1.- Discuss these questions.

Do you like traveling? Why?

Are you an exotic traveler or do you prefer typical hotspots?

Do you prefer traveling on your own, with friends or with your family?

Do you enjoy long trips or short trips?

Are you interested in traveling abroad, inside your own country or both?

What are the benefits of traveling, in your opinion?

Is shopping important to you when traveling?

Are you into getting to know other peoples, other cultures and other customs
and traditions?

Do you think language is a barrier?

2.- Agree or disagree with the following quotes about traveling.

Traveling broadens the mind.

Adventure is an essential part of traveling.

Traveling is the best way to pick up and practise a new language.

3.- Read the introduction to a magazine article extracted from Global Citizen
magazine. Decide if the following statements are CORRECT or INCORRECT.
a) Traveling to new places can bring many benefits.
b) Tourism is not important in developing countries.
c) Tourists usually travel to the same restricted number of places.
d) Tourism does not impact on nature, the environment and culture of these
places.
e) The article offers a list of alternative places for tourists.
Travel is a beautiful thing. Journeys to unfamiliar places can inspire new customs, alter previously held perceptions,
encourage big ideas, and evoke a newfound appreciation for things long underappreciated. Also, the benefits of
travel arent exclusive to the traveler. Tourism is one of the main income sources for many developing countries,

representing a key driver of socio-economic progress. However, too often tourism remains restricted to a small
selection of hotspots. This trend is having an unfortunate impact on these popular destinations. For instance,
constant crowds are eroding natural landscapes and overusing scarce resources; tourists are being lured into areas
where they are disturbing cultural customs and exploiting local communities and wildlife in an unintentional way. As a
result, we can see that in the age of mass tourism, travel has lost a bit of its beauty. So its time to give travel a
makeover. This year, take the road less traveled. Challenge yourself to visit destinations undiscovered by your
friends, and take the time to research how you can mitigate your negative impact on local landscapes and
communities. For a bit of inspiration, check out this list of destinations that could make great alternatives!

4.- Match the words in bold in the text with their synonyms.
consequence trips popular destinations traditions investigate remember tendency
reduce motivate

5.- Write the opposite adjectives.

familiar:

unpopular:

__________________________________

_______________________________

overappreciated:

underuse:

__________________________

________________________________

developed:

intentional:

_______________________________

_______________________________

fortunate:

discovered:

________________________________

_______________________________

6.- Complete the opinions using some of the words above. Do you agre with them?
a) Tourists sometimes write their names on rocks and illegal places. I know it is
__________________ - they want to do it. They dont realize how much they damage
the landscape and the environment.
b) Its exotic to travel to ___________________ hotspots because you experience
something new.
c) ___________________ countries can make progress if they use tourism as an
economic tool.
d) I think some cities are just ____________________ . They are too valued and they
are not so good. They have good publicitiy.
e) I prefer ___________________ destinations.

The most famous places are

uninteresting to me.

7.- Now use some of the words in 5 to write your own opinion on traveling. Share
your opinions. Do you agree? Why or why not?
8.- Find these connectors in the text. Answer.
Also, ... / However, ... / For instance, ... / As a result, ... / So, ...
a) Which connector introduces a problem with tourists choices and alternatives?
b) Which connector anticipates a solution or a new alternative to the problem?
c) Which connector exemplifies a previous point?
d) Which connector presents a consequence?
e) Which connector adds a new piece of information?

9.- Complete the following statements using your own ideas.

As I see it, traveling is good for your mental health because you can relax
when you visit a new place. Also, you can ...

Tourism can bring economic benefits to a country or city. However, ...

In my opinion, there are many problems that come up when traveling

abroad. For instance, ...

Sometimes tickets are really expensive. As a result, ...

Packing your suitcase can be problematic sometimes so its a good idea to ...

10.- Decide if each statement in the text is a FACT or an OPINION. If it is a fact,

discuss which type of fact it is: based on quoted evidence? A generalization? A
general truth everyone can agree on? If it is an opinion, discuss why it has been
included. What is the idea the author is defending? Which title would you give the
article?
11.- One of the hotspots the author later recommends is Dubai. Watch the video
My City and fill in the gaps.
HORSERACE

DIVERSE

OPPORTUNITY

ROWING

10 90 60S

SKY DIVING

80

TABOO

COOKS

Dubai is a land of ________________ . Once a sleepy desert, the discovery of oil in the
_____________ changed everything for good and the city is now home to the tallest

buildings and the richest people. For example, the Burj Khalifa is the worlds tallest
building, over _____________ hundred meters, a sign of the citys confidence. Dubai
also has the richest ______________ where you can win up to _________ million US
dollars. Many who arrive there never want to leave.
In spite of its economic progress, there are still serious issues connected with
gender inequality and discrimination. For instance, a lot of women in Dubai do
______________, go diving, do hiking or do __________________ but it is not something
that they talk about much because it is a _____________. As a result, they keep it
private.
As regards its population, expats make ____________ % of it and with no taxes and
high wages, many can afford their own stuff: nannies, drivers, ___________, cleaners;
an army of workers from all corners of the world make Dubai an extremely
________________ hotspot.
The city built on a dream is an extraordinary lively place where crazy ideas become
reality.