Yes, I have. I went by plane to New York last summer.
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New York wow. How long was the flight?
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Let me see. Mm...about six hours, I think. It was a long flight anyway.
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Do you like flying?
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I love it. It's really exiting. Haven't you been on a plane?
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No, never. I've only ever traveled by train. And by car of course.
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I like trains.
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Me too. You can stand up and walk around on a train.
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Absolutely. In a car you have to sit still the whole journey.
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It's so boring.
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And when you get stuck in a traffic jam.
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And no body's moving. And it is so hot.
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What a nightmare.
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Now I like to travel by ship. A beautiful big white ship. And sail across the calm blue sea. Perfect. My aunt made a voyage in one of those ships. She said it was great.
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Very nice and good weather. But suppose there was a storm.
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Oh yes not so perfect. I'd forgotten about storms.
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When I was in New York I went in one of those cartridges which are pulled by horses.
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How lovely. Now that's the way to travel.
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Mm...it's a bit slow. A plane's more my kind of thing.
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Listen 5 times
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Lesson 2: Conversation
Why do we have to write a report about transport?
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Because a good transport system is something that's very important for a town.
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Have we got a good transport system in Hampton?
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It's getting better, I think. A few years ago, the traffic was terrible in the centre of town. There was a lot of pollution from cars and lorries. It was very noisy, too.
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So It's better now?
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Definitely. There are some streets where cars are banned.
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You mean the pedestrian areas.
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Yes, that's right. And last year the 'park and ride' scheme started people can leave their cars at a big car park on the ring road and get onto buses which take them into the centre of town.
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There are more cycle lanes as well aren't there?
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Yes, there are. It's not dangerous to cycle in town anymore.
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So there's less traffic in the centre now.
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Yes, but it's still quite busy at the times when people are going to and from work.
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You mean the rush hour.
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Exactly. There are always traffic jams early in the morning and in the afternoon.We should write about the now railway station, too.
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Yes, and there are lots of people who live in Hampton and work in London. Most of them travel by train.
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My dad commutes to London every day. We could interview him.
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An interview with a commuter. Good idea!
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Listen 5 times
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Lesson Heading
The star
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SPORTS
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A match with a difference by Star sports correspondent, Andy Bridges
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Theres was plenty of first class football to entertain the crowd of 50,000 that watched Saturday's semi-final between City and United.
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It's just what we've come to expect from these two giants of the game.
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What nobody expected, though, was the arrival in the stadium of United's new owner, businessman Fergal Flynn - by hot-air balloon.
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Half an hour before kickoff, the green and yellow striped balloon soared over the stadium.
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At first, most people thought it was an advertising stunt for Flunn Airlines but as the balloon sank lower and loweer over the stadium, the waving figure of Flynn could be seen.
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Spectators watched in amazement as the balloon descended to the centre of the pitch, landing within a few metres of the centre spot.
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Long-time United fan Fred Usher told teh Star,"I've never seen anything like it. You expect the new owner to turn up in a chauffeur-driven limousine, don't you?"
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Fifteen-year-old Jamie Usher commented, "Some people think that Mr Flynn's a bit of a show-off but he's the man who's going to invest in United. We hope he's going to buy in some new players. So long as we win the championship, I don't mind how he travels. He can come on roller skates if he likes."
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While the ground staff were folding up the balloon, Mr Flynn address the spectators.
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He told them that he was pleased to be the new owner of United.He said that the new United colours would be green and yellow so they would match the green and yellow striped planes flown by Flynn Airlines.
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After that, Mr Flynn shook hands with the United team manager and team coach, then he went to his private viewing box.
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The match was full of drama from the Kick-off.
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A swift pass from City's captain, Steve Amos, found Smith on the right wing.
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A long pass reached Dennis.
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He dodged his popponent and sent the ball across the goal where amos slammed it straight to the back of the net.
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Strachan, the United goalkeeper, was nowhere near it.
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City fans were jubilant to take the lead after only 40 seconds.
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City didn't have time to relax though, as United equalised ten minutes later with a powerful header from King, off Benezi's cross.
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With the score 1-1 at half-time, the spectators were entertained by the release of 2,000 green adn yellow balloon.
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Each balloon carried United's fixtures list for the season and a 10% off voucher for Flynn airlines.
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Mr Flynn talked to reporters before play began again.
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He said that cheaper transport was important.
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He hoped that a lot of football fans would decide to fly with Flynn airlines in the future.
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The second half began with some skilful football from both teams.
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Da Silva, City's new international player, justified his place in the team with a splendid swinging long shot.
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Strachan dived for it and made a spectacular save.
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Towards the end of the half, the play became untidy.
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United forward, Dineen, got a yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Smith.
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Benezi got another for pulling Amos' shirt.He was lucky not to get a red card for a deliberate foul on Donnis.
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King, newly returned from injury, was clearly tiring and was substituted after 35 minutes of the second half by reserve striker Billy Jones.
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Jones lost no time in making his mark, scoring teh decider off a long ball from Walker.
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Flynn should be pleased whit his new club.
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United is the team that is the favourite to win the championship.
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One thing Flynn should know about footaball, though - it's much less predictable than an airline.
