Page 114 - Studentr's Book_THINK 1_A2

t heamor l d

Seventeen-year-old Tom Davidson hasn’t left his home since
he was 15. The last time he went out was two years ago.
He was walking to catch a bus when he was hit on the head
by a sign falling from a building. He spent more than two
months in hospital and doctors told him he was lucky to be
alive. The accident left Tom with agoraphobia: the idea of being
outdoors makes him feel extremely anxious.

The problem is that Tom loves travelling. Before his accident, Tom spent
most weekends exploring his home city of London by bus, underground
train and his scooter, and he looked forward to holidays abroad with his
parents. Now the idea of driving in a car to France or taking a plane to Italy
terrifies him.
However, there is a way that Tom can still visit the most remote corners of
the world without leaving the security of his home: Google Maps. In the last
year and a half, Tom has visited every country in the world where Google
Maps has been and taken photos. Using ‘street view’, he has walked down
the streets of the world’s most famous cities, he has seen all the world’s
most amazing geographical features and he has visited places in the world
that he didn’t know existed: all of this from the comfort of his home.
Tom’s virtual travel is more than just a hobby - it has become an art project.
He has taken more than 5,000 screenshots of places he has visited and
last week, there was an exhibition of his best photos at a school near his
home (but of course, he didn’t go). Tom also hopes that his online journeys
will help him eventually to overcome his agoraphobia. As he discovers
more places that he wants to visit one day, he is becoming more and more
determined to leave his home. And his dream, if he can, is to work in the
travel industry, for example as a flight attendant or a tour guide.

@ READING
3 SPEAKING Work in two groups. Group
A: you are tour guides. Group B: you are
Read the text quickly. Find out: flight attendants. In your group, think of
what problem Tom has got answers to these questions.
what he uses to 'travel' When did you start your job?
what his dream for the future is Tell us about a problem you've had.
Tell us about a funny moment you've had.
Read and listen to the text. Correct the wrong
Do you like your job or do you want
information.
to change?
Tom hasn't left his home for three years.
His agoraphobia started when he was hit by a car. 4 SPEAKING Work in pairs - one student
Before the accident, he often went on holiday with his parents from Group A with one student from
in London. Group B. Ask and answer the questions.
Using Google Maps, he has visited every country in the world.
SPEAKING Decide whose answers
Tom uses 'street view' to go to places that he knows about.
were best: the tour guide's or the
Tom hopes that in the future he can get a job with Google Maps.
flight attendant's.