VOA慢速英语2018--Words to Travel With, Part 2: Airports
时间:2019-01-11 作者:英语课 分类:2018年VOA慢速英语(十二)月
Ask one hundred people whether they love to travel and most of them will probably say yes. Discovering a new place can be fun and exciting. But getting to that place is often a lot less enjoyable.
Flying is a popular travel method. But airports can be frustrating 1 places. Having to speak a foreign language in an airport can add to the frustration 2.
Today, we will share some English phrases that can help you survive any airport experience!
ID and boarding pass
Let’s begin with check-in.
At an airport, check-in is where you go to let the airline know that you have arrived. At check-in, you can also get your boarding pass. The document has your flight information on it. It is proof 3 that you purchased the flight. You cannot get on the plane without one.
Many airports offer two ways to check in: through a machine or with an airline employee. Here is what you’ll be asked if you get your boarding pass from the employee:
Hello! May I see your ID?
Your ID is your identification 4, such as a passport or driving document.
You can answer, “Sure” or “Here you go” and give the person the document.
If you use the machine, you can enter the ticket or reservation 5 number you received when you purchased the flight.
Checked bags and carry-ons
At the check-in area, you can also check your bags. This means giving your bags, also called luggage, to an airline employee to be stored during the flight.
Bags you give to the employee are called "checked bags," "checked baggage" or "checked luggage."
Here’s the question airline employees ask to find out if you want to check bags:
Will you be checking any bags today?
Or, they may say it this way:
Do you have any checked bags today?
You can answer yes or no, and tell them how many:
Yes, just this one.
They will then tell you to put the bag on a machine to measure the weight. Here’s what they will say:
Please place your bag on the scale.
But some bags are small enough to fit in the passenger area of the plane. The bag you keep with you on the plane is called a “carry-on bag” or simply a “carry-on.”
Sadly, there are times when your carry-on does not meet weight or size restrictions 7. In such cases, you’ll hear something like this:
I’m sorry but your bag is too heavy. You’ll have to check it.
I’m sorry. Your bag is too big. You’ll have to check it.
OK, so you’ve finished at the check-in area. Now it’s time to go through security. In line, you may hear a security employee announce this to the crowd:
Please have your IDs and boarding passes out.
That means have your documents ready to show the security person.
Security workers also check bags and other belongings 9. Sometimes, you have to place such things in a plastic container called a “bin.”
Security workers may ask if you have any liquids, foods or medicines:
Are you traveling with any liquids?
Layovers, missed flights
OK, you made it through security with ease 6. Congratulations!
Time to go to your gate – the seating area where you wait for your plane to board. At the gate, here’s an announcement you might hear:
Attention passengers on flight 95 to Chicago: Your flight has been delayed due to weather conditions. The new departure 10 time is 5:45.
So, your flight is delayed three hours.
But, let’s say Chicago is not your final destination. You are supposed to fly another plane from Chicago to your final destination. That is called a “layover” in American English. You might also hear it called a “stopover.”
The delay means you will miss your flight out of Chicago. But don’t worry! Just let the person at the airline counter know:
Hi, I missed my connecting flight to Los Angeles. What should I do?
Airlines generally have solutions ready, such as putting you on the next flight or putting you in a hotel for the night.
At customs, immigration
After an international flight, you will be directed through customs. That is where government officers approve or reject entrance into the country.
The customs officer will ask for your passport and may or may not have questions. Here are five common questions you might hear at customs:
What is the purpose of your trip?
How long do you intend to stay?
Can I see your return ticket?
Where will you be staying?
What is your occupation?
Preparing this information before your trip will help make the process easier. For example, if you’re staying with a friend or at a hotel, have the person or hotel’s name and address ready.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Words in This Story
frustrating – adj. causing feelings of anger and annoyance 11
reservation – n. an arrangement to have something held for your use at a later time
ticket – n. a piece of paper that allows you to travel on a vehicle, see a show, or participate in an event (a plane ticket is also called a boarding pass)
phrase – n. a brief expression that is commonly used
luggage – n. the bags and suitcases that a person carries when traveling
destination – n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent
counter – n. a piece of furniture with a flat surface that workers and customers stand on opposite sides
occupation – n. a person’s job or profession
- It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间,真令人懊恼。
- It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
- He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
- He is living proof of the wonders of modern medicine.他是当代医学奇迹的活证明。
- The proof was fished up from some old papers.校样在旧文件中被找到了。
- He's made a formal identification of the body.他正式确认了死者身份。
- We should have identification card on the person when we go out.我们外出时应随身携带身份证。
- The instruction should be carried out without any reservation.应当不折不扣地执行这个指示。
- I accept your statement without reservation.我完全相信你的话。
- His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
- You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
- A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
- There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时,机场的保安措施很严密。
- I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
- Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。
- Do you know what lies behind her sudden departure for London?你知道她突然去伦敦的原因吗?
- She took over his work after his departure.他离开以后,她接替了他的工作。