Part 1-style questions

Examiner: What kind of holiday do you like?
Miguel: I try to avoid tourist traps … I like to get away from it all and prefer going somewhere off the beaten track … last year I had the holiday of a lifetime … a two week wildlife safari in Kenya.

Examiner: What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?
Anna: I enjoy visiting the local places of interest … I like to go sightseeing  and always sign up for guided tours as it’s a chance to be shown around and take photographs … one of my hobbies.

Examiner: Do you have many tourists in your country?
Amy: Yes … we have a lot of holiday resorts along the coast that are popular with tourists … most people come on package holidays and stay in one of the many hotels and self-catering apartments.

Part 2-style task

Describe a beautiful place you once visited. You should say:

1. when you went to this place
2. where it was
3. who you went with

and say why you liked it so much.

Sally: A few years ago I went on a long weekend to the Lake District in the UK … it’s a very popular holiday destination  in the north of England … I went on my own and had a wonderful time … I stayed in a youth hostel and met some really nice people … but the most memorable thing about the holiday were the breathtaking views … and lovely  picturesque villages … it can get very busy with hordes of tourists so I decided to go out of season in the autumn  … the weather was fantastic and the shops were full of local crafts … a really great holiday … it’s certainly not the kind of short break for someone looking for a busy nightlife but if you want to relax in the middle of stunning landscape I would certainly recommend a holiday to the Lake District.

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: What do you think has led to the growth in the tourism industry?
Miguel: It’s much easier and affordable to travel now … nowadays you can get cheap charter-flights or all-in packages … to somewhere near or to a far-off destination .

Examiner: How do people tend to choose a destination?
Anna: The Internet is a great source of information and high street travel agents are still very popular … that’s where I like to go to get holiday brochures for the place I’m interested in.

Examiner: People sometimes say flying is the most glamorous form of travel. Do you agree?
Amy: I’m not so sure really … flying can be quite boring  … queuing up at the check-in desk … going through passport control … sitting for ages in the departure lounge … then the flight itself can be quite uncomfortable … no … I’m not sure I agree.

Definitions

1. all-in package/package holiday : a holiday where you purchase the travel and accommodation together
2. breathtaking view : an extremely beautiful view
3. charter-flight : a cheaper form of flying than a scheduled flight
4. check-in desk : the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your luggage
5. departure lounge : where you wait for your flight to be called
6. far-off destination : somewhere a long way away
7. to get away from it all : to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle
8. guided tour : an organised group shown around a place of interest by an expert
9. holiday brochure : a glossy publication with details of holiday packages
10. holiday destination : where you go for a holiday
11. holiday of a lifetime : a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat
12. holiday resort : a place where lots of people go for a holiday
13. hordes of tourists : crowds of tourists
14. local crafts : objects produced locally
15. long weekend : an extended weekend holiday including Friday or Monday
16. out of season : outside of the main holiday period
17. picturesque village : very pretty village
18. passport control : the place where your passport is checked
19. places of interest : sites of interest to tourists
20. wildlife safari : a holiday, often in Africa, to observe wild animals
21. self-catering : a holiday where you supply your own food
22. short break : a short holiday
23. to go sightseeing :  to look around the tourist sites
24. stunning landscape : extremely beautiful countryside
25. travel agent : a shop that specialises in booking holidays
26. tourist trap : somewhere where too many tourists go
27. youth hostel : a cheap form of accommodation