Reading workshop: International transport

Bleydis Morales navarro

Ficha técnica (2282536)
Read the article Methods of international transport taken from the website
Exportiamo.it and complete the following reading comprehension tasks:

IDENTIFYING KEY INFORMATION

Based on the information presented in the article, answer the following

questions:

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.

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
What mode of transport allows companies to transport large quantities at a
low cost?

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

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

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
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.

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 comerce
Ensure protect
Efficient effecty
Requirement Necessity
Quick Fast
Risk danger
Send dispatch
Customer client
Suitable appropriate
Delay Put off
Deliver bring
Currency Money
Insurance assurance
FIND THE MISSING WORDS

Choose the option that better completes the following passage:

When selling 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 cost and a support of the benefits each method
affords. Picking the best possible mode of transportation is irrelevant 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

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:
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

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: __________________________________________

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 of goods, risk of transport is 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: __________________________________________

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

Paragraph 3: __________________________________________

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 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 Sea transport Road transport Rail transport

 The time  Speed  Speed  Electric

and  Competitiv  Economic propulsion
speed eness  flexibility  Guide
Advantages  Security  single external
 formaties

 Capacity  Procedure  Accident  Low speed

 Cost  Weather  restriction  coverang
port
Disadvantages - congestion
-