Passive Voice in English Dialogue: Meeting Friends At The Airport

English Dialogue

Jim and Betty have come to the airport to meet their friends, Nancy and Tom, who are returning from a holiday in Indonesia. The plane has just arrived.

Betty: "Oh, Jim, isn't it exciting!"

Jim: "Yes, it is. Can you see Nancy and Tom?"

Betty: "No, not yet."

Jim: "Look, Betty, the stairs are being pushed towards the plane!"

Betty: "Yes, they're being put near the door of the plane. Oh, now the door is being opened. Oh, another door is being opened! What is that door for?"

Jim: "The passengers' luggage is taken out of that door."

Betty: "I see. Oh, now the passengers are being allowed to come out of the plane! But I can't see Nancy and Tom yet."

Jim: "Never mind. Perhaps they've been sitting at the back of the plane. They're probably being delayed by all the other passengers in front of them."

Betty: "Look behind you, Jim! What a lot of people are waving handkerchiefs! They're recognising their friends."

Jim: "My handkerchief is ready. I'll wave it as soon as I see Nancy and Tom."

Betty: "Oh bother! Mine is in my bag. Jim, there's Nancy."

Jim: "And there's Tom!"

Betty: "They haven't seen us yet."

Jim: "I suppose our handkerchiefs can't be seen among all these other ones."

Betty: "Oh, Jim, the passengers aren't being allowed to come and say "hello" to their friends. They're being taken into that room over there!"

Jim: "Yes, Betty. That's the Customs room. Their luggage must be examined by the Customs officials before they're allowed to talk to their friends."

Betty: "Look, Nancy has seen us! She's waving to us."

Jim: "So is Tom."

Betty: "Hello, Nancy!"

Jim: "Tom! Hello!"

Betty: "Oh, we can't be heard - there's too much noise! How long before we'll be able to talk to them?"

Jim: "Oh, people are never kept very long by the Customs officials. After their luggage is examined, they'll be able to talk to us."

Betty: "But while their luggage is being examined, we aren't allowed to go into the Customs room."

Jim: "No, nobody is allowed to go into the Customs room to speak to the passengers. Let's go and wait near the door."

Exercise Section

A. Multiple Choice Questions

Answer each of the following questions by choosing the correct answer.

1. Where does the conversation take place?
   1. At the train station
   2. At the airport
   3. At a bus terminal
   4. In a plane hangar
2. What are Jim and Betty doing there?
   1. Picking up luggage
   2. Waiting for a flight
   3. Meeting their friends
   4. Going on vacation
3. Where have Nancy and Tom been?
   1. Australia
   2. Indonesia
   3. France
   4. Japan
4. What will Jim do with his handkerchief?
   1. Wave it to their friends
   2. Use it to clean his glasses
   3. Give it to Betty
   4. Drop it on the ground
5. Where's Betty's handkerchief?
   1. In her pocket
   2. In her bag
   3. In her hand
   4. At home
6. Can the passengers come and say 'hello' to their friends after they come out of the plane?
   1. Yes, immediately
   2. Yes, but only outside the building
   3. No, they must go through Customs first
   4. No, they're not allowed to meet anyone
7. Where are the passengers being taken?
   1. To the luggage collection area
   2. To the airport exit
   3. To the waiting lounge
   4. To the Customs room
8. When will Jim and Betty be able to talk to their friends?
   1. After their luggage is examined by Customs
   2. As soon as they exit the plane
   3. After they collect their handkerchiefs
   4. Once they leave the airport
9. Where will they wait for their friends?
   1. Outside the airport
   2. At the exit gate
   3. In the waiting lounge
   4. Near the Customs room door
10. What does the word "examined" in the passage mean?
    1. Thrown away
    2. Checked carefully
    3. Packed tightly
    4. Repaired quickly

B. True or False Statements

Decide whether the statements are true or false.

1. Jim and Betty are at the airport to meet Nancy and Tom, who are returning from a trip to Indonesia.
   1. True
   2. False
2. Nancy and Tom were delayed because they were sitting at the front of the plane.
   1. True
   2. False
3. The stairs were pushed toward the plane to help passengers get off.
   1. True
   2. False
4. The passengers were allowed to talk to their friends as soon as they stepped off the plane.
   1. True
   2. False
5. Betty spotted Nancy first while Jim noticed Tom first.
   1. True
   2. False
6. The Customs officials were examining the passengers' handkerchiefs.
   1. True
   2. False
7. Passengers’ luggage was taken out from the same door they exited the plane.
   1. True
   2. False
8. Jim and Betty could not be heard because of the noise at the airport.
   1. True
   2. False
9. Jim planned to wave his handkerchief to catch Nancy and Tom's attention.
   1. True
   2. False
10. Jim and Betty decided to wait for Nancy and Tom near the Customs room door.
    1. True
    2. False

C. Vocabulary Matching

Match the words in the box with their correct definitions.

Customs Handkerchief Delay Luggage Examine

1. A small piece of cloth used for wiping the face or hands, or for waving as a signal.
2. To inspect or check something thoroughly.
3. Suitcases, bags, and belongings travelers carry on a trip.
4. A period of time when something is postponed or made to happen later.
5. The place where officials check passengers' belongings when entering a country.

7/27/11, 11:34 PM, PV 2353