Exercises. One day after an external visit Vladimir Antonov one of the par­ticipants of the Programme decided to go sightseeing by himself

Text

One day after an external visit Vladimir Antonov one of the par­ticipants of the Programme decided to go sightseeing by himself. Just to economise time, he decided to go by taxi.

The famous London black taxi cabs can be hailed in the street. Some cabs are now painted different colours and carry limited adver­tising, but are still bound by the same strict regulations. They are available for hire if the yellow light above the windscreen is lit. All these taxis have meters which the driver must use on all journeys within the Metropolitan Police District. The District covers most of Greater London and goes out to the Heathrow Airport. For longer journeys the price is usually negotiated with the driver beforehand. There is also a minimum payable charge which is shown on the meter when you hire the cab. Passengers are expected to pay extra for large luggage, journeys between 20.00—06.00, at weekends and holidays.

There are over 500 ranks throughout London, including all major hotels and British Rail stations.

Besides black cabs there are mini-cabs which practically render similar services. But they cannot be hailed in the street, they are in­distinguishable from private cars. Unlike the black cabs they are not licensed and their drivers do not take the same stringent tests. They are cheaper than black cabs. Usually they are ordered by telephone. They are listed in Yellow Pages.

When Vladimir saw a cab with a yellow light he signaled it to halt:

Vladimir: Excuse me, could you take me to Westminster Bridge?

Driver: Yes, certainly. Get in please..... Where do you want me to stop?

Vladimir: Near Big Ben or just opposite the Houses of Parlia­ment.

Driver: Good..... Here you are.

Vladimir: How much is it?

Driver: The meter says three forty.

Vladimir: Here it is... Keep the small change.

Driver: Thank you. Good-bye. Enjoy the sights.

Words and expressions

cab, taxi cab, taxi		такси
to go by taxi		поехать на такси
by himself		сам, самостоятельно
to economise		экономить
to hail		останавливать
to hailataxi		останавтивать такси
in the street		на улице
to paint		окрашивать, красить
to be painted different colours		быть окрашенным в разные цвета
to be painted led		быть окрашенным в красный цвет
to be painted green		быть окрашенным в зеленый цвет
limited		ограниченный
advertising	[эдветайзинг]	реклама
to bind (bound, bound)		связывать
strict		точный, строгий
regulation	[регюлэйшн]	предписание, правило
yellow		желтый
light	[лайт]	огонек, огонь, свет
to light (lit, lit)		освещать
windscreen		переднее / лобовое стекло
meter		счетчик
metropolitan		столичный
police		полиция
district		район
to cover		покрывать, охватывать
Greater London		Большой Лондон
to negotiate		обсуждать, вести переговоры о...
to negotiate the price		обсуждать цену
beforehand		заранее
payable		подлежащий оплате
charge		плата (за услуги)
passenger		пассажир
passengers are expected		предполагается, что пас­
to pay		сажиры заплатят...
weekend		уикенд: выходные дни, начиная с вечера пятницы, включая субботу и воскресенье
rank, taxi rank		стоянка такси
throughout	[сруаут]	повсюду, по всему...
major	[мэйджа]	главный
rail, railway		железнодорожный
railway station		железнодорожная станция/вокзал
indistinguishable		неразличимый
to distinguish	[дистингуиш]	различать
distinguishable		различимый, отличимый
unlike		непохожий на
license	[лайснс]	лицензия
to license		выдавать
licensed		лицензированный
stringent		строгий, обязательный
cheap		дешевый
cheaper		дешевле
to list		перечислять
Yellow Pages		Желтые страницы — телефонный справочник
to signal		подавать сигнал
to halt, to stop		останавливать (ся)
bridge		мост
Westminster Bridge		Вестминстерский мост (по названию района, где он находится, построен в 1854-1862 гг.)
Big Ben		"Биг Бен", "Большой Бен". Колокол часов-курантов на здании Парламента, назван по имени лорда Бенджамина Холла, смотрителя работ по ус­тановлению и восстановлению колокола в 1855— 1860 гг.
opposite		противоположный
the Houses of Parliament		здание Парламента на берегу Темзы на Парла­ментской площади, где проходят заседания обеих палат Парламента — Палаты Лордов (the House of Lords) и Палаты Общин (the House of Commons)
small change		сдача, мелочь
sight		вид

1. Insert prepositions:

Vladimir decided to go sightseeing... taxi.

He hailed a taxi... the street.

The charge is usually shown... the meter.

Mini-cab companies are mainly listed... Yellow Pages.

Mini-cabs are usually ordered... telephone.

Could you take me... Westminster Bridge, please?

Will you stop... Big Ben just... the Houses... Parliament?

2. Insert articles:

... famous London taxi cabs can be hailed in... street.

They are bound by... same strict regulations.

They are available for hire if... yellow light above... windscreen is lit.

... driver must use meters on all... journeys within... Metropolitan Police District.

... District covers most of Greater London and goes out to... Heathrow Airport.

There is... minimum payable charge which is shown on... meter when you hire... cab.

3. Underline the verbs in the Passive Voice and translate the sentences into Russian:

• The famous London black cabs can be hailed in the street.

Some cabs are now painted different colours.

They are bound by the same strict regulations.

They are available for hire if the yellow light above the wind screen is lit.

For longer journeys the price is usually negotiated.

• The minimum payable charge is shown on the meter when you hire the cab.

Passengers are expected to pay extra for large luggage.

Mini-cabs cannot be hailed in the street.

Mini-cabs are not licensed.

They are usually ordered by telephone.

4. Find the answers in the text:

• What place of interest did Vladimir want to see that day?

Did he hire a taxi cab or a mini-cab?

Can taxi cabs be hired only in the street in London?

How many taxi ranks are there in London, approximately?

Where are they located mostly?

What colour are they?

• Do they usually carry advertising?

What helps people to distinguish a free taxi?

What is the function of meters?

Are the prices or fares negotiated with the driver?

Must the driver always use the meter?

When are passengers expected to pay extra?

5. Complete as in the text:

Besides black... there are mini... which... render similar... But they cannot... in the street. They are indistinguishable from... Unlike the black cabs they are not... and their drivers do not... stringent... They are cheaper... Usually they are ordered... They are listed in...

6. Sum up what the text said about:

the famous London black cabs

mini-cab services in London.

7. Read the following:

where what when why Wednesday

want wish well winter Westminster

Could you take me to Westminstel Bridge, please?

Excuse me, how can I get to Westminster Bridge, please?

8. Complete the dialogue and act out a similar one:

— Excuse me, could you...

— Yes.. Get.. Where do you want me...

— Near... just opposite...

— Good. Here...

— How much...

— The meter says..

— Here it is. Keep..

— Thank you. Good-bye. Enjoy...

9. Make short dialogues as in the examples:

• Example	the talk/short — The talk is very short, isn't it? — Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.
	the journey/short the charge /big the sight /wonderful

• Example	the sights / wonderful — The sights are wonderful, aren't they? — Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.
the tests / stringent the tests of taxi cab drivers / stringent the regulations / strict
• Example	he / go by taxi — He went by taxi, didn't he? — Yes, he did. / No, he didn't.
	he / hire the cab in the street the driver / stop near Big Ben the meter / say three forty Vladimir / ask the driver to keep the smal change

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