UNIT 4

DESTINATIONS

 TRAVEL PROBLEMS

1. As a result of the disruption (alteración) caused by the air traffic controllers’ strike, our
flight couldn´t land in Paris.
2. Police blocked the entrance to the terminal because of the terrorist threat.
3. The flight was grounded (área/ suelo) just before take-off when a passenger attacked a
flight attendant.
4. Many passengers were left stranded (varado) abroad when the airline collapsed.
5. The long delays (retraso) at passport control were due to staffing problems.
6. There’s a hurricane alert. The airport is closed and all further flights have been cancelled.

GRAMMAR: ARTICLES

THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE

1-We use A / AN with countable nouns when the information is new. The reader or listener
doesn’t yet know which thing/person is referred to.

Would you like to see an exhibition?

There’s a man waiting for you downstairs.

2-We use A / AN before profession.

He’s a night auditor.

I’m a travel agent.

3-We use A / AN in expressions of measurement.

A room costs $650 a night.

Petrol costs more than one euro sixty a litre.

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

1. We use THE when the noun it specifies has previously been mentioned.

I had a suitcase and a large bag but the bag was stolen.

2. We use THE when a noun is identified by a phrase or clause that follows.

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 It’s better than the room I stayed in last year.
They don’t provide the level of service that you expect.

3. We use THE in superlative expressions.

Rodeo drive is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world.

4. We use THE when it is clear what particular thing or place is meant.

I´ll meet you in the bar next to the lobby.

5. We use THE before nouns and adjectives in order to create a category of people or things.

The call Centre staff must communicate with the guest in a polite manner.
The rich and the powerful demand special attention.
You must know how to use the reservations software.

6. We use THE with name of groups of islands or countries that consist of groups of states,
e.g. the Aran Islands, the Maldives, the United States.

We also use THE with the names of rivers, oceans and seas, deserts, e.g. The river Ganges, the
Atlantic Ocean, the Sahara Desert and for some forests, e.g. The black Forest.
We also use THE with names of mountain chains, e.g. the Himalayas, but not with the mountains,
e.g. Mount Everest.

7. Do use THE before:

-Names of rivers, oceans and seas: The Nile, the Pacific

-Points on the globe: The Equator, the North Pole

-Geographical areas: The Middle East, the West

-Deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: The Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian

Peninsula

8. Do not use THE before:

-Names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia;

however, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States

-Names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami

-Names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.

-Names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

-Names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains

like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn

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-Names of continents (Asia, Europe)

-Names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains
like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

ZERO ARTICLE

1. We use NO ARTICLE when countable, plural nouns are used in a general sense.

Tour operators sell dreams as well as holidays.

Young people usually prefer a less structured programme.
Good hotels have well-trained staff and high standards of customer service.

2. We use NO ARTICLE before the names of people and their titles.

Dr Mann Captain Kirk Queen Anne

3. We use NO ARTICLE with uncountable nouns used in a general sense.

Our insurance policy covers against loss or damage.

Good advice is hard to find.
Tea coffee will be served in the lobby.

4. Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:

-Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are referring
to the population of the nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm hospitality.")

-Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball

-Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science

PRACTISE
1. September is the best time for a cruise in 0 Turkey as the weather is warm but not too
hot. A week is probably sufficient to visit the most important sites. Walking, 0 diving and 0
snorkeling are all 0 popular activities.

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 2. In December, the air is clear and bright, perfect for 0 travelling on the fast-flowing Mekong
River. Although you can fly into 0 Luang Prabang, entering the country by 0 boat from the
Thai border will enable you to really appreciate the spectacular mountains of 0 northern
Laos.

3. One of the most interesting and unusual attractions 0 Cappadocia the underground cities.
There may be up to 40 underground cities. With the most famous being o Derinkuyu.
Derinkuyu has 9 floors, reaching 85 meters below the ground. The City had schools and
storerooms among other places, and between 20,000 and 50,000 o people may have lived
there. It has an area of at least 650m2 and was connected to the other cities through a
system of long tunnels.

Our travel nightmare came true when we were caught by Hurricane Irene while we were
travelling to a business meeting. We couldn’t cancel the meeting but at the same time, the
storm had grounded (area/suelo) all flights from JFK and hundreds of people were
stranded (varado).

We called our business partner to tell her that we would be delayed (retraso) and drove
inland, where we thought we could be OK. We were at first but as we drove south, the
weather got worse. We thought we might get through but a tree had been blown down at
Trenton and had blocked the road. So we had to turn back-away from the meeting and
towards the storm.

Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware River, New Jersey has a moderate climate
with cold winters and warm, wet humid summers. In Atlantic City, the average (promedio)
temperature is 54°F, ranging from 30°F in January to 75°F in July. In spring and autumn,
the weather can be changeable, with sunny intervals and sudden showers, but
temperatures are not usually really high nor very low, the state has a temperate
(templado) climate.

Occasionally, the state experiences extreme weather, with hurricanes and tropical storms.
Although rainfall is plentiful, a serious drought (sequía), or water shortage, occurs on
average every 15 years.

VOCABULARY

WEATHER FORECAST

RAIN - Drizzle (llovizna)

Showers (lluvia fuerte)

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TEMPERATURE - Mild (clima templado)
Freezing (helado)

WIND - Breeze (Brisa)

Gale (vendaval)

VISIBILITY – Fog (niebla)

Mist (neblina)

1-Another word for cloudy: OVERCAST

2-Two words that mean cold: CHILLY AND COOL
3-Another expression for periods of occasional sunshine: SUNNY SPELLS

WEATHER

Cloudy, light rain, typhons, flood (inundación), tropical storm, heavy rain, sunny intervals, cold
front, drizzle, thundery showers, light snow, drought(sequía).

FEATURES AND ATTRACTIONS

Natural features: Mountains, slopes, archipelago, islands, rocky coast.

Weather: Forecast(pronóstico), clear, sunny, heavy snowfalls, extreme heat, sandstorms, frequent
showers, cold, windy.

Transport: Camel, connecting flight, shuttle buses, donkey, horse-drawn carriage, ferry.

Attractions: Oyster festival, monuments.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS OFFERING ADVICE

1- I recommend the shore excursions

2- I suggest you check the weather forecast before you leave.
3- If I were you, I would avoid the gym in the mornings.
4- I advise you to keep your cash in a money belt.
5- Maybe I could interest you in a weekend break?
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 6- Why don’t you think about it and call me back tomorrow?

EXAMPLE

Dear Denise,
Following our conversation, I can recommend these wonderful holiday destinations.

1 Sassari Hotel Resort

On the beautiful island of Sardinia, the Sassari Hotel Resort has spacious, fully catered
accommodation, an Olympic sized swimming pool but no childcare service. There are organized
sports like windsurfing or volleyball on the hotel’s safe private beach.
Why not relax in the evening at the on-site cinema or disco? If I were you, I would book well in
advance as this resort is very popular. The cost for two weeks would be $3999.

2 Paphos Holiday Village

This safe family holiday village offers fully-catered accommodation on the spectacular Cyprus
coast. There are activities for all ages: you could maybe take your children swimming, go riding at
the equestrian center or go on a turtle-spotting tour. Childcare services are available so you can
enjoy the evening entertainment. Again, I advise you to book early as this is a popular destination
and a bargain at $938 for two weeks.

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