Discuss the following questions with your partner and point out the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of travelling.

 Many of us look forward to our summer holidays all year. We can't wait to get away from our everyday lives, to visit new places, try new things, or just to relax and lie in the sun. But how many of us think about the effect our holidays have on the places we visit?

Although tourism has many benefits, such as bringing extra money into the local economy, there are also negative effects. Tourism can do all sorts of damage to the environment, the culture and the people of a country, especially in places which aren't prepared for large numbers of holidaymakers. In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of independent travellers who want to get off the beaten track, and this has meant that many remote destinations are having to adjust to new visitors.

It certainly isn't all bad news though. The last few years have also seen a huge increase in “eco-tourism”. This is tourism where holidaymakers try to have a positive effect on the people and places that they visit. If you are really committed to this idea, then you can spend your holidays helping out on an organic farm in Britain, or taking part in conservation projects in Africa or the Amazon rainforest. Don't worry, though, if this doesn't sound like your idea of a holiday. Wherever you go and whatever you want to do, there are still ways to make sure that you have the best possible impact on your holiday destination.

If you are heading off to a place for the first time, it is an excellent idea to find out as much about it as you can. A guidebook is a great place to start. As well as learning about the local places of interest, you can read about the way you will be expected to behave and dress. This can save you from making embarrassing mistakes and means that you are less likely to upset or offend your hosts. Don't stop at the guidebook, though. If you can, listen to some music or read some literature from your chosen destination.

Knowing a little about the place that you are visiting before you leave can make your holiday much more enjoyable when you arrive.

It is also important to think about how you spend your money when you are on holiday. Whenever you can, try to put it into the local people's hands. You can do this by eating and drinking local products rather than imported brands, staying in locally owned accommodation and using local guides. In some parts of the world, you might be relatively well off compared to the local population. Even in places where you are expected to haggle or bargain, you should always pay a fair price for things. Remember that what might be a very small amount of money to you, can make a big difference to some people.

Another important thing for the eco-tourist is to have as little effect on the local environment as possible. This is easy to do if you follow some common-sense advice. Don't leave litter lying around and use biodegradable products whenever possible. If resources like water or fuel are in short supply, then use as little of these as you can, and of course you should never buy products made from rare plants or endangered animals. If you are lucky enough to visit a truly exotic destination such as a coral reef, remote mountain or desert region, or a rainforest then you should try to leave it exactly as you found it, so that future visitors can enjoy it just as you did.

Eco-tourism organisations say that respecting the culture and environment of the places that you visit will lead to much more rewarding and enjoyable holidays. If we try to encourage the local economy, leave the environment undamaged and are aware of the different laws and attitudes in the places we visit, then all of us can enjoy our eco-holidays much better now and in the future. With more and more of us planning holidays in new locations every year, we should all do our bit to make sure that we are always welcome wherever we go.

1. Tourism does the most damage in countries.

A where there has been an increase in eco-tourism.

В which aren't ready for a lot of tourist

  С where there are a lot of people travelling on their own.

D which have a strong local economy.

2. What should you do before you take your eco- holidays?

A Buy a guidebook.

В Learn how to dress.

С Find out about the local attractions.

D Learn about your destination.

3.  How can a tourist help the economy of a country?

A Bargain for everything they buy.

В Buy the goods and services provided by the local people.

С Pay a fair price for everything.

D Buy expensive imported brands.

4. What is meant by 'can make a big difference to some people'?

A You can change their lives.

В You can help to preserve their local environment.

С You can help them to have a better life.

D You can be fair.

5. According to the writer, being a responsible eco- tourist means

A not being influenced by local bad habits.

В following some simple guidelines.

С always limiting the amount of water you use.

D never leaving a place without picking up the rubbish.

6. What do eco-tourist organisations say about tourism?

A If we show consideration for the place and people, we will have a more satisfying holiday.

В If we visit unusual places, we should leave them just as we found them.

С If we have a holiday in a new place, we should make sure we will be welcome there.

D If we visit a foreign country, we should try to support the local economy.

7. The writer's attitude to eco-tourism is

A hopeful В disappointing

С interesting D supportive.

Task 4.

Read the text about a new type of resort. Choose the most suitable sentence from the list A-H for each gap 1-7.

Paradise found?

Close your eyes and imagine the perfect beach. Soft white sand, beautiful blue sea, and the temperature a constant 30 degrees Celsius. But wait, there's more: no risk of sunburn, no insects or bugs, no sharks or jellyfish, and, at regular intervals, the best surfing waves imaginable. 1… Thanks to modern technology and the miracles of science, this beach really does exist and it is on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan. In a resort complex called Seagaia you will find the Ocean Dome. The Ocean Dome contains, among other things, the world's largest artificial sea beside the biggest indoor beach. 2… The soft white sand is actually made of crushed marble chips, which won't stick to your skin, and the water is salt free and chlorinated. The temperature of the water is kept at 28C and the air is kept at 30C.

The Dome has everything you would expect to find on a big tropical island!  3 ... There is a man-made volcano that erupts at regular intervals, waterslides, a wave pool and even a virtual reality raft ride where passengers are tossed, shaken and splashed with water.

There is plenty to do for the whole family in Seagaia. If you want a break from the beach, you can visit the 'Lost World' rainforest. 4 … There is also a beach carnival held every afternoon with dancers and musicians dressed in colourful Caribbean costumes and in the evening there is a spectacular show put on by aquatic dancers.

In Seagaia you don't even have to carry any money with you. 5 … This type of holiday is wonderful for anyone who enjoys lying on the “beach” or swimming in the “sea” without having to check the weather forecast first. In fact, many Japanese businessmen and office workers come here just to relax and unwind after a hard week's work.

Naturally, no island holiday is complete without luxury hotels, boutiques and a wide variety of restaurants with everything from fine dining to fast food, and Seagaia has them all. 6 … The Ocean Dome feels so real that visitors to the resort still use suntan lotion and wear sunhats even though the 'sunlight' is artificial and harmless.

The Dome itself actually has a roof that opens but it is only used when the weather outside is at the same temperature as the weather inside the dome. It is also quite ironic that the Ocean Dome was built only 300 metres away from the real ocean. Strangely enough, the real beach is usually quite empty even on hot and sunny days because holiday-makers seem to prefer the safety, comfort and predictability of the artificial beach.

Nowadays, theme parks are springing up everywhere and it looks like virtual reality holidays are going to be the way of the future. 7 … However, can we really compare the experience of sitting on an artificial beach with man-made sand under a fake sun to a day on a real beach? Where is the challenge in surfing man-made waves when you know exactly how big they are going to get and exactly when they are going to appear? More importantly, where is the fun in coming back from a seaside holiday without tan lines?

A There are even several theatres, golf courses and tennis courts.

B Too good to be true? Not anymore.

C This is a Jurassic Park style jungle full of artificial creatures and holographic pirates.

D The whale complex is a testament to modern technology and engineering.

E It is roughly the size of six football fields and has an 85- metre shoreline.

F After all, they are cleaner, safer and far more convenient than real holidays.

G Visitors pay an admission fee at the entrance and are given colour coded barcode tags, which they use instead of cash.

H There are caves, waterfalls, small islands, palm trees and that's just the beginning.

Task 5.

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