Head in the Clouds
Our Correspondent Takes Off
Before you read get sure you know:
as – так как, когда, по мере того как
no longer – больше не
to develop – создавать, разрабатывать
as a result – в результате
as is more often the case – как бывает чаще
first… then – сначала… потом
actual – истинный
both… and – и… и
in order to – для того чтобы}
to control – управлять
few – мало
My First Flight
My first flight in a hot air balloon was on a still, cold, January afternoon. As the
ground receded, the pilot and I watched my children leaping about and waving.
Suddenly they no longer seemed real. They became tiny dolls in a toy village. We
flew over many small towns and villages that afternoon but my lasting memory is of flying
very low over Manningtree Marsh. As I chatted to some astonished fishermen I was
amazed by the beauty of the balloon’s reflection in the water. Reality returned with
the landing which was hard and bruising. The bruises didn’t matter. I knew from
that afternoon on that I wanted to spend as much time as I could with balloons.
to recede – to get away
to leap – to jump
to wave – to move a hand in the air
to chat – to talk
to be amazed – to be surprised
a bruise – a red and blue mark on the skin
The History of the Hot Air Balloon
The modern hot air balloon is made from multi-coloured, synthetic material. It is
lifted into the sky by hot air provided by propane gas burners. All modern craft
have been developed from a United States government project. This project proved that hot
air ballooning is much cheaper than traditional hydrogen gas ballooning.
As a result of the project, there was a rapid commercial development of balloons. Now,
thousands of men and women, of all ages and professions, have been attracted to the
sport. It can be enjoyed at a high level of competition or as is more often the case, for sheer
pleasure.
craft – air ships
to attract – to interest
sheer pleasure – enjoyment
The Launching
Launching the balloon can be great fun, with a team of helpers working
under the instructions of the pilot. The launch site need not be very special –
it is usually a field – but it should not be near any power lines and should be
well-sheltered from strong winds. First the rigging wires are attached to
the basket and the helpers are correctly placed. Then there is a moment of pure magic as
first cold air then hot air are blown into the balloon canopy. It expands into a
beautiful, natural shape and rises from the ground, held steady above the basket. At the
moment of take-off there is no actual feeling of lift. It is as if the ground drops
smoothly away.
to launch a balloon – to send it in the air
fun – pleasure
a site – an area
rigging wires – fixing thin long pieces of metal
to attach – to join together
The Flight
The flight experience is not all stillness and quiet. The propane burners are
blasting hot air into the canopy every twenty seconds and, like all sports, there is an
element of danger in both competition and pleasure flying. The competition pilot will take
calculated risks in order to drop the craft precisely on target. The less
experienced leisure pilot might be caught up in unexpected weather conditions which
make the balloon difficult to control. All balloonists know the risks and try to prepare
for them. In the United Kingdom there have been few accidents and only one fatality.
stillness – silence
target – (here) place of landing
a leisure pilot – the one who flies for pleasure
The Landing
Every one gains something different from the experience of flying
in a hot air balloon. As we packed the balloon away after my first flight we were helped
by many people who had followed our flight across the country in their cars. They too had
been affected by the beauty of the experience and wanted to be near the balloon. Perhaps
they knew that they were touching magic.
to gain – to get
experience – practice
to touch smth – to put a hand on smth to feel it
Alan Edwards
I. Work in pairs.
Interview Alan
Interviewer: Are you married?
How many children do you have?
What do you do?
Is it your first experience of flying in a hot air balloon?
What is your most lasting memory? What were you amazed at?
You said that the bruises didn’t matter. Why don’t they matter to you?
What is the best weather for ballooning?
What do people look like when viewed from the air?
What do towns and villages look like when viewed from the air?
Is the Earth a beautiful sight when viewed from the air?
Who does ballooning? It is an expensive sport, isn’t it?
What are the stages of ballooning?
II. Work in pairs.
Ask questions and continue to interview Alan. Change parts.
We flew over many small towns and villages. (How many…?)
The propane burners blast hot air into the canopy every twenty seconds. (How often?)
There is an element of danger in balloon flying (a general question).
It’s not easy to control the balloon when a strong wind starts blowing. (tag question)
There have been few accidents in the United Kingdom. (How many…?)
There has been only one fatality. (general question)
Ballooning has a lot of fans (admirers). (general question)
People are affected by the beauty of the balloon in flight. (What…by?)
III. Explain in a descriptive way:
the hot air balloon
the hydrogen gas balloon
Which of them is cheaper?
a propane gas burner
What the function of propane gas is?
the competition pilot
the leisure pilot
Which of them is more experienced?
IV. Get ready for an interview with an expert who participated in the government
project.
1. The modern hot air balloon is made from multi-coloured material. (What material …
from?)
2. It is lifted into the sky by hot air. (What … by?)
3. Hot air is provided by propane gas burners. (What … by?)
4. All modern craft have been developed from a United States government project. (From
what project?)
5. This project proved that hot air ballooning is much cheaper than traditional
hydrogen gas ballooning. (What?)
6. Ballooning has a lot of fans (a general question) who help to launch and to pack
away the balloon. People are affected by the beauty of the balloon in flight. (What …
by?)
V. Work in pairs.
One of you is an expert who took part in the government project, the other is a BBC
correspondent, who asks the expert the above questions.
VI. You are the pilot of a balloon. Describe the launching stage step by step.
1. Helpers take their places.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
VII. Work in pairs.
Read your notes to each other and discuss them.
VIII. The first row of the students are journalists. Look through the question
exercises and make a list of questions you would like to ask a pilot in the logical
sequence.
The second row of the students are balloonists. Get ready to give answers.
IX. Write a paragraph on “Ballooning is an Extreme Sport”.
Compiled by Yekaterina Gvozdeva
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