Actividad de aprendizaje 6

Evidencia 5: Reading workshop: International transport

Durante la vida académica, es muy común enfrentarse a todo tipo de textos en los que
usualmente se presenta información de carácter técnico relacionada con el área de
estudio en la que nos desempeñamos. Gran parte de este compilado de información
se encuentra escrito en lengua inglesa por ser esta una de las más utilizadas en las
comunidades científicas y académicas a nivel internacional.

Por lo anterior, es importante que desarrolle habilidades de comprensión de lectura que

le permitan relacionarse con textos académicos y técnicos escritos en la lengua
extranjera con facilidad. Tenga en cuenta que la lectura de estos textos no se limita al
solo reconocimiento de palabras, sino que debe ejercitar habilidades más complejas
que le permitan, por ejemplo, extraer ideas principales y secundarias, hacer inferencias,
encontrar argumentos y opiniones, así como identificar vocabulario e información
específica.

Con el propósito de ayudarle a desarrollar estas habilidades, se ha propuesto la

presente evidencia de aprendizaje la cual consiste en realizar la lectura de un texto
sobre métodos de transporte internacional y desarrollar los ejercicios de comprensión
de información que se proponen en el taller de lectura denominado Reading
workshop: international transport.

Para realizar esta evidencia, debe:

• Leer el texto Methods of international transport que se encuentra disponible en el

material complementario.
• Una vez realizada la lectura, desarrolle el taller Reading workshop: international
transport.
• Complete los ejercicios propuestos en el taller y guarde el documento
correspondiente en formato .pdf o .doc.
• Envíe el taller totalmente diligenciado a su instructor por medio de la plataforma de
aprendizaje, en la evidencia relacionada.
Nota: para el desarrollo de esta evidencia se deben tener en cuenta el material de
formación “Means of transportation” y los materiales complementarios pertenecientes a
esta actividad de aprendizaje.

Reading workshop: International transport

Read the article Methods of international transport taken from the website Exportiamo.it
and complete the following reading comprehension tasks:

1. Identifying key information

Based on the information presented in the article, answer the following questions:
1. What’s the articles’ main idea?

a. There are many ways to transport goods.

b. Transport is very important in international trade.
c. There are several factors companies need to consider when deciding on what
type of transport to use
d. Depending on the mode of transport, companies can be more efficient and save
money.

2. According to the article, what are some of the factors a company needs to take into
account when choosing the method of transport to deliver their goods?

a. Business type and expertise

b. Sending cost and type of goods
c. Type and value of goods, sending cost, destination, and risk of
transportation
d. Weather conditions and customers’ requirements

3. What mode of transport allows companies to transport large quantities at a low

cost?

a. Rail transport
b. Air transport
c. Road transport
 d. Sea transport

4. What method of transport is more flexible in terms of routes and timetables?

a. Rail transport
b. Air transport
c. Road transport
d. Sea transport

5. What methods of transport require companies to spend more money on further

transportation costs to take goods to their final destination?

a. Rail transport and sea transport

b. Air transport and road transport
c. Road transport
d. Sea transport, air transport and rail transport

6. When is it necessary to complete a dangerous goods declaration?

a. When the goods are being transported to countries located in Europe, North
Africa or the Middle East.
b. When the goods are being transported by rail.
c. When the goods that are being transported have a UN dangerous goods
code.
d. When the goods are being transported with no insurance.

2. (Finding similar words

The following wordlist contains words from the article on methods of international
transport. For each word find a word with the same or similar meaning synonym).

Word Synonym
Trade market
Ensure to guarantee
Efficient Effective
Requirement requirement
Quick fast
Risk Danger
Send pack off
 Customer buyer
Suitable appropriate
Delay postpone
Deliver give
Currency Money
Insurance trustworthy

3. Find the missing words

Choose the option that better completes the following passage:

When transporting freight internationally, it’s important to choose the

appropriate mode of transportation to ensure your products arrive on time and at
the right cost. Your decision to ship by land, sea, or air depends on a careful
evaluation of business needs and a comparison of the benefits each method
affords. Picking the best possible mode of transportation is critical to export
success.

a. Selling / irrelevant / ensure / decision / costs / comparison / noncritical

b. Transporting / important / ensure / decision / needs / comparison /critical
c. Transporting / irrelevant / support / comparison / needs / assessment /critical
d. Selling / relevant / ensure / decision / needs / comparison / critical

4. Summarizing ideas visually

Based on the article, make a concept map or mind map with information related to
modes of transport. Remember to complete the diagram by writing on it only main ideas
and key information from the reading passage that deals with methods of international
transport.
 You can use the following graphic organizer model or the one you feel more
comfortable with. Try using the resources available on the following websites:

Transport Mode

Mode
Mode Mode Mode
Railway transport
Marine transport Ground transportation Air Transport

Large mass Low speed of

movement goods. transportation, which is The costs of the
Low unit cost of translated into Flexibility in the operation are, in
movement. merchandise safety. transportation goods. general, quite low.
Long haul Economic rates. Speed in delivering. Capacity: allows
movements. Large capability of mass High frequency of
movement. the transport of
Specialized delivering service.
Long haul movements. large quantities of
equipment. Equipment diversity.
goods
High movement
speed.

Low unit cost of

movement.
 4. Matching headings

Headings are short sentences that summarize the information in a paragraph. You have
to pick the one that best summarizes the information in the following paragraphs. Match
each paragraph in the reading text to one heading. Be careful, there are always more
headings than paragraphs.

Headings

 Legal requirements needed to carry goods by road

 Rail transport uses
 Means of transportation
 Factors that influence company’s decision on which type of transport to use
 Rail transport benefits
 Difficulties of transporting goods by rail
 International transportation of goods by road

 Paragraph 1: Means of transportation

Road, sea, rail and air are four ways of import and export. As a first step the company
has to consider all part of their project, firstly, it is important what has to be distributed
including size, weight and which type of goods. For example, for the transportation of
foods or fruits, speed is important and it’s important to choose the shortest and quickest
way. Sending cost is another element very important and depends on the agency.
Destination, countries’ law, value of goods, risk of transport are other elements to be
considered and depend on company, country of destination and customers’
requirements. So who wants to deal with international transportation has to balance
quality, cost, time and conditions.
Paragraph 2: DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORTING GOODS BY RAIL

Risks for rail transport:

 routes and timetables available can be inflexible, especially in remote regions

 can be more expensive than road transport
 mechanical failure or industrial action can disrupt services
 further transportation may be needed from a rail depot to the final destination,
increasing costs and affecting delivery schedules

Paragraph 3: INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION

The international transport of dangerous goods by road is subject to international

legislation, in particular the European Agreement on the International Carriage of
Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods must
hold an ADR training certificate in handling dangerous goods. All commercial vehicles
that carry dangerous goods must pass the ADR test, and some of them need to be built
with special standards.

Paragraph 4: RAIL TRANSPORT BENEFITS

Rail transport is a cost-effective and efficient way to move goods. It offers the following
advantages: fast rail network throughout Europe. It is environmentally friendly compared
with other transport systems.

6. Making comparisons
Based on the article on methods of international transport complete the following
comparison chart by listing the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of
transportation.

Air transport See transport Road Rail transport

transport

- Quick - Volume and - Flexibility of - Little pollutant

storage capacity merchandise
- Security handling
Advantages - variety of -Avoid traffic
products and - Single problems
- Follw-Up control documentation
transportable
materials -Capacity: allows
-
the transport of
-Security and It is the most used
large quantities
stability medium
of merchandise

- IT IS MORE - Extensive - It is one of the - Do not meet the

EXPENSIVE procedure most polluting schedules
media
It is the most
Disadvantages - Climatic factors -Share the
expensive means of
- Traffic railroad with the
transportation
congestion transport of
- Not suitable for Velocidad - Limited capacity. travelers, who
cheap and high relativa (baja), are preferred
volume goods en función del
buque y tipo de - Not excessive
servicio. speed

Pasos para enviar la evidencia:

1. Clic en el título de la evidencia.

2. Clic en Examinar mi equipo y buscar el archivo previamente guardado.
3. Dejar un comentario al instructor (opcional).
4. Clic en Enviar.
Nota: esta evidencia es de carácter individual. Recuerde revisar la guía de aprendizaje
con el fin de verificar que ha realizado todas las evidencias propuestas, saber cómo
desarrollarlas y entregarlas correctamente.

Criterios de evaluación
 Puede extraer información adecuada y precisa y tomar nota de una
conversación, programa, clase, etc., referido a su profesión.
 Puede completar frases basado en información leída previamente en un
texto.
 Puede relacionar textos en inglés con imágenes o con títulos que le sean
adecuados.
 Interpreta un texto sencillo y puede construir un mapa conceptual basado en
el mismo.

Reading the article of complementary material, transportation is the most important

component for most companies because the success of a supply chain depends on it.
Mode and half transport are responsible for moving finished products, raw materials and
supplies, between companies and customers that are geographically dispersed; it is up
to each organization or company to choose the one that best suits them