Review: vocabulary and speaking
Practice note: Grammar examples and role-play details may be hypothetical. Questions explicitly about the article use the reported facts. This is a historical report, not current travel advice.
A These are the KEY WORDS of the unit. Learn them first – you will need all of them to retell the storm news and talk about airline decisions.
| Form / word | Example / meaning |
| disrupt (verb) | A strong storm is disrupting air travel across the Northeast. |
| impact (noun) | The storm's impact is continuing into Sunday. |
| affected (adjective) | Delta gave affected customers more flexibility to change plans. |
| flexibility (noun) | The airline gave passengers more flexibility to change their flights. |
| figures (noun, plural) | The most recent figures show 253 cancelations and 36 delays. |
| eligible (adjective) | Eligible customers can change their travel without paying a fee. |
| conditions (noun, plural) | Under the waiver's conditions, changes are free of charge. |
The latest figures show that 253 flights were canceled at Logan on Saturday.
'Affected' (прилагательное, пострадавший) не путайте с 'effect' (существительное, эффект). 'Figures' во множественном числе = цифры/показатели, не путайте с 'numbers' в общем смысле.
B These VERBS describe what happened during the storm and what the airlines did. Many of them are used with reporting (said that...).
| Form / word | Example / meaning |
| experience | Boston Logan has experienced hundreds of cancelations this weekend. |
| spread | The disruption has spread beyond Boston to regional airports. |
| record | FlightAware recorded 253 cancelations on Saturday. |
| report | The cancelations were reported by The Boston Globe. |
| cover | Delta's waiver covers travel to, from, or through Boston. |
| operate | The waiver covers flights operated between September 25 and 27. |
| involve | JetBlue's waiver involves several Northeast airports, including JFK. |
| introduce | Several airlines have introduced travel waivers because of the storm. |
| issue a waiver | JetBlue has issued a Northeast weather waiver. |
| announce | Cape Air announced that it had canceled all North Region flights. |
| warn | Delta warned customers that more cancelations were expected on Sunday. |
| expect | Airlines expect a large number of cancelations at Logan. |
FlightAware recorded 253 cancelations at Logan on September 26.
'Record' как глагол ударение на второй слог [rɪˈkɔːrd], как существительное — на первый ['rekɔːrd]. 'Report' + that-clause часто используется для передачи чужих слов.
C These ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS and LINKERS help you describe the situation and connect ideas when you explain causes and results.
| Form / word | Example / meaning |
| due to | Flights were canceled due to strong winds and heavy rain. |
| therefore | The storm hit Boston hard; Delta has therefore given passengers more flexibility. |
| while | Cape Air had 115 cancelations, while Delta had 95. |
| however | The waiver allows changes; however, it does not mean all flights are canceled. |
| among | Airports in New York and Philadelphia are among those affected by the storm. |
| alternative | Passengers could move their trip to an alternative flight. |
| selected | United has issued waivers for selected Northeast airports. |
| specifically | Delta has specifically warned customers about Sunday cancelations. |
Flights were canceled due to strong winds and heavy rain.
'Due to' + существительное (due to the storm), не 'due to it was raining'. Для предложения с подлежащим и сказуемым используйте 'because'.
D These words and phrases are about TRAVEL, WAIVERS and the airline NETWORK – use them to explain what passengers can and cannot do.
| Form / word | Example / meaning |
| give flexibility | Airlines give affected passengers extra flexibility during storms. |
| move a trip | Passengers could move their trip to another date without a fee. |
| without paying | Customers can rebook without paying an extra fee. |
| under the waiver's conditions | Under the waiver's conditions, changes are free for eligible travelers. |
| regional network | Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are part of Cape Air's regional network. |
| route | Some routes in the North Region were canceled completely. |
| customer | The airline informed customers about the waiver by email. |
| terms | Each airline allows changes under its own terms. |
Passengers could move their trip to an alternative flight without paying extra fees.
'Customer' чаще используется для клиента авиакомпании (кто покупает билет), 'passenger' — для пассажира в самолёте; в тексте оба слова встречаются, а условия waiver можно назвать terms или conditions — в зависимости от контекста.
Exercises
Write your answers below, then open Answers. There is no automatic checking. Entries are not saved when you leave this page.
14.1 Write a short English definition of each word.
Example: disrupt → to stop something happening in the normal way
- impact
- affected
- flexibility
- figures
- eligible
- conditions
- warn
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- a strong effect on something
- influenced by something, usually in a negative way
- the ability to change plans easily
- numbers that show information, e.g. statistics
- allowed to do something because you meet the rules
- the rules that must be followed
- to tell someone about something bad that might happen
14.2 Complete the summary with the correct form of the word in brackets.
Example: FlightAware ______ (record) 253 cancelations at Logan on Saturday. → recorded
- A strong storm has (disrupt) flights across the Northeast.
- Boston Logan has (experience) hundreds of cancelations this weekend.
- The storm's (impact) on air travel is continuing into Sunday.
- The latest (figures) show 253 cancelations on Saturday.
- Cape Air and Delta were the most (affect) airlines at Logan.
- Delta has given customers more (flexible) to change their plans.
- Only (eligible) customers can change their flights without paying a fee.
- Under the waiver's (condition), changes are free of charge.
- The disruption has (spread) to regional airports like Nantucket.
- Delta has (warn) passengers that more cancelations are expected on Sunday.
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- disrupted
- experienced
- impact
- figures
- affected
- flexibility
- Eligible
- conditions
- spread
- warned
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
- Passengers were (AFFECT) by the long delays at the airport.
- The airline gave customers more (FLEXIBLE) to change their plans.
- Yesterday, Delta (WARN) passengers about possible cancelations on Sunday.
- Cape Air made an (ANNOUNCE) about canceled North Region flights.
- Right now, airlines (EXPECT) a high number of cancelations at Logan.
- Several new travel waivers were (INTRODUCE) this weekend.
- Not every flight is (OPERATE) according to the original schedule.
- The waiver (COVER) flights to, from, or through Boston.
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- affected
- flexibility
- warned
- announcement
- expect
- introduced
- operated
- covers
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.
- "We have issued a weather waiver for Boston," said Delta. (announce)
- "Passengers can move their trip without paying extra fees," said Cape Air. (explain)
- "The storm is disrupting flights across the Northeast," said a FlightAware spokesperson. (report)
- "We expect more cancelations at Logan tomorrow," said Delta. (warn)
- "All North Region flights are canceled," said Cape Air. (announce)
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- Delta announced that it had issued a weather waiver for Boston.
- Cape Air explained that passengers could move their trip without paying extra fees.
- The spokesperson reported that the storm was disrupting flights across the Northeast.
- Delta warned that more cancelations were expected at Logan the next day.
- Cape Air announced that all North Region flights were canceled.
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.
- Explain why Cape Air canceled all its North Region flights and what passengers can do now.
- Compare Delta's and Cape Air's waivers: how are they similar, how are they different?
- Role play: you are a check-in agent. A passenger's flight is canceled. Explain the situation and the waiver's conditions.
- Role play: a dispatcher briefs a pilot about current weather and expected delays at Boston Logan.
- Discuss: in your opinion, why is it important for airlines to give passengers flexibility during a storm?
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- Cape Air canceled its North Region routes due to the storm. Affected customers can move their trip to an alternative flight without paying extra fees under the waiver's conditions.
- Both airlines give affected customers more flexibility. However, Delta's waiver covers Boston specifically, while Cape Air's waiver involves its North Region.
- I'm sorry, your flight has been canceled due to the storm. You are eligible to change your flight without paying a fee under the waiver's conditions.
- We expect a number of delays today. The storm has already disrupted several flights, and figures show that more cancelations are likely among regional airports this afternoon.
- Flexibility is important because passengers are not responsible for the weather; giving them the flexibility to change flights without paying keeps customers happy and protects the airline's reputation.