Talking to Tourists 1

Vocabulary practice for anyone who works with tourists — choose the right English word for each situation.

Vocabulary in context

Tourists in a city rely on the people around them for information that websites and maps can't always provide — the local knowledge, the honest recommendation, the shortcut that saves twenty minutes. And those conversations happen in English, because it's the language that fills the gap between any two people who don't share a native tongue. This exercise builds the vocabulary for those moments: the words for describing places and getting there, for recommending and warning, for helping someone feel oriented in a place they don't know. You don't have to be in the tourism industry to need this vocabulary — you just have to live somewhere that visitors sometimes ask for help.

Ready to practice? Let's go!

Fill in each blank with the correct word. If both words can be used, choose the one that sounds more natural in each situation.

1. This palace was the summer (residence/residents) of the Emperor Franz Joseph.

2. On you right you'll see a beautiful example of 17th century Neo-gothic architecture. Presently it (houses/homes) the Museum of Justice, but it used to be a prison.

3. The walking tour (departs/goes) from the tourist information office every hour until 7:00 PM.

4. All of the major sights are (marked/marketed) on the map.

5. There is a (list/details) of hotels in the back of the brochure.

6. Go straight for about 500 meters, and then (turn/make) right on Main Street.

7. You won't be able to catch a taxi here. You have to go to a taxi (stand/place).

8. A lot of these buildings are really (run/cut)-down. ( = old and falling apart)

9. It's a two- (hour/hours) tour. ( = the tour lasts for two hours)

10. The city has many beautiful tree- (lined/planted) avenues.

11. We hope you enjoy your (stay/rest) in Tokyo.

12. This whole section was beautifully (new/renovated) in the 1970s.

13. That's the (bohemian/art) part of town. ( = the part of a city where artists, musicians, etc. live)

14. It would be cheaper for you to buy a three-day (pass/ticket) instead of individual tickets.

15. The (admission/admitting) ( = entrance) fee is $10.

16. Although the city looks very modern, it was actually (founded/started) in 1725.

17. Disneyland is an example of an amusement (park/place).

18. Disneyland has a lot of fun (rides/machines).

19. The royal palace is very far from here. It on the (next/other) side of the city.

20. Rome has some very beautiful (fountains/foundations). ( = structures from which a jet/stream of water rises)