Straightforward ele unit (8)

SPEAKING

Work in pairs. Ask and answer these questions about air
travel.
• Did you travel to another country/province last year?
• Did you travel by plane? If not, how?
• When did you travel?
• Where did you go?

READING

1 Read the magazine article and put the events
in the correct order.
The writer talked to a psychologist.
The writer visited his brother in Hong Kong.
The writer went on a course for people afraid
of flying.
The writer talked to a pilot.

Page 82


Page 82
Ex. 1

The writer went on a course for people afraid of flying.
The writer talked to a pilot.
The writer talked to a psychologist.
The writer visited his brother in Hong Kong.

If you don't like flying, you are not alone. Fear of flying is one of the most common phobias
in the world. More than 10 million British adults are afraid of flying. In America, this number
is more than 25 million. Many famous people (5) hate or hated flying: Ronald Reagan,
Aretha Franklin, Mohammed Ali, Cher and Billy Bob Thornton are only some examples.
I hated flying. I knew that planes were very safe, that they were safer than cars (about 29
times safer), and (10) the chances of being in a plane accident were about 0.0000000004%.
But every time I was at the airport, I felt terrible. I couldn't get on the plane. The only problem
was that I loved travelling. And if you love travelling and hate flying, that is a problem.
(15) After many years, I decided to do something. A friend told me about a special course for
people like me. It was a one-day course at the airport. There were more than 100 people on
this course. The first part of the course was a class with a pilot. He explained exactly how a
plane (20) works, and showed us all the different parts. I liked that because it helped me a
lot. Then we had a long talk with a psychologist. She gave us information about phobias and
taught us a relaxation technique.
Then we had the most difficult part, a 45-minute flight. (25) We were all still very nervous.
Some people held hands, and some people cried. But we all did it. At the end of the flight, I
felt nervous and tired but very happy. I could get on a plane and survive. The next day, I booked
a ticket to see my brother in Hong Kong. It was the first time I (30) visited him.
That was three years ago, and I don't mind flying now. But I don't like eating on planes, and
no course can help me


2 Read the article again and answer the questions.
1
2
3
4
5
6

How many Americans hate flying?
Did the writer travel by plane before the course?
Why was the writer’s phobia a problem?
Who taught the writer how to relax on a plane?
What did the people do when the flight started?
What did the writer do after his flight?

Page 82


1 How many Americans hate flying?
 More than 25 million Americans hate flying.
2 Did the writer travel by plane before the course?
 No, he didn’t.

Page 82

If you don't like flying, you are not alone. Fear of flying is one of the most common phobias
in the world. More than 10 million British adults are afraid of flying. In America, this number
is more than 25 million. Many famous people (5) hate or hated flying: Ronald Reagan,
Aretha Franklin, Mohammed Ali, Cher and Billy Bob Thornton are only some examples.
I hated flying. I knew that planes were very safe, that they were safer than cars (about 29
times safer), and (10) the chances of being in a plane accident were about 0.0000000004%.
But every time I was at the airport, I felt terrible. I couldn't get on the plane. The only problem
was that I loved travelling. And if you love travelling and hate flying, that is a problem.
(15) After many years, I decided to do something. A friend told me about a special course for
people like me. It was a one-day course at the airport. There were more than 100 people on
this course. The first part of the course was a class with a pilot. He explained exactly how a
plane (20) works, and showed us all the different parts. I liked that because it helped me a
lot. Then we had a long talk with a psychologist. She gave us information about phobias and

taught us a relaxation technique.
Then we had the most difficult part, a 45-minute flight. (25) We were all still very nervous.
Some people held hands, and some people cried. But we all did it. At the end of the flight, I
felt nervous and tired but very happy. I could get on a plane and survive. The next day, I booked
a ticket to see my brother in Hong Kong. It was the first time I (30) visited him.
That was three years ago, and I don't mind flying now. But I don't like eating on planes, and
no course can help me


3 Why was the writer’s phobia a problem?
 Because he loves travelling.
4 Who taught the writer how to relax on a plane?
 The psychologist taught him to relax on a plane.

Page 82

If you don't like flying, you are not alone. Fear of flying is one of the most common phobias
in the world. More than 10 million British adults are afraid of flying. In America, this number
is more than 25 million. Many famous people (5) hate or hated flying: Ronald Reagan,
Aretha Franklin, Mohammed Ali, Cher and Billy Bob Thornton are only some examples.
I hated flying. I knew that planes were very safe, that they were safer than cars (about 29
times safer), and (10) the chances of being in a plane accident were about 0.0000000004%.
But every time I was at the airport, I felt terrible. I couldn't get on the plane. The only problem
was that I loved travelling. And if you love travelling and hate flying, that is a problem.
(15) After many years, I decided to do something. A friend told me about a special course for
people like me. It was a one-day course at the airport. There were more than 100 people on
this course. The first part of the course was a class with a pilot. He explained exactly how a
plane (20) works, and showed us all the different parts. I liked that because it helped me a
lot. Then we had a long talk with a psychologist. She gave us information about phobias and
taught us a relaxation technique.

Then we had the most difficult part, a 45-minute flight. (25) We were all still very nervous.
Some people held hands, and some people cried. But we all did it. At the end of the flight, I
felt nervous and tired but very happy. I could get on a plane and survive. The next day, I booked
a ticket to see my brother in Hong Kong. It was the first time I (30) visited him.
That was three years ago, and I don't mind flying now. But I don't like eating on planes, and
no course can help me


5 What did the people do when the flight started?
 Some people held hands, and some people cried.
6 What did the writer do after his flight?
 He booked a ticket to see his brother in Hong Kong.

Page 82

If you don't like flying, you are not alone. Fear of flying is one of the most common phobias
in the world. More than 10 million British adults are afraid of flying. In America, this number
is more than 25 million. Many famous people (5) hate or hated flying: Ronald Reagan,
Aretha Franklin, Mohammed Ali, Cher and Billy Bob Thornton are only some examples.
I hated flying. I knew that planes were very safe, that they were safer than cars (about 29
times safer), and (10) the chances of being in a plane accident were about 0.0000000004%.
But every time I was at the airport, I felt terrible. I couldn't get on the plane. The only problem
was that I loved travelling. And if you love travelling and hate flying, that is a problem.
(15) After many years, I decided to do something. A friend told me about a special course for
people like me. It was a one-day course at the airport. There were more than 100 people on
this course. The first part of the course was a class with a pilot. He explained exactly how a
plane (20) works, and showed us all the different parts. I liked that because it helped me a
lot. Then we had a long talk with a psychologist. She gave us information about phobias and
taught us a relaxation technique.
Then we had the most difficult part, a 45-minute flight. (25) We were all still very nervous.

Some people held hands, and some people cried. But we all did it. At the end of the flight, I
felt nervous and tired but very happy. I could get on a plane and survive. The next day, I booked
a ticket to see my brother in Hong Kong. It was the first time I (30) visited him.
That was three years ago, and I don't mind flying now. But I don't like eating on planes, and
no course can help me


2 Read the article again and answer the questions.

Page 82

1 How many Americans hate flying?
 More than 25 million Americans hate flying.
2 Did the writer travel by plane before the course?
 No, he didn’t.
3 Why was the writer’s phobia a problem?
 Because he loves travelling.
4 Who taught the writer how to relax on a plane?
 The psychologist taught him to relax on a plane.
5 What did the people do when the flight started?
 Some people held hands, and some people cried.
6 What did the writer do after his flight?
 He booked a ticket to see his brother in Hong Kong.

3 Work in pairs. What about you? What do you think of flying? Do you
know someone who is afraid of going on a plane?


Page 83

S+V

+ V-ing


Page 83
3 Here are some of the reasons why the writer doesn’t like
travelling on planes. Complete the sentences with a word from the
box. Use the -ing form.
wait go sit talk eat
going
1 I don’t like ______through
security, it makes me nervous.
sitting next to other people on planes. The seats are too
2 I hate ______
small.
talking
3 I don’t like _______to
a stranger on a plane.
4 I don’t like waiting
_______for a long time at the airport.
eating
5 I hate ______airline
food.

4 Work in pairs, A
and B. Find out each
other’s likes and
dislikes.
A: Turn to page 134.

B: Turn to page 136.

Student B


Language note

Page 83

With the verb go and kinds of
transport, use the preposition
by + transport.
E.g. I went by car.
They go to work by train.
3 Work in pairs. Ask and answer
the questions.
Group A:
Places connected to transport

Airport
Carpark
Railway station
Bus stop
Port

Group B:
Kinds of transport

Car
Plane

Boat
Motorbike
Train
Bicycle
Bus
Underground
On foot

How do you get from your home to ...
• the city centre?
• English class?
• another city in your country?
• the sea?
• the your home town?

2 T 2.23 Listen to the recording to check your answers. Say the words.


Page 83


Page 83

 Mr. Peter would
like to make a long
journey by boat to
the USA.
 Ms. Jane doesn’t
have a car. She
gets to class by

bicycle.


How quick are your eyes?



Page 84

2

3
A large group of people are standing in the
middle of Oxford Street

1

A lion is sitting in the middle of the road
and looking at the cars
There’s a bus on fire.
Someone is driving on the wrong side of
the road.

4


Page 84

F
F

2

T
T
F

3

T

2.  The traffic is moving slowly.
4.  They are standing in front of the cars.
5.  They are talking to the people.

1

4


Page 84

• A large group of people are standing in the
middle of Oxford Street
• A lion is sitting in the middle of the road and
looking at the cars
• Someone is driving on the wrong side of the
road.
• The traffic is moving slowly.
• They are standing in front of the cars.

• They are talking to the people.

* Use:
- Use the present continuous to talk
about events happening now or around
now.
* Form:

be + V-ing


Examples

Form:
* Positive
(+)

S +S +

be ++
be

V_ing
…
V_i….ng

I
am
You/We/They are reading.
He/She/It

is

S + be + not + V_ing …

* Questions
(Y/N)

Be + S + V_ing …?


(WH)

2. We are learning English.
3. He is listening to the
teacher.
1. I’m not watching TV now.

* Negative
(-)

1. I am teaching English.

Yes, S be.
No, S be not.

WH + be + S + Ving…?

2. She isn’t talking now.
3. We aren’t working today.
1. Is it getting dark?

 Yes, it is.
2. Are they playing games?
 No, they aren’t.
1. What are you doing now?


Page 84

1. Find the examples of present continuous.
К = Kate J = John
K: Yes, that was Aretha Franklin, another classic tune. Coming up we have lots
more music and news, but first here’s the traffic news. And it’s a busy day out on
the roads, isn’t it, John?
J: Yes, it is, Kate. Good morning. We have an accident in Regent Street. There’s a
bus on fire. Everybody is OK, but traffic is moving very slowly. A large group of
people are standing in the middle of Oxford Street. I can’t hear them, but I think
they are standing in front of the cars and singing! So, traffic isn’t moving. The
police are talking to them at the moment.
K: Can you tell us anything about the incident on Euston Road?
J: Yes, Kate. There’s a lion - yes, I said a lion - on Euston Road. I’m looking at the
camera now. A lot of cars are moving slowly around it. It’s sitting in the middle of
the road and looking at the cars ...
K: Where did it come from! Do you have any more news?
J: Well, the police say that they think it escaped from the zoo. I’m waiting for
more information on that. We have a report coming in now from East London.
There’s a big traffic problem. Someone is driving on the wrong side of the road.
K: It’s another crazy day for drivers, then. Next traffic update at half past ten.
Thanks, John

Page 84
2 Make questions and answers with the present continuous.
E.g. What / they / do?
E.g. They / move / a car to the side of the road.
What are they doing?  They are moving a car to the side of the road.
1 What / the people / do?
The people / stand / in the street.
What are the people doing?  The people are standing in the street.
2 Where / they / go?
They / go / to the city centre.
Where are they going?  They go to the city centre.
3 Who / the police / talk to? They / talk to / the demonstrators.
Who are the police talking to?  They are talking to the demonstrators.
4 What / the lion / do?
It / sit / in the road.
What is the lion doing?  It is sitting in the road.
5 What / the car / do?
It / drive / on the wrong side of the road.
What is the car doing?  It is driving on the wrong side of the road.
6 What / the woman / do?
She / talk / on her mobile phone.
What is the women doing?  She is talking on her mobile phone.

3 Think of four people you know. What are they doing now? Make sentences
about them. Use the verbs and phrases in the box to help you. (page 85)
watch TV
work
sleep
have breakfast/lunch/dinner study
sit in traffic

talk on the phone
do the housework

 I think my father is watching TV now


Page 85

She’s walking.

i

i
u

a

She’s sleeping.

i
e e

He’s driving.
They’re kissing

She’s singing.

They’re running

Page 85


Page 85

• What do you think of the
congestion charge in
London?
• Is it a good idea?
• Is there something
similar in your country?