LESSON 6A READING AND VOCABULARY
► Before reading
|
Meaning |
Word |
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A boundary separating two countries or regions. |
Border |
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The act of soliciting rides from passing vehicles, typically by standing on the roadside. |
Hitchhiking |
|
Friendly and welcoming to guests; offering comfort and assistance to travelers |
Hospitable |
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Traveling across land (as opposed to air or sea), often refers to long-distance journeys. |
Overland |
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To begin a journey or adventure, often with a specific destination. |
Set out |
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Traveling alone, without companions. |
Solo |
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A defined area within a country often has its own government and regulations. |
State |
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Recognized as legally acceptable; often referring to documents like passports or visas. |
Valid |
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An official document or stamp allowing a person to enter, stay in or leave a foreign country. |
Visa |
► While reading
On 1 January 2009, Graham Hughes from Liverpool, England, sailed across the River Plate from Argentina to Uruguay on a ferry. He was
setting out on an incredible solo journey. He was going to visit every country in the world. And he was going to be the first person to do it
without flying. He was doing it to set a Guinness World Record and to collect money for the charity WaterAid.
It started well. He visited all 12 countries in South America in only two weeks. But then in the Caribbean, he met his first big problem – islands! You can’t travel overland to every country in the world, often there are no ferries between islands and Graham can’t walk on water. He solved his problem by hitchhiking on other people’s boats. Europe was easy. He got a railway ticket which allowed him to travel everywhere in Europe by train. It only took him a few weeks to visit 50 countries. Then he arrived in Africa.
He was planning on just three months there. It took him almost three years! He had problems with transport and also to get the right travel documents. For example, he had a valid passport, but he also needed a visa to enter Mauritania. Unfortunately, they weren’t selling visas at the border. So, he travelled 1,250 miles by bus all the way back to the place where he knew that he could get a visa – Morocco. During his journey Graham learnt how hospitable people can be. One time when he was travelling on a night bus in Iran, he saw an old woman who was talking on her phone. She handed it to him. It was the woman’s grandson. ‘My grandmother’s worried because the bus arrives very early,’ he explained in English.
‘She wants to invite you home to make you breakfast.’ Graham accepted the invitation. Finally, aft er three years, ten months and twenty-one days Graham arrived in the 21 and final country on his odyssey. It was South Sudan, the newest state in the world, a country that didn’t even exist when he started his journey.
► After reading
1. Where did Gharam sail?
sailed across the River Plate from Argentina to Uruguay on a ferry.
2. Why is he going to do this sailing?
to visit every country in the world. And he was going to be the first person to do it without flying.
3. How many countries did he visit in south America?
He visited 12 countries
4. mention the problems which faced him in south America?
islands! You can’t travel overland to every country in the world, often there are no ferries between islands and Graham can’t walk on water
5. How did he solve those problems?
He solved his problem by hitchhiking on other people’s boats.
6. How was his travelling in Europe?
Europe was easy. He got a railway ticket which allowed him to travel everywhere in Europe by train.
7. How many countries did he visit in Europe?
50 countries
8. How many years did his travelling to Africa take him?
3 years
9. What are the problems faced him in Africa?
He had problems with transport and also to get the right travel documents. For example, he had a valid passport, but he also needed a visa to enter Mauritania.
10. How could he get a visa?
how to be kind and hospitable people.
11. What did he learn during his travelling?
after three years, ten months, and twenty-one days Graham arrived in the 21st and final country on his odyssey.
12. When did he arrive in the 21st and final country on his odyssey?
South Sudan, the newest state in the world,
14. What was the 21st final country on his odyssey?
he: Gharam/ it: Journey
