Practice English Listening B2 Exercises – Fasten your seat belts

A P   B T   C T   D P   E P   F P   G T   H T   I P   J P

A   Good afternoon. This is your captain speaking. I’d like to welcome you all aboard JetBlue Flight 23 to Los Angeles. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet, at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The weather along the way looks good and we are expecting to land in Los Angeles approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the flight.

B   Attention passengers. This is a track change. The 9:04 New Haven Line train from Grand Central Terminal with service to Waterbury will now depart from track 103. Passengers traveling on the 9:04 New Haven Line train to Waterbury, please go to track 103. The train is boarding.

C   Attention please. Hudson Line service from Croton-Harmon to Grand Central Terminal may experience delays of 10 to 15 minutes because of track work. We apologize for any inconvenience.

D   Ladies and gentlemen, we ask for your attention for the following safety instructions. Please review the safety information card located in the seat pocket in front of you. There are six emergency exits on this aircraft, all marked with exit signs. Take a minute to locate the exit closest to you. Note that the nearest exit may be behind you.

E   This is the final boarding call for passengers Alice and Christopher Carter for Delta flight 2116 to Las Vegas. Please proceed to Gate 3 immediately. I repeat: this is the final boarding call for Alice and Christopher Carter. Thank you.

F   Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard United Flight 78 to San Francisco. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seat belts at this time and place all carry-on luggage securely underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that you make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright and locked positions for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices at this time.

G   The next train arriving on track 3 will be the 10:25 Amtrak Texas Eagle with service to Chicago, making stops at Lincoln, Bloomington-Normal, Pontiac, and Joliet. Please board using all doors. Full meal service is offered in the dining car, which is located at the back of the train.

H   This is a Brooklyn-bound F train. The next stop is Delancey Street. Change here for the J, M, and Z trains.

I   This is the pre-boarding announcement for AeroMexico Flight 5279 to Mexico City. We’re now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes time. Thank you.

J   We have now landed in London Gatwick. Please disembark by either the front or rear exits. Make sure you have all your personal belongings with you.

1   The train will now leave from track 103.

2   Train service is delayed 10 to 15 minutes.

3   The dining car is at the back of the train.

4   You need to change at the next stop (Delancey Street).

1   Attention passengers. This is a track change. The 9:04 New Haven Line train from Grand Central Terminal with service to Waterbury will now depart from track 103. Passengers traveling on the 9:04 New Haven Line train to Waterbury, please go to track 103. The train is boarding.

2   Attention please. Hudson Line service from Croton-Harmen to Grand Central Terminal may experience delays of 10 to 15 minutes because of track work. We apologize for any inconvenience.

3   The next train arriving on track 3 will be the 10:25 Amtrak Texas Eagle with service to Chicago, making stops at Lincoln, Bloomington-Normal, Pontiac, and Joliet. Please board using all doors. Full meal service is offered in the dining car, which is located at the back of the train.

4   This is a Brooklyn-bound F train. The next stop is Delancey Street. Change at Delancey Street for the J, M, and Z trains.

1   On the plane. Relax and enjoy the flight.

2   On the plane. Pay attention to the safety instructions and locate your nearest emergency exit.

3   In the airport terminal. Go to Gate 3 immediately.

4   On the plane. Fasten your seat belts and place all carry-on luggage under the seat in front of you, put your seat backs and tray tables in their upright and locked positions, and turn off all electronic devices.

5   In the airport terminal. Passengers with children and needing special assistance can begin boarding; have boarding pass and ID ready.

6   On the plane. Disembark by either the front or rear exits and make sure you have all your belongings.

1   Good afternoon. This is your captain speaking. I’d like to welcome you all aboard JetBlue Flight 23 to Los Angeles. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet, at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The weather along the way looks good and we are expecting to land in Los Angeles approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the flight.

2   Ladies and gentlemen, we ask for your attention for the following safety instructions. Please review the safety information card located in the seat pocket in front of you. There are six emergency exits on this aircraft, all marked with exit signs. Take a minute to locate the exit closest to you. Note that the nearest exit may be behind you.

3   This is the final boarding call for passengers Alice and Christopher Carter for Delta flight 2116 to Las Vegas. Please proceed to Gate 3 immediately. I repeat: this is the final boarding call for Alice and Christopher Carter. Thank you.

4   Ladies and gentlemen, welcome on board United flight 78 to San Francisco. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seat belts at this time and place all carry-on luggage securely underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that you make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright and locked positions for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices at this time.

5   This is the pre-boarding announcement for AeroMexico flight 5279 to Mexico City. We’re now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you.

6   We have now landed in London Gatwick. Please disembark by either the front or rear exits. Make sure you have all your personal belongings with you.

1 about   2 find   3 go to   4 put, phones / iPads / laptops, etc.

5 needing   6 get off, back

1   The weather along the way looks good and we are expecting to land in Los Angeles approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule.

2   Take a minute to locate the exit closest to you.

3   Please proceed to Gate 3 immediately.

4   We ask that you please fasten your seat belts at this time and place all carry-on luggage securely underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartments…Please turn off all personal electronic devices at this time.

5   We’re now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time.

6   Please disembark by either the front or rear exits.

A

1   When the wind changes direction suddenly.

2   No.

3   Take-off is slightly more dangerous.

4   So they aren’t distracted.

5   Yes, definitely.

6   No, never.

B

1   When the wind changes direction very suddenly, especially during take-off and landing.

2   No, it isn’t, though passengers should wear their seat belts.

3   They’re both dangerous, but take-off is slightly more dangerous.

4   Because the crew doesn’t want passengers to be distracted if there’s an emergency, and they don’t want the tray tables to get in the way if there’s an evacuation.

5   Yes, definitely, especially to identify the nearest emergency exit.

6   No, never, and he has been flying since he was 16.

I = interviewer, R = Richard

I    With me in the studio today I have Richard, who’s a pilot, and he’s going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about flying and air travel. Hello, Richard.

R   Hello.

I    So, Richard, the first question is: what weather conditions are the most dangerous when flying a plane?

R   Probably the most dangerous weather conditions are when the wind changes direction very suddenly. Uh…this tends to happen during thunderstorms and tropical storms, and it’s especially dangerous during take-off and landing. But it’s very unusual – I’ve been flying for 25 years now, and I’ve only experienced this three or four times.

I    What about turbulence? Is that dangerous?

R   It can be very bumpy and very uncomfortable, but it isn’t dangerous. Even strong turbulence won’t damage the plane. Pilots always try to avoid turbulence, but it can sometimes occur without any warning, which is why we always advise passengers to wear their seat belt all the time during the flight.

I    Which is more dangerous, take-off or landing?

R   Both take-off and landing can be dangerous. They are the most dangerous moments of a flight. Pilots talk about the “critical eight minutes” – the three minutes after take-off and the five minutes before landing. Most accidents happen in this period. But I would say that take-off is probably slightly more dangerous than landing. There is a critical moment just before take-off when the plane is accelerating, but it hasn’t yet reached the speed to be able to fly. If the pilot has a problem with the plane at this point, he has very little time – maybe only a second – to abort the take-off.

I    Why are passengers asked to turn off their electronic devices during take-off and landing?

R   It’s mainly because they don’t want passengers to be distracted, in case there’s an emergency. It’s nothing to do with the devices interfering with aircraft controls. I mean, aircraft control systems are so sophisticated now that they wouldn’t cause any interference. Incidentally, that’s also the reason why people have to put their tray tables up. If we had to abandon take-off or have an emergency evacuation, a tray table could cause a passenger injury or prevent other passengers from getting out easily.

I    Is it really worth listening to safety demonstrations?

R   Definitely. I can tell you for a fact that when pilots are passengers during a flight, they always identify the nearest emergency exit and count how many rows in front or behind it is.

I    Do you ever get scared?

R   I’ve been asked this many times, and the answer is no – honest to goodness. I’ve been flying since I was 16 and there’s never been a single occasion where I’ve felt scared in the air. Bear in mind you’ve been asking me about dangerous situations, but these are incredibly rare.

I    Thanks very much, Richard.