, подберите соответствующий заголовок, обозначенный цифрами 1–8. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании есть один лишний заголовок.

 

Eco-friendly business

A good place for holidays

A silent hero of American literature

In search of luck and happiness

To those who went west

An unexpected environmental problem

Great sights and dangerous creatures

Dangerous sport

 

A.          

Geographically, the Wild West refers to the states west of the Mississippi River. The American West is both a place and an idea. In people’s minds, it was a place that promised excitement because it was new and unknown. From the middle of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century, lots of people pushed their way westward trying to find land, better lives, gold and silver, and, sometimes, to escape the law.

B.           

Due to books and films, the first thing that comes to mind about the American West is cowboys, rodeos and riding broncos. Bronco is the nickname for a wild horse. When a bronco jumps, it kicks its back legs trying to throw the rider off. Nowadays, there are popular rodeo competitions where cowboys try to remain on aggressive broncos as long as possible. To entertain the public they also lasso cows and bulls.

C.           

Yellowstone Park, the first American national park, is situated in the western states. The park has a great variety of natural features – waterfalls, plateaus, canyons, hot springs and geysers. It is also famous for its diverse wildlife and harsh beauty. Camping and backpacking are encouraged at Yellowstone, but visitors must be careful. A few careless or unlucky people have already been killed by angry bears.

D.          

In the 1970s and 1980s, people from all over the United States moved to Colorado to work in the mining industry. New citizens of the state capital, Denver, were attracted to the city by its location in the Rocky Mountains and its clean air. However, due to the rapid development of Denver, they got into serious trouble –growing air pollution. Car engines did not burn fuel efficiently at a high altitude and thick smog hung over the city.

E.           

In 1935, the federal government selected St. Louis, Missouri, as the site for a new national monument – The Gateway Arch. The memorial, also known as the Gateway to the West, was to honor the pioneers exploring the American West. Eero Saarinen, an architect, won the nationwide competition with his project for a giant steel arch. Since the Gateway Arch was opened in 1965, millions of people visit it every year.

F.           

The Mississippi River is often mentioned in Mark Twain’s books. In his novel, Life on the Mississippi, the famous writer describes the history of the river and his own experiences related to it. There is also a collection of tales that either take place on the river or are associated with it. Another of Mark Twain’s famous works, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells us about a journey down the river.

G.          

Hawaii is the USA's 50th state. It’s a popular holiday destination for the citizens, as well as for foreign tourists. Along with Florida, it's one of a few states where it's usually sunny and hot all the year round. Hawaii is made up of 132 tropical islands, though people live only on seven of them. Tourism is Hawaii’s biggest industry. People are attracted to the islands because of their beautiful scenery and beaches. Surfers come to experience the high waves.

 

Чтение 49.

Прочитайте тексты и установите соответствие между текстами и их заголовками: к каждому тексту, обозначенному буквами A–G, подберите соответствующий заголовок, обозначенный цифрами 1–8. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании есть один лишний заголовок.

 

1. The key element

2. Ecologically friendly

3. Play and learn

4. A meaningful name

5. A good offer

6. Suitable even for small kids

7. A reason for complaint

8. Family business

A.          

The company that makes the famous little plastic bricks known as LEGO started as a small shop in the town of Billund in Denmark. It made and sold wooden toys, stepladders, and ironing boards. Soon the business became known as LEGO. It came from the Danish words ‘LEg GOdt’, meaning ‘play well’. Later, it was realized that the original meaning in Latin was ‘I put together’.

B.           

The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has come a long way from a small carpenter’s workshop to a modern, global corporation, the world’s third-largest producer of toys. Lego has passed from father to son and is now owned by a grandchild of the founder. As a child, he often came up with the ideas for new models and Lego sets.

C.           

The company LEGO has been awarded ‘Toy of the Century’ twice. The company owes its success to the traditional Lego brick, which is their main product. The brick in its present form appeared in 1958 and since then has remained the main component of all Lego sets. This little piece of plastic offers unlimited building possibilities. It lets children experiment and try out their creative ideas.

D.          

Windsor LEGOLAND theme park has a wide choice of rides, attractions, shows, shops and cafes. It is a perfect place for a family day out. Those who buy two-day tickets can stay overnight in the LEGO themed hotel in the centre of the park. The hotel is not cheap but you get your second day in LEGOLAND absolutely free. So you can double your fun for the same price.

E.           

Last year Charlotte Benjamin wrote a letter to the Lego Company in which she complained that during a visit to the toy store she noticed that ‘there are lots of Lego boy people and barely any Lego girls.’ She felt sad that, in Lego, girl figures mostly sat at home, went shopping and had no job. At the same time boy figures went on adventures, worked, saved people, and ‘even swam with sharks’.

F.           

Lego Games are a great way of having fun together with family and friends. These sets excite imagination and improve creativity because the child needs to put a game together before he or she can play it. They also develop hand and eye coordination, teach children to follow directions with logic, find scientific and technological solutions. In a fun way these games promote basic ideas of Maths, Geometry and Engineering.

G.          

The LEGO Group releases thousands of sets with a variety of themes. In 1969 the company introduced Lego Duplo designed for children who are 1 to 5 years old. Duplo bricks are twice the length, height and width of traditional Lego bricks. It makes them easier to handle and less likely to be swallowed by younger children. Duplo sets now include farm, zoo, town, castle, and pirate sets.

 

Чтение 50.

 

Прочитайте тексты и установите соответствие между текстами и их заголовками: к каждому тексту, обозначенному буквами A–G, подберите соответствующий заголовок, обозначенный цифрами 1–8. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании есть один лишний заголовок.

 

Troll on the stage

Computer-based versions

Old stories in a new way