Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language
3 Now read about the different forms of transport and answer the questions that follow each one.
Getting around abroad doesn’t have to be all about cars, trains, buses and bikes. From cruising Peru’s Lake Titicaca on a boat made of reeds to flying down the streets of Madeira in a wicker toboggan or taking an odd horse-drawn carriage in Pakistan, there are so many unusual types of travel to be tried. Here are some of the best.
Traghetto, Venice Along the 3.5 km stretch of Venice’s Grand Canal there are just three bridges, so how do you get across? By traghetto, of course. The unglamorous sibling of the gondola, these no-frills boats get passengers from one side of the canal to the other for a very small fee. You can pick up a traghetto (meaning ‘ferry’ in Italian) from any of the seven piers along the canal – just look for the yellow signs pointing you towards the landings. Each boat is rowed by two oarsmen, one at the bow and one behind the passengers, as in a gondola. If you want to ride like a Venetian, do not sit down for the short journey.
a Which other transport method is the traghetto compared to?
............................................................................................................................................................................... b Why might someone think you are a local if you stand up in a traghetto?
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Tangah, Pakistan Save yourself a few dollars in Pakistan and ride on a Tangah, rather than the more commonly used rickshaws and taxis. A Tangah is a carriage, sitting atop two large wooden wheels (not exactly designed for comfort, so expect a sore bottom on a long journey!), pulled by one or two horses. They have a low-glamour, but high fun factor and have nowadays become more widely used in Pakistan for enjoyment, rather than as a functional way of getting around. Just beware that they’re not the speediest way to travel!
c How can you spend less money in Pakistan?
.............................................................................................................................................................................. d What are the disadvantages of riding in a tangah? Give two details.
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Bamboo train, Cambodia Those who are brave enough may want to ride a Cambodian bamboo train – known locally as a nori. Passengers sit on a makeshift bamboo ‘train’ (basically just a bamboo platform) powered by an electric generator engine, perched just inches above the railway tracks and travelling at up to 40 km/h. The unmaintained railway tracks make for a bumpy ride and the closest you’ll get to luxury is sitting on a grass mat. But the fares are low and this is a once in a lifetime experience, as all the locals use them for getting around. Pick up a nori from Battambang station.