4. Insert words or word combinations given in the brackets.

(the fixed quota, duty, trunks, new, Prohibited Articles List, things, extra, to look through, personal, examine)

AT THE CUSTOMS HOUSE Passenger: Will you ... my things?

Officer: Presently, sir, I will ask you ... these lists the mean­

time, please.

Passenger: What lists?

Officer: The ... and the Duty-free Quota List. Here they

are, please.

Passenger: Thank you.

Officer: What have you to declare, sir?

Passenger: I have nothing that’s listed in this first list. Officer: What have you above ... ?

Passenger: Well, I didn’t get through the second list, you know.

They are both rather long.

Officer: Will you, please, open your ..., sir?

Passenger: Yes, of course. Here you are.

Officer: What are these ... ?

Passenger: They are for my ... use.

Officer: You have suits above the fixed quota, sir.

Passenger: But they are not...

Officer: All the same. You will have to pay ...on this ... one.

Passenger: Well, all right

DIALOGUE 2 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

On the aircraft

Remember:

Steward / stewardess = host / (air)hostess = flight attendant

Stewardess: This way, gentlemen. These seats are yours.

N: Have we to strap ourselves with these belts now?

S: No, this is in case of emergency.

N: When shall we begin to tumble down, eh?

S: Complete safety is guaranteed. How do you take to flying, gentlemen? »

N: Can’t say. I’ve never been in a plane before. Have you, M.? M: Neither have 1.1 hope it won’t make me feel bad.

S: So do I. If you should want anything, gentlemen, there’s a stewardess call button over there. The individual loud­speaker is at your right.

M: With whom may we talk?

S: With the captain and me, sir.

M: Is smoking allowed here?

S: The sign over there will answer your question, sir.

M: Oh, yes. Thank you. It’ll be a good reminder.

S: The smoking-room is at the rear of the plane.

M: When do we take off?

S: In ten minutes’ time. If you feel tired you may adjust the seat in a reclining position.

N: Yes, thank you. How many hops do we make in our flight? S: We are in for a non-stop flight, sir. If you feel hungry, you’ll be provided with a hot meal on the way.

N: Oh, that’s fine! And when can we have it?

S: As soon as we reach altitude. In the meantime you may read this booklet entitled “The ABCs of Jet Flight.” The read­ing light is above you. I hope you will enjoy the flight, gen­tlemen.

Both: Thank you.

Reproduce the dialogue in the Reported Speech.

B

Stewardess: Would you like any duty-free goods?

Traveller: Yes, a litre bottle of whisky, please.

Stewardess: What sort would you like?

Traveller: Johnnie Walker, please.

Stewardess: That’s $ 6.80.

Traveller: Can I pay in francs?

Stewardess: Haven’t you got any US dollars?

Traveller: No, I haven’t. I’m sorry.

Stewardess: OK, that’ll be all right. I’ll bring the change in a moment.

Traveller: Thank you.

Read and dramatize the dialogue.

5. Flight attendants have a procedure for the different things they need to do on a flight. Look at this list of things and put them in the correct order.

1. serve drinks

2. check seat-belts are fastened

3. give out landing cards

4. welcome passengers on board

5. give safety announcement 0 serve tea and coffee

7. get meals ready

8. assist passengers leaving plane

9. collect meal trays j) collect empty glasses k) assist with stowing cabin baggage

50. offer duty-free goods for sale m) serve meals to passengers

6. At which stage would you hear the flight attendant say the following?

1. Would you like anything to drink?

2. Good morning. Seat 25D is down there on the right.

3. Have you finished with this, madam?

4. Would you like me to put this in the overhead locker?

5. Ice and lemon?

6. Goodbye. Have a safe journey.

7. Any wine, spirits, or perfume?

8. Emergency exits are located towards the front and rear of the plane.

Can you think of any other typical things that a flight atten­dant might say?

7. More myths surround the job of flight attendant than almost any other. Consequently, airlines receive thou­sands of enquiries every year. How do they decide who will make the grade? Kim Whittle is an experienced flight attendant trainer for British Airways. Before you read what she has to say, make your own predictions by filling in the chart below.

Flight attendant requirements	Your prediction	BA requirements
Age
Height
Build	%
Weight
Health
Vision
General knowledge/education
Languages
Clothes at interview
Personality
Other

8. Now read the interview with Kim Whittle to find out if your predictions were correct.

Interviewer: Right, let’s look at what it takes to be a stewardess.

Kim: Well, the first thing to say is that we don’t use the term stewardess — or steward, or air hostess — any more. The proper term is flight attendant.

Interviewer: Of course, I’m sorry.

Kim: I’m afraid that there’s little hope for you if you’re not in your twenties. Of course, some airlines will take you on, say, if you’re nineteen, but practically no airline will look at you if you’re over thirty. So, sort of 19 to 29 is about it.

Interviewer: What about the way you look?

Kim: Companies do differ quite a bit when it comes to physi­cal appearance. If you’re under five feet two inches — that’s about one metre 55 — your chances are slim, and also if you’re over six feet two (about one metre 85) you’re probably excluded. You should be of average build and your weight should be proportionate to your height. Some of the aisles are a bit narrow and it helps if you can squeeze past the drinks trolley without knocking a pas­senger’s drink out of their hand!

Interviewer: Is it the same for men and women?

Kim: Yes, more or less. Another thing is that you’re on your feet for hours at a time, walking back and forth, so you’ve got to be in pretty good health. You don’t need twenty- twenty vision but you’ve got to have fairly good eyesight. Naturally accidents can happen so just about all compa­nies insist on your being able to swim. Another impor­tant qualification is that you have completed secondary school. I think it’s true to say that a lot of companies pre­fer to take on people with some college education too. It helps if you have a good grasp of geography — passengers sometimes like to know what countries they’re flying over, and if a flight attendant doesn’t exactly inspire confi­dence! A good memory also comes in handy when you consider that, on a 747 transatlantic flight for example, there are over 28,000 items loaded on every flight — and a flight attendant has to know every one of them!

Interviewer: Presumably a flight attendant also needs to know a language or two.

Kim: Well, I’m afraid to say that airline companies based in English-speaking countries are a little bit guilty here. Some don’t have any foreign language requirements at all. English is enough, I’m afraid. However, in other coun­tries at least one foreign language is an absolute necessi­ty, and it’s usually English.

Interviewer: So let’s say you’ve got the interview — they’re in­terested in you. What’s important now?

Kim: First impressions are important. I think it’s crucial to look smart, but there’s no need to put on your most boring outfit. There’s nothing wrong with wearing something fashionable — fashionable but smdrt. Try to come across as being friendly and confident. Some airlines try to test your poise by asking some difficult personal questions, or by making personal remarks about your appearance or your foreign languages. They want to see how you respond to pressure. Try to remain calm and poised is the best advice I can give. Finally, I should say it’s surprising how many people don’t actually think about what the job in­volves before they apply. For some companies you have to spend up three weeks away from home at a time! So if you’ve just met the man or woman of your dreams, think twice before you send off that application form!

(by Keith Harding)

9. An important part of the selection procedure for an air­line is to understand the psychology of an applicant.

Here are ten typical questions from a pre-interview

questionnaire.

1. How strong and confident are you?

2. How often can you be hohest with your friends?

3. What do you look for most in a job?

4. What kind of people do you admire?

5. How do you like to spend Saturday nights?

6. What do you do when you get bad service?

7. When do you work overtime?

8. How do you feel when people criticize you?

9. What do you value most?

10. How easy is it for you to achieve your goals?

10. Match the questions to the multiple-choice options be­low.

A

It doesn’t bother me at all.

I don’t usually mind.

I don’t like it very much.

I hate.it.

B

Dealing with people

Security

Travel

Adventure and excitement *

C

Very — I always get what I want.

I’ve never really had to struggle.

Not very — it always takes a lot of effort.

I’ve never really had many.

D

Very — you need to be to survive.

Quite — in a quiet way.

I try to be but it’s not easy.

Not at all — I’m quite shy really.

E

Complain — more people should too.

I get embarrassed but I say something.

It depends — sometimes I do something.

Nothing — it doesn’t really bother me.

F

My close relationships.

My personality and appearance.

My intelligence.

My knowledge and skills.

G

Every time my boss asks me to.

Only when there is an emergency.

When I want to get something finished.

Never — I don’t need to in my job.

H

Business people Writers Police officers Film stars

I

Throwing a wild party.

With family and friends.

With a special person.

On my own, reading.

J

Very — that’s what they are for.

Quite — it depends how well I know them.

I usually try to bite my tongue.

Rarely — people don’t appreciate it.