SERVICIO NACIONAL DE APRENDIZAJE SENA

TECNOLOGÍA GESTIÓN LOGÍSTICA

ILSA MILENA LAITON COY

Bogotá, 04 Octubre de 2020

 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 Commerce
Ensure Secure
Efficient Effective
Requirement Requisite
Quick fast
Risk Hazard
Send despatch
Customer Client
Suitable appropriate
Delay set back
Deliver hand ove
Currency coin
Insurance assurance

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.

METHODS OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT

Ways of transporting goods.

Air transport See transport Road transport Rail transport

5. 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 of goods by road

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

  Air transport See transport Road transport Rail transport

time and speed Speed Speed Electric propulsion
formaties Competitiveness Economic Guide external
Advantages
security Single Flexibility  
  Documentation    
capacity Procedure Accident Low speed
Disadvantages
cost Weather port congestion restrictions coverang