Unit 5: English for Tourism

Aims and Objectives

In this unit you will learn and practise vocabulary related to turism.

You will practise the following skills and functions:

listening for information
dealing with in-coming and out-going calls

The grammar focus of this unit is:

INTERROGATIVES and QUESTION WORDS

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Listening Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Thomas needs a holiday. He goes to the travel agency. Listen
Travel Agent	Good morning. How can I help you?
Thomas	I'd like to go away for a holiday - somewhere in the sun.
Travel Agent	Have you any particular destination in mind?
Thomas	Spain, I think.
Travel Agent	Mainland Spain or one of the islands?
Thomas	The Canaries would be nice. Yes, I'd like a hotel beside a beach .
Travel Agent	OK. Here are a few brochures about the Canaries, with information about hotel accommodation and self-catering apartments too. When would you like to travel?
Thomas	I'd like to go for a week in June. Is that high or low season?
Travel Agent	I'm afraid it's the start of the high season.
Thomas	OK. Thanks very much. I'll have a look at the brochures and think about it.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

What kind of holiday does Thomas want?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Where does Thomas want to go?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How long does Thomas want to go away for?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
When does the high season start?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How many tickets does Thomas book?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Here is an extract from one of the brochures that the travel agent gave Thomas:

“Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, close to the coast of Africa. The island enjoys spring weather all year round, with average temperatures of 20 degrees in winter and 25 in the summer. Tenerife is the ideal place to enjoy the seaside or to practise all sorts of outdoor activities, both in the sea and on land. Tenerife has much to offer culturally and commercially: a permanent calendar of exhibitions, music and theatre, as well as the best shops and shopping centres. For nightlife, there are atmospheres to suit every taste. And don't forget to enjoy the delicious fish and seafood in Tenerife's typical restaurants!”

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Where is Tenerife?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What's the weather like in Tenerife?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Which is correct?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What is NOT mentioned in the text?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Thomas read his brochures, but went to the Greek Island of Rhodes instead, because there was a special offer. When he got there he didn't want to spend all day every day on the beach, so he went to the Tourist Office to get some information.

Thomas	Hello. Can you give me some information about things to do here? What do you recommend?
Girl	Have you visited the Medieval City and the old walls?
Thomas	Yes, I've been there and done that.
Girl	Well then, what about a guided tour of the ancient city of Kamiros or the ancient ruins of the Acropolis of Rhodes?
Thomas	Maybe, but is there anything else to do apart from ancient ruins? Somebody in the hotel told me something about butterflies.
Girl	Ah, yes. The Valley of the Butterflies. It's a nature reserve and well worth a visit, except you won't see many butterflies until next month. Or you could try the world-famous Water Park. There's an entrance fee of course. Here's a leaflet.
Thomas	Yes, that sounds like fun. I think I'll try it. Thanks very much.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Thomas went to Greece because:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Which is correct?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The tourist office girl mentioned guided tours of:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Thomas decided to go to:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The tourist office girl gave him:
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

The words tourist and tourism are quite modern, but tourism is much older. People have always travelled to distant parts of the world in order to see great buildings or works of art, to learn new languages, or simply for pleasure. Nowadays, however, organised tourism is an enormous industry all over the world, and many national economies depend on it. In the past tourism meant travelling to foreign countries, but now it also includes travelling within your own country. The last century saw the growth of mass tourism, with package tours to holiday resorts in the sun. In recent years tourists have begun to look for alternatives to crowded resorts, and other forms of tourism have developed.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Tourism does NOT include:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Which is correct?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Which is correct?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What is a package holiday?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Which is correct?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

General Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

Make questions for the following statements.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Example:

The Acropolis is over 2000 years old. (How old ...?)
How old is the Acropolis?

The guide works six hours a day. (How many hours a day ...?)
How many hours a day does the guide work?

A. Tourists can visit the Royal Palace. (What can ...?)
B. [?]
A. Thomas went to Greece. (Why did ...?)
B. [?]
A. Maria goes to Ibiza every year. (Where does ...?)
B. [?]
A. Last year Michael went to Florida. (When did ...?)
B. [?]
A. The Acropolis is over 2000 years old. (How old ...?)
B. [?]
A. I go skiing every weekend. (How often do you ...?)
B. [?]
A. The flight takes three hours. (How long does ...?)
B. [?]
A. The train leaves at 6.30 a.m. (What time ...?)
B. [?]
A. The guided tour costs 12 euros. (How much does ...?)
B. [?]
A. I prefer the trip to Prague. (Which trip do ...?)
B. [?]

Exercise 2: Transformation

In this exercise we are going to make questions with an interrogative expression as subject.

Explanation:

In a question like: `Where did the Petersons go?' the subject is `the Petersons'.

In this case we have to use the auxiliary `did' to make the question because the subject is not an interrogative word.

In a question like: `Who went to Ibiza last year?' the subject is `who' and it is an interrogative word, so the auxiliary is not used.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Example:

The Petersons went to New Zealand. (Who?)
Who went to New Zealand?

A. The Petersons went to New Zealand. (Who?)
B. [?]
A. Tourism helps the economy. (What?)
B. [?]
A. The tourists enjoyed the food. (Who?)
B. [?]
A. Japanese tourists take a lot of photos. (Who?)
B. [?]
A. The first flight departed on time. (Which flight?)
B. [?]
A. A technical problem delayed the second flight. (What?)
B. [?]
A. The pilot explained the delay. (Who?)
B. [?]
A. Forty million tourists visited Spain last year. (How many tourists?)
B. [?]

Exercise 3: Selections

Chose the correct answer.

Consolidation

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording:

Transcript:

Sunshine tourism with package holidays in seaside resorts is still popular, and now includes destinations on the other side of the world, but in the past few decades other forms of tourism have been developed. One new form of tourism which is gaining popularity is ecotourism. This offers safaris, trips to rain forests or national parks, or even cruises in the polar regions. Sport tourism, particularly skiing, and adventure activities such as rafting attract more and more young people, while cultural tourism visiting historical or interesting cities is often an opportunity to take a long weekend break. Heritage tourism, visiting historical or industrial sites, language tourism, and health tourism to relieve stress, often in "health spas", are other alternatives. In recent years many people have started taking two holidays per year, with a package tour to a typical tourist resort, and a winter skiing vacation or weekend break.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Nobody buys package holidays nowadays.

[?]
On an ecological safari tourists don't kill animals.

[?]
National parks are protected areas.

[?]
Young people are becoming interested in adventure holidays.

[?]
Visiting old industrial sites is not a form of tourist activity.

[?]
A lot of people travel abroad to learn a language.

[?]
A spa is a place where tourists can eat and drink all day.

[?]

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Exercise 3: Cloze

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

Recording:

Transcript:

This offers safaris, trips to rain forests or national parks, or even cruises in the polar regions. Sport tourism, particularly skiing, and adventure activities such as rafting attract more and more young people, while cultural tourism visiting historical or interesting cities is often an opportunity to take a long weekend break. Heritage tourism, visiting historical or industrial sites, language tourism, and health tourism to relieve stress, often in "health spas", are other alternatives. In recent years many people have started taking two holidays per year, with a package tour to a typical tourist resort, and a winter skiing vacation or weekend break.

This offers safaris, trips to rain forests or national parks, or [?] cruises in the polar regions. Sport tourism, particularly skiing, and adventure activities [?] rafting attract [?] and more young people, [?] cultural tourism visiting historical or interesting cities is often [?] opportunity to take a long weekend [?]. Heritage tourism, visiting historical or industrial sites, language tourism, and health tourism to relieve stress, often in "health spas", are [?] alternatives. In recent years [?] people have started taking two holidays [?] year, with a package tour to a typical tourist resort, [?] a winter skiing vacation or weekend break.

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

1. On a ____ holiday your travel and hotel are arranged for you.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
2. A ____ is a person or book that gives tourist information about a place.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
3. People often bring back ____ from holiday destinations.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
4. Last year we went ____ in France.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
5. ____ accommodation is cheaper than most hotel accommodation.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
6. Enjoy a ____ around some of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
7. A ____ is a place where a lot of people go on holiday, often by the sea.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
8. Last year we went on a coach ____ round Austria and Switzerland.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
9. Organised tourism is now a major ____ around the world.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
10. Ecotourism is tourism which has minimal impact on the ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
11. When you visit a museum you sometimes have to pay an entrance ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
12. Cheap ____ mean more people can fly more often.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
13. Sometimes flights are cancelled or ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
14. Tenerife enjoys temperatures of 20 ____ in winter.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
15. Is June high or ____ season?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
16. I'll ____ a look at the brochures.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
17. There was over-____ in our hotel last year.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
18. I hate ____ beaches.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
19. A travel ____ organises trips.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
20. Goodbye! Have a good ____ !
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Checklist

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

Use vocabulary and terms related to travel and the tourism industry