8.1 Complete the sentences with has or have and the past participle of the verb in brackets.

Example: Airlines ______ (update) their schedules because of the storm. → have updated

1. Boston Logan ________________ (experience) hundreds of cancelations this weekend.
2. Delta ________________ (give) affected customers more flexibility.
3. The disruption ________________ (spread) to airports in New York and Philadelphia.
4. JetBlue ________________ (issue) a Northeast weather waiver.
5. American Airlines ________________ (introduce) new waivers for selected airports.
6. Cape Air ________________ (cancel) all flights in its North Region.
7. The storm ________________ (cause) big problems for passengers.
8. The cancelation figures ________________ (change) several times since Saturday.

8.2 Find these sentences in the Lesson text. For each one, write what the result is now.

Example: Boston Logan has experienced hundreds of flight cancelations. → Result: the airport has a lot of canceled flights now.

1. Airlines have had to change their operations due to strong winds and heavy rain.
2. The airline has therefore given affected customers more flexibility to change their travel plans.
3. The disruption has spread beyond Boston.
4. The wider Northeast has also experienced serious disruption.
5. JetBlue has also issued a Northeast weather waiver.
6. Delta has specifically warned customers that a large number of cancelations are expected on Sunday.

8.3 These facts are written with Present Simple, like in a basic news update. Rewrite each one with Present Perfect to show the storm's result now.

Example: Cape Air cancels flights in its North Region. → Cape Air has canceled flights in its North Region.

1. The storm disrupts air travel across the Northeast.
2. Airlines give passengers more flexibility.
3. The disruption spreads beyond Boston.
4. Delta issues a weather waiver for Boston.
5. Several airlines introduce travel waivers.
6. Boston Logan experiences serious problems.

8.4 Answer the questions about the storm using Present Perfect. Use the Lesson text to help you.

Example: What has happened to flights at Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard? → They have experienced many cancelations too.

1. What has happened to flights at Boston Logan this weekend?
2. What has Delta given affected customers?
3. How far has the disruption spread?
4. Which airlines have issued weather waivers?
5. What has American Airlines introduced for selected airports?

9.1 Join the two sentences using while to compare facts or show actions happening at the same time.

Example: Boston Logan reported 253 cancelations. / Nantucket reported 66. → Boston Logan reported 253 cancelations, while Nantucket reported 66.

1. Delta gave customers more flexibility. / JetBlue issued its own waiver.
2. American Airlines issued a waiver for selected airports. / United Airlines issued one for other routes.
3. The storm hit Boston hard. / New York airports were also affected.
4. Nantucket had 66 cancelations. / Martha's Vineyard had 44.
5. Delta expects many cancelations on Sunday. / The airline continues to adjust its schedule.
6. Cape Air canceled all North Region flights. / Other Cape Air routes kept operating.

9.2 Complete the sentences with because of, due to, while, however or therefore.

Example: Hundreds of flights were canceled ______ the storm. → because of / due to

1. Delta expects a large number of cancelations ________________ the weather conditions.
2. Cape Air had 115 cancelations, ________________ Delta had 95.
3. The storm has disrupted travel across the Northeast. ________________, airlines are giving passengers more flexibility.
4. Airlines have introduced waivers. ________________, this does not mean all flights have been canceled.
5. ________________ strong winds and heavy rain, Boston Logan canceled hundreds of flights.
6. ________________ Boston Logan was badly affected, Nantucket also reported many cancelations.

9.3 Complete the sentences about the storm using words from the box: due to, while, however, therefore, among.

Example: Flights were delayed ______ heavy rain and strong winds. → due to

1. Cape Air and Delta were ________________ the airlines most affected by the storm.
2. The airline has ________________ given customers more flexibility to change their travel plans.
3. Nantucket had 66 cancelations, ________________ Martha's Vineyard had 44.
4. The waiver covers eligible travel. ________________, passengers must change their flight before the deadline.
5. JFK and LaGuardia are ________________ the airports covered by JetBlue's waiver.
6. All flights in the North Region were canceled ________________ the weather.

9.4 Use the supplied information to write contrast sentences. Item 4 is a hypothetical practice scenario. Use while, however or therefore where appropriate.

Example: Boston Logan: 253 cancelations / Nantucket: 66 cancelations → Boston Logan had 253 cancelations, while Nantucket had only 66.

1. Cape Air: 115 cancelations / Delta: 95 cancelations
2. Martha's Vineyard: 44 cancelations / Nantucket: 66 cancelations
3. Delta's waiver: Boston only / JetBlue's waiver: Boston and several other airports
4. The storm badly affected Boston / Flights were still operating on time at some smaller airports
5. Airlines issued waivers to help passengers / Not all affected flights were actually canceled

10.1 Rewrite these sentences in the passive. Do not include the person or company unless it is necessary.

Example: FlightAware recorded 253 cancelations on Saturday. → 253 cancelations were recorded on Saturday.

1. FlightAware recorded 66 cancelations at Nantucket.
2. The storm affects several regional airports.
3. JetBlue operates flights between Boston and New York.
4. The airline's waiver covers eligible travel dates.
5. Delta reported a large number of cancelations.
6. The waiver involves several Northeast airports.
7. The Boston Globe reported new figures on Sunday.

10.2 Choose the correct form of the verb.

Example: Nantucket Airport ______ (is affect / is affected) by heavy rain today. → is affected

1. 115 flights ________________ (was canceled / were canceled) by Cape Air on Saturday.
2. The airline's North Region ________________ (is affect / is affected) by the storm this weekend.
3. New figures ________________ (was reported / were reported) by The Boston Globe on Sunday.
4. Eligible travel ________________ (is cover / is covered) under Delta's weather waiver.
5. Several routes ________________ (are operate / are operated) by Cape Air in its regional network.
6. The storm's impact ________________ (is continuing / is continued) into Sunday.

10.3 Complete the sentences with the passive form (is/are or was/were + past participle) of a verb from the box: record, report, cover, operate, involve, affect.

Example: Boston Logan ______ by strong winds and heavy rain. → is affected

1. 36 delays ________________ at Logan on September 26, according to FlightAware.
2. Eligible travel to Boston ________________ by Delta's weather waiver.
3. Several Northeast airports ________________ in the latest travel waivers.
4. The new cancelation figures ________________ by The Boston Globe on Sunday.
5. Regional flights to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard ________________ by Cape Air.
6. Logan Airport ________________ the most by Saturday's storm.

10.4 Identify the passive verb phrase and its subject in each example.

Example: Cape Air and Delta were affected the most at Boston Logan. → Passive: were affected; subject: Cape Air and Delta.

1. Passengers who were scheduled to travel could move their trips.
2. Several regional airports were affected by the storm.
3. A large number of cancelations are expected at Boston Logan on Sunday.

11.1 Choose can or could. Think about the time: now (can) or a past situation (could).

Example: Last week, affected passengers can/could change their flights without a change fee. → could

1. Right now, eligible customers can/could change their flight under the airline's conditions.
2. Last week, when the storm disrupted flights, Cape Air passengers can/could move their trip to an alternative flight.
3. Today, passengers can/could check the latest figures on the airline's website.
4. Last week, under the old rules in this practice scenario, passengers can/could not change this ticket without paying a fee.
5. Now, you can/could call Delta to ask about the waiver.
6. Last Saturday, affected passengers can/could move their flights until October 2.
7. This month, eligible passengers can/could travel under the waiver's conditions.

11.2 Write practice sentences about past possibility. Use could and the words given; these statements are hypothetical grammar examples.

1. Delta customers / change their flight / without paying a change fee / under the waiver's conditions
2. JetBlue passengers / change their plans / under the waiver's conditions
3. affected passengers / ask an agent / about an alternative flight
4. eligible customers / check / whether their ticket was covered
5. Cape Air passengers / move their trip / to an alternative flight
6. passengers / check / the new figures on the website

11.3 Answer the questions about the text. Use could where possible; say when the text does not give enough information.

Example: What could Cape Air passengers do if their North Region flight was canceled? → They could move their trip to an alternative flight until October 2 without paying extra fees.

1. Could passengers change their flight without paying a change fee under Delta's waiver?
2. What could eligible JetBlue passengers do between September 25 and 27?
3. Could Cape Air passengers travel after October 2 without paying extra fees?
4. What could American Airlines and United Airlines passengers do for selected Northeast airports?
5. Could all affected flights be changed without a change fee before the airlines issued waivers?

11.4 Complete the practice sentences with can/could and the verb in brackets. Use the negative only where the bracket says not.

1. Last Saturday, Cape Air passengers ________________ (move) their trip to an alternative flight.
2. Right now, passengers ________________ (check) the latest figures online.
3. Right now, eligible JetBlue customers ________________ (change) their booking under the waiver's conditions.
4. Under the old rules in this practice scenario, passengers ________________ (not/change) this ticket without paying a fee.
5. At present, eligible customers ________________ (move) their trip under the waiver's conditions.

12.1 Join the two sentences using who or which.

Example: Delta introduced a waiver. The waiver covers eligible customers. → Delta introduced a waiver which covers eligible customers.

1. Cape Air canceled flights on routes. The routes were affected by the storm.
2. Passengers could move their trips. The passengers were scheduled to travel on North Region routes.
3. JetBlue issued a waiver. The waiver covers flights operated between September 25 and 27.
4. Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are airports. The airports are part of Cape Air's regional network.
5. Delta warned customers. The customers had flights scheduled on Sunday.
6. American Airlines issued waivers for selected airports. The airports were affected by the storm.
7. The airline gave flexibility to customers. The customers were affected by the delays.

12.2 Complete the sentences with who or which.

Example: Delta has a weather waiver ______ covers Boston flights. → which

1. Passengers ________________ were traveling through Boston faced long delays.
2. The storm ________________ hit the Northeast caused hundreds of cancelations.
3. Customers ________________ booked flights on affected routes can change their plans.
4. FlightAware recorded figures ________________ show the scale of the disruption.
5. United Airlines issued a waiver ________________ covers selected airports.
6. Passengers ________________ need flexibility can check the airline's terms.
7. Cape Air operates a regional network ________________ includes Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

12.3 Read each sentence from the news report. Find the relative clause with who/which and write the noun (or noun phrase) it describes.

Example: The airline said that passengers who were scheduled to travel on affected routes could move their trips. → passengers

1. FlightAware is a flight-tracking service which recorded 253 cancelations at Logan.
2. JetBlue has issued a Northeast weather waiver, which covers flights operated between September 25 and 27.
3. Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are airports which are part of Cape Air's regional network.
4. Delta has given flexibility to customers who were affected by the storm.
5. Cape Air announced a waiver which covers eligible customers on selected routes.
6. Passengers who need to change their plans should check the airline's terms.
7. The storm, which continues to disrupt the Northeast, has had a big impact.

13.1 Rewrite the direct speech as reported speech, using said that. Change the tense if necessary.

Example: Delta: "We expect delays at Boston Logan." → Delta said that it expected delays at Boston Logan.

1. JetBlue: "We are issuing a Northeast weather waiver."
2. United: "We can change eligible flights without a fee."
3. American: "We will update our schedule."
4. Cape Air: "Passengers are moving their trips to alternative flights."
5. Delta: "We expect a large number of cancelations on Sunday."
6. FlightAware: "We record hundreds of cancelations every day."

13.2 Choose the backshifted verb form after said that for a report written after the announcement.

Example: Delta said that it (expects / expected) a large number of cancelations. → expected

1. Cape Air said that it (cancels / canceled) all flights in its North Region.
2. The airline said that passengers (can / could) change their flights without paying extra.
3. Delta said that it (will / would) give customers more flexibility.
4. JetBlue said that the waiver (covers / covered) flights between September 25 and 27.
5. United said that it (is issuing / was issuing) a waiver for selected airports.
6. American said that weather conditions (are / were) changing quickly.

13.3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of a word from the box: warn, announce, expect, specifically.

Example: Delta said that it ______ (expect) a large number of cancelations. → expected

1. Airlines ________________ more cancelations as the storm continued.
2. JetBlue ________________ a new weather waiver for Northeast airports.
3. The airline ________________ passengers that delays were possible.
4. Delta has ________________ warned customers that cancelations were expected on Sunday.
5. Cape Air ________________ that passengers could change their flights without paying extra.
6. Airlines ________________ the number of cancelations to rise as the storm continued.

13.4 Look at the paragraphs about Cape Air's North Region flights and Delta's Sunday forecast. Complete the reported speech sentences in your own words, based on the text.

Example: Cape Air announced that it ______ (about canceling flights). → had canceled all flights in its North Region because of the weather

1. The airline said that affected passengers ________________.
2. Cape Air said that passengers could move their trips ________________.
3. Cape Air announced that flights in the North Region ________________.
4. Delta said that it ________________ on Sunday.

14.1 Write a short English definition of each word.

Example: disrupt → to stop something happening in the normal way

1. impact
2. affected
3. flexibility
4. figures
5. eligible
6. conditions
7. warn

14.2 Complete the summary with the correct form of the word in brackets.

Example: FlightAware ______ (record) 253 cancelations at Logan on Saturday. → recorded

1. A strong storm has ________________ (disrupt) flights across the Northeast.
2. Boston Logan has ________________ (experience) hundreds of cancelations this weekend.
3. The storm's ________________ (impact) on air travel is continuing into Sunday.
4. The latest ________________ (figures) show 253 cancelations on Saturday.
5. Cape Air and Delta were the most ________________ (affect) airlines at Logan.
6. Delta has given customers more ________________ (flexible) to change their plans.
7. Only ________________ (eligible) customers can change their flights without paying a fee.
8. Under the waiver's ________________ (condition), changes are free of charge.
9. The disruption has ________________ (spread) to regional airports like Nantucket.
10. Delta has ________________ (warn) passengers that more cancelations are expected on Sunday.

14.3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in capitals.

Example: The storm has caused serious ______ (DISRUPT) to flights this weekend. → disruption

1. Passengers were ________________ (AFFECT) by the long delays at the airport.
2. The airline gave customers more ________________ (FLEXIBLE) to change their plans.
3. Yesterday, Delta ________________ (WARN) passengers about possible cancelations on Sunday.
4. Cape Air made an ________________ (ANNOUNCE) about canceled North Region flights.
5. Right now, airlines ________________ (EXPECT) a high number of cancelations at Logan.
6. Several new travel waivers were ________________ (INTRODUCE) this weekend.
7. Not every flight is ________________ (OPERATE) according to the original schedule.
8. The waiver ________________ (COVER) flights to, from, or through Boston.

14.4 Report what each person said. Use the reporting verb in brackets and make the necessary tense changes.

Example: "We expect a large number of cancelations at Boston Logan on Sunday," said Delta. (say) → Delta said that it expected a large number of cancelations at Boston Logan on Sunday.

1. "We have issued a weather waiver for Boston," said Delta. (announce)
2. "Passengers can move their trip without paying extra fees," said Cape Air. (explain)
3. "The storm is disrupting flights across the Northeast," said a FlightAware spokesperson. (report)
4. "We expect more cancelations at Logan tomorrow," said Delta. (warn)
5. "All North Region flights are canceled," said Cape Air. (announce)

14.5 Speaking. Work in pairs. Use the vocabulary of this unit wherever possible.

Example: Retell the storm news in 5–6 sentences. Use at least five words from this unit. → A powerful storm has disrupted flights across the Northeast. Boston Logan has experienced hundreds of cancelations. The latest figures show 253 cancelations on Saturday. Cape Air and Delta were the most affected. Eligible customers can now change their flights under each airline's terms.

1. Explain why Cape Air canceled all its North Region flights and what passengers can do now.
2. Compare Delta's and Cape Air's waivers: how are they similar, how are they different?
3. Role play: you are a check-in agent. A passenger's flight is canceled. Explain the situation and the waiver's conditions.
4. Role play: a dispatcher briefs a pilot about current weather and expected delays at Boston Logan.
5. Discuss: in your opinion, why is it important for airlines to give passengers flexibility during a storm?