SERVICIO NACIONAL DE APRENDIZAJE – SENA-

GESTIÓN LOGISTICA

FICHA No.

Evidencia 2: Reading workshop: International transport

INSTRUCTOR: 

APRENDIZ

AÑO 2018

Actividad de aprendizaje 6

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Evidencia 5: Reading workshop: International transport

Para realizar esta evidencia, debe:

Leer el texto Methods of international transport que se encuentra disponible en el

material complementario.

Una vez realizada la lectura, desarrolle el taller Reading workshop: international

transport.

Reading workshop: International transport

Read the article Methods of international transport taken from the website
Exportiamo.it and complete the following reading comprehension tasks:

1. Identifying key information

Based on the information presented in the article, answer the following questions:
1. What’s the articles’ main idea?

a. There are many ways to transport goods.

b. Transport is very important in international trade.
c. There are several factors companies need to consider when deciding on
what type of transport to use
d. Depending on the mode of transport, companies can be more efficient
and save money.

2. According to the article, what are some of the factors a company needs to
take into account when choosing the method of transport to deliver their
goods?

a. Business type and expertise

b. Sending cost and type of goods
c. Type and value of goods, sending cost, destination, and risk of
transportation
d. Weather conditions and customers’ requirements

3. What mode of transport allows companies to transport large quantities at a

low cost?

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 a. Rail transport
b. Air transport
c. Road transport
d. Sea transport

4. What method of transport is more flexible in terms of routes and timetables?

a. Rail transport
b. Air transport
c. Road transport
d. Sea transport

5. What methods of transport require companies to spend more money on

further transportation costs to take goods to their final destination?

a. Rail transport and sea transport

b. Air transport and road transport
c. Road transport
d. Sea transport, air transport and rail transport

6. When is it necessary to complete a dangerous goods declaration?

a. When the goods are being transported to countries located in Europe,

North Africa or the Middle East.
b. When the goods are being transported by rail.
c. When the goods that are being transported have a UN dangerous goods
code.
d. When the goods are being transported with no insurance

2. Finding similar words

The following wordlist contains words from the article on methods of international
transport. For each word find a word with the same or similar meaning
(synonym).

Word Synonym
Trade Comercial
Ensure Saffe
Efficient Effective
Requirement Recuest
Quick Snappy, swif
Risk Dnagerous
Send Command

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 Customer Consumers
Suitable Adequade
Delay Slow
Deliver Provide
Currency Money
Insurance Reliable, Safe

3. Find the missing words

Choose the option that better completes the following passage:

When transporting freight internationally, it’s important to choose the

appropriate mode of transportation to ensure your products arrive on time
and at the right cost. Your decision to ship by land, sea, or air depends on
a careful evaluation of business needs and a comparison of the benefits
each method affords. Picking the best possible mode of transportation is
critical to export success.

a. Selling / irrelevant / ensure / decision / costs / comparison / noncritical

b. Transporting / important / ensure / decision / needs / comparison /critical
c. Transporting / irrelevant / support / comparison / needs / assessment
/critical
d. Selling / relevant / ensure / decision / needs / comparison / critical

4. Summarizing ideas visually

Based on the article, make a concept map or mind map with information related
to modes of transport. Remember to complete the diagram by writing on it only
main ideas and key information from the reading passage that deals with
methods of international transport.

You can use the following graphic organizer model or the one you feel more
comfortable with. Try using the resources available on the following websites:

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 INTERNATIONAL
TRANSPORT

MODE MODE MODE MODE

INTERNATIONAL AIR ROAD INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
TRANSPORT TRANSPORT RAILWAY MARITIME
TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION

AIRPLANE TRACTOR, TRAIN TANKS,

TRUCK REFRIGER
ATORS,
SHIPS

HIGH LARGE MASS

FLEXIBILITY IN
MOVEMENT. MOVEMENT
THE LONG HAUL
SPEED. OF
TRANSPORTATI MOVEMENTS
LOW UNIT COST GOODS.
ON
OF MOVEMENT. LOW UNIT
SPEED IN
LONG HAUL COST
DELIVERING
MOVEMENTS. OF
HIGH LARGE
SPECIALIZED MOVEMENT.
FREQUENCY OF CAPABILITY
EQUIPMENT LONG HAUL
DELIVERING OF MASS
MOVEMENTS
SERVICE MOVEMENT
.
EQUIPMENT
SPECIALIZED
DIVERSITY
EQUIPMENT
LOW SPEED OF
TRANSPORTATI
ON,
WHICH IS
TRANSLATED
INTO
MERCHANDISE
SAFETY.
ECONOMIC
RATES
.

5. Matching headings

Headings are short sentences that summarize the information in a paragraph.

You have to pick the one that best summarizes the information in the following
paragraphs. Match each paragraph in the reading text to one heading. Be
careful, there are always more headings than paragraphs

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Headings

 Legal requirements needed to carry goods by road

 Rail transport uses
 Means of transportation
 Factors that influence company’s decision on which type of transport to
use
 Rail transport benefits
 Difficulties of transporting goods by rail

 Paragraph 1: Means of transportation

Road, sea, rail and air are four ways of import and export. As a first step the
company has to consider all part of their project, firstly, it is important what has to
be distributed including size, weight and which type of goods.
For example, for the transportation of foods or fruits, speed is important and it’s
important to choose the shortest and quickest way.
Sending cost is another element very important and depends on the agency.
Destination, countries’ law, value o goods, risk of transport are other elements
to be considered and depend on company, country of destination and customers’
requirements. So who wants to deal with international transportation has to
balance quality, cost, time and conditions.

Paragraph 2: Difficulties of transporting goods by rail

Risks for rail transport:

 routes and timetables available can be inflexible, especially in remote

regions
 can be more expensive than road transport
 mechanical failure or industrial action can disrupt services
further transportation may be needed from a rail depot to the final destination,
increasing costs and affecting delivery schedules

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Paragraph 3: International transportation
The international transport of dangerous goods by road is subject to international
legislation, in particular the European Agreement on the International Carriage of
Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous
goods must hold an ADR training certificate in handling dangerous goods. All
commercial vehicles that carry dangerous goods must pass the ADR test, and
some of them need to be built with special standards.

Paragraph 4: Rail transport benefits

Rail transport is a cost-effective and efficient way to move goods. It offers the
following advantages: fast rail network throughout Europe. It is environmentally
friendly compared with other transport systems.

6. Making comparisons

Based on the article on methods of international transport complete the following

comparison chart by listing the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of
transportation.
Air transport See transport Road Rail transport
transport

-Time and speed -Speed -Speed -External guide

-Security -Competitiveness -Economic -Ferretic

Advantages technology
-Formalitie -Single -Flexibility
-Electric
-Documentation propulsion

-Cost -Procedure -Restrictions -Low speed

-Capacity -Weather -Pollutant -Dependency

Disadvantages Infrastructure
-Climatology -Port congestion -Accident
-Coverage