Riassunto esame Inglese, prof. Camaiora, libro consigliato Dispensa Lingua Inglese Orale 3 anno - Turismo, Thorne

COUNTRIES AND CITIES

8. Blackpool: the unpleasurable

This article deals with the English city Blackpool, which is a very unpleasant place, according to the author.

But, despite its unpleasantly, it attracts millions of visitors every year.

For this reason, the author wonders why such an unattractive place is still today able to attract so many people

each year.

He explains that the city of Blackpool hasn’t changed during the last century and so people are today used to

it. Moreover, this city has took advantage of the low­cost air travel.

Today Blackpool has many hotels and lodgings, which can survive thanks to the people who come for

weekend breaks, even if the main profits come from bars and nightclubs.

In order to increase the number of tourists who visit the city, the government has also decided to allow the

opening of a supercasino in Blackpool.

9. Cornish tourism: change in the air

This article deals with the English region of Cornwall, which is a very poor one, the poorest one of the United

Kingdom.

The only four economical activities that have been carried out in this region are mining, agriculture, fishing and

tourism, but today the only one which is thriving (prosperando) is tourism.

The number of tourists is in fact rising, especially wealthy people who come and visit the southern coast of

Cornwall. This increase is due to the opening of new tourist attractions (such as a tropical Victorian garden)

and the fact that low­cost airlines are opening new routes (rotte) in order to reach Cornwall. Moreover, some of

these airlines are trying to create new types of business, such as short breaks in spring and autumn.

10. Should auld acquaintance be forgot

This article deals with a famous Scottish poet, called Robbie Burns, who was very appreciated by the people

of his homeland and who died 25 years ago.

During his life, he composed many poems dedicated to Scotland, but now that he is dead, Scottish people

seem not to care about his memory.

For example, many monuments dedicated to him are today falling down, such as the modern visitor centre or

the Burns Monument in Kilmarnock which were burned and damaged by vandals.

Even the park dedicated to Burns is today in very bad conditions, but Scotland seems to ignore it.

11. London buses: driving gently into the good night

This article deals with one of the most famous icons of the city of London, the Routmaster, which is the old red

double­decker.

Today they are very few, because the mayor and the association Transport for London (TfL) have decided to

replace them with more modern busses, such as the so called “bendy busses” and newer double­deckers. As

they expected, this change caused lots of critics and complaints.

These new busses haven’t obviously the history the older ones had, but they are inevitably more comfortable,

especially for those people who use wheelchairs and who can finally have the possibility to board a bus.

However, the Routmaster won’t totally disappear from London, because it will still be used by visitors in order

to give them the opportunity to reach famous tourist attraction by using this icon of historic London.

the old double­decker, one of the most famous icons of historic London

Routemaster:

 it’s a single­deck bus, but composed of two parts which are linked with a sort of joint

Bendy­bus:



12. Infinite variety

This article deals with Australia, a very isolated continent, which has however a lot to offer.

From the reef, to cities like Sydney or Melbourne and the magnificent winelands of the south and west.

Tourists can do many different activities, such as diving in order to discover the wonders under the surface of

the Pacific, visiting natural parks and the ancient Tasmanian forest.

For this variety of attractions and despite the distance from the other continents, Australia is today one of the

most appreciated places for holidays and tourism is here the fast­growing industry.

13. “Garden of Eden” found in the jungle

This article deals with the discovery of a very particular place, a sort of lost world, a paradisiac place which

seems the “Garden of Eden” on Earth.

This place is situated in the jungle of New Guinea and it’s populated by strange birds, butterflies, plants and

new species of animals.

Today tourists can’t access this area, since the Indonesian Government has decided to protect it.

14. Sunhat, bikini, flak jacket

This article deals, let’s say, with an alternative form of tourism. In fact the author proposes three particular

destinations to spend holidays, in which visitors won’t find any other tourists.

These three places are in fact very dangerous and they are Zimbabwe, North Korea and Port Harcourt

(Algeria).

In Zimbabwe tourists have to be careful because the political situation isn’t stable and for example many

dissidents or people who are suspected of voting for the opposition are murdered. However, thanks to the

magnificent nature of this place, the animals and the hospitality of his people, Zimbabwe is still a pleasant

place to visit.

North Korea is also very dangerous for tourists: here there is a communist dictator and who complains or says

something disrespectful about him will be hardly punished. The regime keeps people poor and doesn’t even

provide them the basic food they need.

The third destination which is taken into consideration by the author is Port Harcourt, a city of Nigeria, which is

still today characterised by extreme poverty: this is due to the fact that the oil resources of Nigeria are

exported, while African people remain poor. This situation has already caused many fights and revolutions and

the same happens today. However, Port Harcourt is still a pleasant place to visit, which can offer tourists his

folklore, his attractions and also his food which is known all over the world.

Moreover, the author gives tourists some suggestions: for example in Zimbabwe they have to be careful

because the animals of the savannah could be aggressive; in North Korea they mustn’t say anything

disrespectful about the dictator or his dad; in Port Hartcour they have to be careful to criminals.

it’s a vest, which protects against shotguns.

flak jacket:



15. A special case – Switzerland

This article deals with a special country in Europe, Switzerland, which has always been considered a country

different form the others and seen as a symbol of democracy, stability, quality, efficiency, so almost as the

personification of perfection.

Actually, the author says, Switzerland isn’t so perfect, because, as any other country, it has its own problems

and imperfections.

For example, during the Second World War, despite its declaration of neutrality, Switzerland didn’t allow Jews

to take asylum, in order not to be attacked by Germany.

Moreover, the economic system of Switzerland is based on exports, but today, due to the global economic

crisis, also this country suffers; the unemployment has for example increased, which is a very strange fact for

a country like Switzerland, which has always imported foreign workers in order to solve the problem of labour

shortages.

Furthermore, the Swiss education system isn’t today so perfect, because a research has proved that Swiss

kids are very good at maths, but not so good at reading and science.

So, the conclusion is that Switzerland isn’t a so perfect country as it might seem, because it has the same

problems the other countries have; maybe the only factor which distinguishes Switzerland from the other

European countries, is the fact that it doesn’t want to take part in the EU.

16. Indian charm – snakes­charming

This article deals with a new law in India, which has banned snake­charming, a widespread practice in India,

through which many people earn their primary income.

However, today authorities want to protect snakes: they want to avoid the mass export of snakeskins and the

torture for these animals.

Moreover, they have noticed that people who do snake­charming always belong to a poor and degraded group;

so, with this new law against this activity, they would also like to solve this problem.

Obviously, people have reacted with complaints and unrest.

the practice of pretending to hypnotise a snake by playing an instrument.

snake­charming:



17. (the sound that we make walking)

Chinese tourists: footfall

This article deals with the Chinese tourism in Britain, a phenomenon which was born during the 1980s and

which seems not going to stop.

At the moment, Chinese people need a visa in order to enter Britain, but, thanks to an agreement signed by

the British and the Chinese governments, they will be soon allowed to visit Britain as tourists.

When Chinese go to Britain, they expect to see beautiful sceneries, to visit ancient castles, to be welcomed by

friendly people, to eat regional dishes, but especially to do some shopping.

In fact the item they like the most are the famous English shoes, Clarks, which represents for them the symbol

of English luxury.

18. Kosher tours: Moses never had it so good

This article deals with the Passover, the Jewish Easter, and how they are used to spending it nowadays.

While before women had to spend many days at home in order to get everything ready, now Jews prefer to buy

a package holiday, designed just for them. In America, there are for example many hotels and resorts which

organise Passover package holidays, during which Jews can eat the traditional food of their festivity.

Furthermore, the Passover provides hotels with a great income, during a period in which conventions are rare

and there aren’t many tourists.

19. Looking to Lagos

In this article, the correspondent gives readers some advices about what they have and don’t have to do if they

visit the city of Lagos.

Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria; however, it isn’t a very pleasant city for tourists, in fact corruption is

widespread and it could be also very dangerous for them.

For example tourists should hire a good guide and driver who can accompany them during their tour, they

should avoid using credit cards and bringing up corruption. They also should treat anyone with civility and

respects.

Moreover, the correspondent suggests that visitors bring clothes suitable for the Nigerian weather, according to

the season during which they would like to visit Lagos, they should leave a tip in restaurants and hotels and be

careful of the crime which is very high in Lagos.

In the end, he also makes women visitors aware, that they should dress conservatively and avoid going out

alone.

20. Turkish tourism: how green is their valley

This article deals with Turkish tourism and how this new phenomenon is totally changing Turkey.

When tourists arrive, they bring in fact air and sound pollution, trash and the total changing of the landscape of

Turkey.

Many paved roads have been built for them, tour buses leave nothing but trash behind them and the air is

polluted by the smoke which comes from t