TOPIC 1: HOLIDAYS, VACATION AND TOURISM

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: What kind of holiday do you like?
Miguel: I try to avoid tourist traps … I like to get away from it all and prefer going somewhere off the beaten track … last year I had the holiday of a lifetime … a two week wildlife safari in Kenya.

Examiner: What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?
Anna: I enjoy visiting the local places of interest … I like to go sightseeing and always sign up for guided tours as it’s a chance to be shown around and take photographs … one of my hobbies.

Examiner: Do you have many tourists in your country?
Amy: Yes … we have a lot of holiday resorts along the coast that are popular with tourists … most people come on package holidays and stay in one of the many hotels and self-catering apartments.

Part 2-style task

Describe a beautiful place you once visited. You should say:

when you went to this place
where it was
who you went with
and say why you liked it so much.

Sally: A few years ago I went on a long weekend to the Lake District in the UK … it’s a very popular holiday destination in the north of England … I went on my own and had a wonderful time … I stayed in a youth hostel and met some really nice people … but the most memorable thing about the holiday were the breathtaking views … and lovely picturesque villages … it can get very busy with hordes of tourists so I decided to go out of season in the autumn  … the weather was fantastic and the shops were full of local crafts … a really great holiday … it’s certainly not the kind of short break for someone looking for a busy nightlife but if you want to relax in the middle of stunning landscape I would certainly recommend a holiday to the Lake District.

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: What do you think has led to the growth in the tourism industry?
Miguel: It’s much easier and affordable to travel now … nowadays you can get cheap charter-flights or all-in packages … to somewhere near or to a far-off destination.

Examiner: How do people tend to choose a destination?
Anna: The Internet is a great source of information and high street travel agents are still very popular … that’s where I like to go to get holiday brochures for the place I’m interested in.

Examiner: People sometimes say flying is the most glamorous form of travel. Do you agree?
Amy: I’m not so sure really … flying can be quite boring  … queuing up at the check-in desk … going through passport control … sitting for ages in the departure lounge … then the flight itself can be quite uncomfortable … no … I’m not sure I agree.

- All-in package/package holiday: chuyến đi trọn gói (giá cả cố định, bao gồm chi phí vận chuyển, nơi ăn ở…)

- Breathtaking view: cảnh đẹp ngoạn ngục

- Off the beaten track/ off the beaten path: không nổi tiếng lắm, không được biết đến bời nhiều người

- Charter-flight:  chuyến bay bằng một chiếc máy bay thuê

- Check-in desk: bàn đăng ký

- Departure lounge: phòng chờ khởi hành

- Far-off destination: điểm đến xa xôi

- To get away from it all: thoát khỏi tất cả (để đi du lịch xả stress)

- Guided tour: chuyến du lịch có hướng dẫn

- Holiday brochure: cuốn sách nhỏ về những kỳ nghỉ

- Holiday destination:  địa điểm du lịch

- Holiday of a lifetime: kỳ nghỉ đặc biệt trong đời

- Holiday resort: khu nghỉ dưỡng

- Hordes of tourists: nhóm đông khách du lịch

- Local crafts: hàng thủ công địa phương

- Long weekend: kỳ nghỉ cuối tuần kéo dài ( bao gồm cả thứ sáu hoặc thứ hai)

- Out of season:  trái mùa

- Picturesque village: ngôi làng đẹp như tranh vẽ

- Passport control: kiểm tra hộ chiếu

- Places of interest: địa điểm ưa chuộng

- Wildlife safari: thám hiểm động vật hoang dã

- Self-catering: tự phục vụ

- Short break: kỳ nghỉ ngắn

- To go sightseeing: đi tham quan

- Stunning landscape: phong cảnh tuyệt vời ( nông thôn)

- Travel agent: đại lý du lịch

- Tourist trap: khu du lịch đắt đỏ, hút tiền khách du lịch

- Youth hostel: nhà trọ thanh niên ( phòng ở giá rẻ)

- A thriving city: thành phố phát triển, thịnh vượng

- A vibrant cosmopolitan city: thành phố quốc tế sôi động

- Cobbled street: con đường rải sỏi, đá cuội

- Undergoing restoration: đang trong giai đoạn sửa chữa, tu bổ

- Off the beaten track: nơi hẻo lánh

- Trek: một chuyến đi dài vất vả, thường là leo núi

- Unspoilt  of a place: địa điểm hoang sơ

- Unwind (v):  xả hơi, thư giãn

- Laze around on the sandy beach : nghỉ ngơi, thư giãn bên bãi biển

- Soak sth up (v) ngâm, hòa mình

- Go for a wander: đi lang thang