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Whose ghost advised the painterpoet William Blake? ( Think 100) How has Hollywood plagiarized the Greek myths? ( Think 100) How was the Duke of Wellington's body anatomically unusual? ( Think 102) What do expressions like "to hold out the olive branch" and "to bark up the wrong tree" mean? ( Think 102) Which spy novelist also wrote a best-selling children's story that was made into a film? ( Think 103) How were Victorian women discouraged from becoming professional painters? ( Think 103) When was the BBCs independence put to the test for the first time? ( Think 105) What is the difference between the noun a pine" and the verb "to pine"? ( Think 105)
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Dickens
Editors Note
Hello again, Welcome to Think 143. This month were celebrating the bicentenary of the worlds favourite author, Charles Dickens. We kick off with Annas travel article about Dickens World in Kent and other Dickens-related sites in England (pp. 16-18). Colman has chipped in with two fascinating articles about oblique aspects of the novelists world: on pp. 20-21 he looks at Dickenss career as a public performer and on pp. 26-27 he examines the collaboration between the author and his principal illustrator, Phiz. We continue with the novelist on pp. 22-23, where we analyze Dickenss enormous influence on cinema. Then, on pp. 24-25 I try to work out why Dickens has been so popular over the last 200 years. This is not the first time weve talked about Dickens. Back in Think 32 we had four pages about him. Just to prove we never repeat ourselves, we offer you these four pages How to Bullshit about Dickens, Dickens eponyms and Dickens idioms for free on our website (www.thinkinenglish.net). Even discounting the Dickensian stuff weve got loads of great material in this issue. George Harper has been kind enough to record a song (p. 19, CD track 12) for us and you can hear the first part of Nathans excellent interview with Harp on the CD (tracks 9-11). Thanks to George and thanks also to professor Franklin for revealing some of the mysteries of geometry (pp. 14-15) I think I finally understand what parabolas are now! Some of the mysteries of phrasal verbs and idioms are revealed on pp. 32-33 (CD track 13) and pp. 34-35. Meanwhile, as a concession to St. Valentines Day in Spain we offer you the Functional English article on terms of endearment (pp. 28-29). To finish Id just like to recommend a few things on the CD, which is largely independent of the magazine this month. I think the monologues on bad designs are some of the most interesting weve done so far. Moreover, the debate on hunger is especially insightful because of the presence of Hamish who has worked in Ethiopia. See you next month, Nick Franklin, editor NickAtThink@gmail.com
Think in English MagazineIssue 143
Contents
Current Affairs 4 News & Anecdotes 6 Science 7 Economics The nd of the Euro? 8 Internet Restoring Your Reputation 10 Methodology Managing a Green Teacher Culture 12 Feature Predictions & Prophecies 14 Geometry A Parable about Parabolas 16 TravelDickenss England 19 MusicGeorge Harpers Theres No Smokin in Here............................ 20 PerformanceDickens: the Great Entertainer 22 CinemaDickens Flicks 24 LiteratureUnpickin Dickens 26 Art Phiz & Boz Language 28 Functional Terms of Endearment 30 Common MistakesDefective Verbs 32 Phrasal VerbsEuphonic Phrasals....... 34 Idioms Illustrated Business Idioms 1 36 US vs. UK Swallowing Idioms Whole 38 Names Non-political Place Names 40 TranslationError Detectives 41 Crossword 42 Miscellany..................................................................... 43 Subscription form 44 Back issues coupon 45 Tapescripts................................................................... 51 Next month BookmarkPicturing Professions
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magazine abbreviation & symbols Key

Listening: there is a recording on the CD connected to the text. Exercise: there is an exercise in the subscribers exercises relating directly to the text. Conversation point: these questions prompt discussion on topics related to the text. Subject link: there is a related article on the pages given.
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Abbreviations:
sth. = something, s.o. = someone, swh. = somewhere
News&Anecdotes
For the first time Americans seem to have lost faith in their Manifest Destiny 1. Now only 49% of those polled2 believe that their culture is superior to others. In 2002 60% of Americans agreed with that idea. Amongst3 18 to 29-year-olds the loss of faith in the USA is particularly marked; the number of young US adults who believe their culture is superior to others is lower than the percentage of their counterparts4 in Germany, Spain or the UK. Pessimism amongst the young is unsurprising. The USA, like other countries, educates a third more graduates than it needs. However, unlike5 most other countries, a university education in the USA can leave you $100,000 in debt; a terrifying situation for the 300,000 waiters and 19,000 parking-lot attendants6 with degrees7.
Current Affairs | News & Anecdotes
Lesser Evil
Locals21 in Coulby Newham in the North of England were dismayed22 when young drug-users began gathering23 in the woods near the Middlesborough town. So, what was the council24s response to solve the problem? CCTV25 cameras hanging26 from every tree? No, they spread27 a layer28 of pig manure29 throughout30 the woods. There is now a slight31 smell in the town but the woods are junkie32-free and the residents are happy.
Not So Special
Have you spent the last couple of years vainly hoping that an image of the Virgin Mary or Jesus might appear on your toast or are you resigned to the fact that it only happens to others? Well, a US company has taken the doubt and the wait out of19 the process; Daily Bread now offers a toaster with an image of Christs face burnt into every slice20.
Eucharist for Breakfast
Negative Salaries
Still8, US graduates havent reached9 the point where they pay to be allowed to10 work... yet. Their British counterparts4 are leading the way11 in this brave new world. The website Etsio offers you the chance12 to work at a dog-grooming13 salon for14 65 a day, or the opportunity to pay 100 a day to do clerical15 work in a vitamin company. There are advantages for the company too (you dont say!16). Rob Marshall, the owner of Nostairway video production company said he preferred internees who pay because they were less likely to17 get bored and not bother coming in18. If you want to go and work for Mr Marshall, it will only cost you 60 a day.
Manifest Destiny the belief that the US culture is more advanced than others and will naturally extend throughout the world 2 to poll ask in a questionnaire 3 amongst among, (in this context) for 4 counterpart equivalent 5 unlike in contrast to 6 parking-lot attendant employee in a car park 7 degree university qualification 8 still even so 9 to reach get to, arrive at 10 to be allowed to be permitted to
1
Under what circumstances would you resort to33 the emergency services? Some Britons seem to think that health and safety providers are there to solve their every problem. Fire-fighters were recently called to rescue a man who had got himself trapped34 in a childs toy car in Kingston upon Thames, while a youth had to be rescued from an ironing board35 in which he had got trapped in Bromley, London. A woman recently arrived in the Accidents & Emergency Department of one hospital demanding that they remove36 her false nails37. However, the prize has to go to a woman who arrived in the casualty department38 of another hospital and asked the staff39 to clean dog excrement from her childs shoe.
to be dismayed be perturbed, be shocked 23 to gather congregate 24 (town) council municipal authority 25 CCTV closed-circuit television 26 hanging suspended 27 to spread (spread-spreadspread) extend, disperse 28 layer coat, stratum, covering 29 manure excrement used as fertilizer 30 throughout all over 31 slight small, subtle 32 junkie (slang) drug addict 33 to resort to use, turn to
22
Its an Emergency
to lead the way (lead-led-led) be in the vanguard 12 chance opportunity 13 dog-grooming canine beauty 14 for (in this context) paying 15 clerical administrative 16 you dont say! (sarcastic) really?! 17 they were less likely to it was less probable that they would 18 not bother coming in not make the effort to come to work 19 to take A out of B (take-tooktaken) eliminate A from B 20 slice flat piece of bread 21 locals local people, residents
11
to get oneself trapped (getgot-got) get stuck, imprison oneself 35 ironing board 36 to remove (false friend ) take off, eliminate 37 (finger)nail 38 casualty department (UK English) emergency room (ER) (US English) 39 staff employees
34
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Think in English Issue 143
personally, Mr Payne asked him about his lending52 criteria. He told me he never lent to anyone who lived in a house with two grown53 women: You know, two women in one kitchen, if you get my drift54. And I never lend money to a man who wears suede shoes55. Meanwhile, Jonathan Armitage writing in The Times remembers receiving a letter from his bank in 1977, just after hed graduated from university. It read56, I am sure that it is merely an oversight57 on your part, but I beg to draw your attention to58 the fact that your account is 26p overdrawn59. I trust you will remedy this at your very earliest convenience60. No wonder61 there wasnt a credit crisis 35 years ago!
Photo by Almudena Cceres
However, residents of a village in north Wales did have a legitimate reason to call the fire brigade back in December. They heard frantic miaowing40 coming from a recycling bin41. Since a local pregnant cat had gone missing42 three days earlier there was cause for concern43. Unfortunately, the fire-fighters were unable to open the bin and so it was hoisted44 onto a truck45 and driven over 30km to a specialist company. Finally, the top of the bin was cut off and the feline victim revealed a battery-powered cuddly toy46.
Have you got to that point in life where you dont understand anything anymore? Not yet? California saw the first successful wrongful life case back in 1980. Such a case is based on the bizarre argument that the medical authorities are legally responsible for allowing the plaintiff62 to be born. Over the last quarter of a century 600 people in Israel have successfully sued63 for wrongful life. This type of litigation is not accepted in most countries, including the UK, and is only accepted in four US states.
Related Resources
D
To Be Or Not To Be
Banking Now and Then

Several British people have been commenting on the change in banking practices over recent decades. Some bemoan47 the anonymity of modern banks customer relations. However, others welcome the fact that they no longer have to deal with48 a little Hitler of a bank manager who thinks he owns them. Chris Payne in The Independent remembers how he would be summoned49 to his bank to be told off50 by the manager if he spent a couple of extra pounds at the supermarket. Bank managers felt perfectly at liberty to ask personal questions such as Tell me, do you intend to51 have any more children? Once, when he got to know one of these financial dictators
miaowing meowing, cries of a nervous cat 41 bin container for waste 42 to go missing (go-went-gone) disappear 43 cause for concern a reason to be worried 44 hoist haul, lift 45 truck lorry 46 cuddly toy soft toy 47 to bemoan criticize 48 to deal with (deal-dealt-dealt) interact with 49 to summon call, tell s.o. to come 50 to tell off (tell-told-told) reprimand 51 to intend to plan to 52 lending credit, loans 53 grown (in this context) grownup, adult 54 if you get my drift if you know
40
Do you consider your culture to be superior to others?
what I mean 55 suede shoes 56 it read (read-read /red/-read /red/) it said 57 oversight (in this context) miscalculation 58 I beg to draw your attention to please notice, I would like you to note 59 overdrawn in the red 60 at your earliest convenience (formal ) as soon as possible 61 no wonder Im not surprised that 62 plaintiff s.o. who takes legal action 63 to sue take legal action (demanding financial compensation)
Issue 143 Think in English5
Current Affairs | Science
Science
Photo by Marina Carresi
childrens survival was less likely12. Favouritism towards the firstborn was overt in societies such as Ancient Egypt, where the eldest son would receive more and better food than his siblings.
The number of people overdosing on prescription analgesics has tripled in the last decade in the USA. Now something like 15,000 people accidentally kill themselves in America each year due to14 an overdose of narcotic painkillers thats 40 people a day on average15. The most famous case recently was that of actor Heath Ledger. Addicts will go doctor-shopping visiting several doctors with the same complaint16 of chronic pain in order to get multiple prescriptions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also blame17 pill mills, clinics which are known to prescribe analgesics inappropriately.
Painkillers13 are Killers in US
Here Herd18 Heard and Smelt How Strong is Your Coffee?
The Food Standards Agency in Britain advises1 pregnant women to consume no more than 200mg of caffeine per day and the rest of the adult population to consume no more than 400mg per day. They translated this as four and eight espresso coffees, respectively. However, when researchers at Glasgow University tested the real caffeine levels in highstreet2 espressos they found that only those in Starbucks (51mg) had the assumed3 amount4 of caffeine. Incredibly, some coffee shops were serving espressos with over 300mg of caffeine in them, meaning that just one cup would exceed the recommended limit for pregnant women by 50%.
Research from Colorado College has identified migration routes for sauropods19 across Utah and Wyoming in search of water in the summer months. The herds18 of giant herbivores travelled some 300km each way. However, the most revealing aspect of the research was the noise and smell of a group of sauropods on the march. Not only were these dinosaurs among the largest animals to ever walk the earth; we also know that they didnt chew20, they did all their digesting in their gut21, according to Henry Fricke. In other words there would have been a monstrous amount4 of farting22. You never heard about that in the documentaries!
If you want your child to be clever, dont have any more children until she or he is at least two years old. Researchers from Notre Dame University, Indiana, studied 3000 women and 5000 children and found that those children who were at least two years older than their siblings5 did better at both reading and maths. The researchers believe that parents spend less time with children who have younger siblings of a similar age and, as a result, the elder siblings are read to less6 and watch more television. Meanwhile7, research from The University of California has found that most parents favour their first-born child, though few will admit it. This behaviour8 may be genetically programmed harking back to9 a time when resources10 were scarcer11 and
to advise warn, caution high-street (in this context) coffee-shop 3 assumed (false friend ) supposed 4 amount quantity, level 5 sibling brother or sister 6 the elder siblings are read to less parents spend less time reading to the older brothers and/or sisters 7 meanwhile at the same time
1 2 8 9
Child of Choice
Painting by Dmitri Bogdanov
Related Resources
D Is there any favouritism in your family?
behaviour conduct to hark back to date back to, come from 10 resources (in this context) food 11 scarcer less abundant 12 likely probable 13 painkiller analgesic 14 due to because of 15 on average typically 16 complaint (in this context) medical problem,
pain to blame hold responsible, accuse 18 herd group of large herbivores 19 sauropod herbivorous quadrupedal dinosaur (e.g. the brontosaurus or the diplodocus) 20 to chew masticate (formal ) 21 gut intestines 22 farting flatulence
17
6
The uro:
Not Dead Just Yet
The New EU Treaty
There is no doubt that the Euro is facing1 many difficulties. The Euro interest rate is set 2 by the European Central Bank resulting in one common interest rate for all Eurozone countries. Usually, when a country is heading into3 recession, its central bank will decrease interest rates to a level appropriate for their individual economy to encourage4 investment and stimulate economic growth. However, economies in the Eurozone vary greatly in health with, for example, the German economy being much more robust than the Greek economy. Late last year 26 out of5 the 27 EU member States signed up for6 a new Treaty with strict tax and budget7 requirements to tackle8 the Eurozone debt crisis. Only the United Kingdom declined to sign 9. The new pact has strict requirements on the level of debt governments can have, and imposes penalties if these are exceeded. Many of its signatories will now have to implement even tougher10 austerity measures to meet11 its requirements. The problem is that this deficitreduction mantra comes at a time
to face (in this context) confront, have, suffer to set (set-set-set) (in this context) fix, establish, determine 3 to head into go towards, be en route to 4 to encourage stimulate, foster 5 out of (in this context) of 6 to sign up for endorse, approve 7 budget financial plan, prediction of income and expenditure 8 to tackle deal with, try to solve 9 to decline to sign not authorize the treaty 10 tougher stricter, more stringent
1 2
Current Affairs | Economics
by Douglas Jasch douglasjasch@douglasjasch.com twitter: @douglasjasch
when Europe appears to be heading into3 recession. The Greek economy this year is expected to contract by 3%, having shrunk12 6% last year. Retail sales13 are down 30% and almost a quarter of small businesses and shops are closing. Italy is also heading into3 recession with growth for 2012 forecast14 at minus 1.6%. At the same time it is implementing 33 billion spending cuts and tax increases to meet austerity rules.
Photo by Lars Aronsson
Leaving the Euro

The austerity measures could lead to15 social unrest16 in the countries most affected by them, ultimately17 resulting in the countries deciding to leave the Euro to enable them to control their own interest rates. A further 18 risk to the Euro is that countries which continue to significantly breach 19 the new Treaty may eventually20 be expelled from the Euro. However, there is every chance21 that countries will continue to toe the fiscal line22 because they require significant bailout23 funding to protect their economies from collapsing and they will only receive it if they follow
to meet (meet-met-met) satisfy to shrink (shrink-shrank-shrunk) contract, decline 13 retail sales selling to the general public 14 to forecast (-cast/-cast/-cast) predict 15 to lead to (lead-led-led) result in, bring about 16 unrest conflict, agitation 17 ultimately (false friend ) in the final analysis 18 further (in this context) additional 19 to breach infringe 20 eventually (false friend ) in the end 21 every chance a real possibility, a substantial
11 12
austerity requirements. Even if a small number of countries do leave24 the Euro, or are forced to leave, this simply indicates they may have joined the Euro before their economies were truly25 ready. The departures would take their toll on26 the Euro initially, but the stronger countries would remain 27, resulting in a stronger, more robust currency28 in the longer term. The most likely29 candidate for a departure is Greece. While30 there is a chance31 the entire Euro could collapse, realistically we can expect to see the Euro still in existence at the end of this financial crisis, stronger than ever.
Related Resources
The new EU reality with the German government dictating economic policy to the other Euro countries has been called the Fourth Reich. Is there a democratic deficit in Europe?
probability to toe the line obey the rules 23 bailout financial rescue 24 do leave (emphatic) leave 25 truly really 26 to take its toll on (take-took-taken) adversely affect 27 to remain stay, continue to be members 28 currency type of money, (in this context) Euro 29 likely probable 30 while although 31 chance possibility
22
Restoring Your
Sally Adee in the New Scientist magazine writes that in our personal lives we can compartmentalTwitter: @douglasjasch ize ourselves. That is, we can have one identity at The first thing most employers do when they receive a job applica- work, another with our friends and another with tion is to Google the applicant to see what they can find. So what our family. However, the net is gradually taking can you do if there is embarrassing1 information about you on the this ability away from us. People will assess18 all World-wide Web? Is there any way to clean up your reputation? of our information on the net and come up with19 one lasting 20 impression. For a small number 1 embarrassing Is a Mistake Out There on the Net Forever? of people, even one embarrassing 1 piece of (false friend ) shameful, humiliating, Embarrassing1 information about us that we may information on the Web has resulted in a bad degrading later regret2 can end up on the net. Michelle, a reputation. 2 to regret repent, feel sorry about So what can we do if this happens to us? The colleague of mine, like many Australians went to 3 gap year year 3 England during her gap year . One night out with logical answer might appear to be to stay anonspent travelling her friends for a cocktail night, an acquaintance4 ymous online through use of techniques such between school and university filmed her having fun, dirty dancing on a table. as nicknames (tags), rather than 21 using our 4 acquaintance In her wildest dreams5 she didnt expect that the real name when posting online. Unfortunately, contact, s.o. one knows footage6 would still be available on the net for all research has shown that even this is a risky 5 in her wildest to see, some six years later. venture22. dreams (in this 7 context) even in her A trainee teacher from Lancaster, PennsylPaul Resnick a computer scientist at the worse nightmares (= University of Michigan who studies online vania had a picture posted of her drinking at a bad dreams) 6 footage sequence party, wearing a hat that said Drunken Pirate, reputations, says that aliases23 on the net often of moving images on MySpace. Even though she was of legal drink- dont offer you the protection that you would 7 trainee apprentice 8 expect. Resnick set up 24 ing age, she was removed from8 the to be removed from be taken off, an experiment where he course when her supervisor saw the be excluded from 9 told everyone they would photo. nursing (adj.) 9 medical-care be anonymous by using A nursing student in Kansas took 10 to amuse entertain 11 pseudonyms. He found a photo of herself with a placenta to to find out (find10 found-found) that because the particiamuse her friends. Her school found (in this context) 11 12 pants thought they were out and dismissed her. Others discover the photo 12 to dismiss s.o. copied the photo, which remains13 on anonymous they were willkick s.o. out, (in this the net today and this one moment of ing to25 share14 much more context) expel s.o. 13 stupidity could cause her problems for personal information, the to remain continue to be years to come. type that could potentially 14 to share distribhurt their reputation, than Many of us share14 highly personal ute (in this context) post, upload information about ourselves through if they were not anony15 to reach (in this mous. It is this informathe internet without fully appreciating context) get to, fall 15 16 into the hands of that it may reach a broader audition that can lead26 people 16 broader wider, to your real identity if they ence than we anticipated, or that it more general, more Photo by Douglas Jasch extensive attempt to27 identify you. could stay online for years to come17.
by Douglas Jasch douglasjasch@douglasjasch.com
for years to come years into the future 18 to assess evaluate
17 19
Current Affairs | Internet
on the Net
Reputation
Photo by thefreelancetrader
Staying Anonymous Online
to come up with (comecame-come) generate 20 lasting permanent 21 rather than instead of, as
22
opposed to risky venture dangerous strategy, perilous activity, unsafe project
alias /'eilis/ false name, pseudonym to set up (set-set-set) create 25 to be willing to be

23 24
prepared to, be ready to to lead (lead-led-led) guide, take 27 to attempt to try to

26
8
Aliases23 on the net often dont offer you the protection that you would expect.
to point out emphasize, highlight to link to connect with, (in this context) match to 30 to highlight call attention to, focus on 31 to rely on depend on, be dependent on, count on 32 feedback opinions, reactions 33 due to because of 34 wishes desires, (in this context) preferences 35 to launch start, initiate 36 to cross-reference compare 37 scraper (literally) grater, scourer, abrasive instrument 38 to come across (come-came-come) encounter 39 they will seek to have X removed they will ask that X be eliminated 40 approach strategy 41 to ensure make sure, guarantee 42 to come up (come-came-come) appear 43 beyond further than 44 search engine internet service that permits you to look for matters of interest using key words 45 whether (in this context) if 46 to get rid of (getgot-got) eliminate 47 confident selfassured, positive 48 topic (false friend ) question, theme 49 on average typically
28 29
The Netflix Experience

Resnick points out that this personal information can often be easily linked to29 the real person. He highlights30 the example of Netflix. Netflix is a US online video rental firm. Netflix relies heavily on31 feedback32 and online recommendations from its customers in determining some stock choices. Due to33 this, Netflix has a recommendation programme that attempts to27 anticipate its customers wishes34. In 2006 the company launched35 a competition with a substantial $1m prize for the entity who could provide the best improvement to its system. There were 51,000 entrants and Netflix provided all of these with its database of half a million customers. The database included their customers rental history. To ensure their clients anonymity Netflix changed the names of all of the customers, providing them all with aliases23. Arvind Narayanan and Vitaly Shmatikov of the University of Texas, Austin, wanted to demonstrate that aliases23 wont protect consumers when real data is used. They received a copy of the Netflix database and cross-referenced it with36 reviews posted on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). From this, they were able to identify the names of most of the people in the database and even make inferences as to their political preferences and sexuality from their movie choices. Spokeo, a company in Mountain View, California, has developed software called a scraper37 which searches the web for information about people combining it with what it can find on the public record. It combines this information with census data and can even determine how much you paid for your house.
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people dont bother to go beyond43 the first few pages of search results from search engines44 such as Google. With Google, the order for a search is determined by the importance that Google places on an individual site. This will depend on what the site is and whether45 it has links to other important sites. For example, a link to the London Times newspaper is more important than a link to an unknown site. Reputation.com typically writes an excellent biography about you using real facts, and then places it on up to 500 reputable sites such as Facebook and Linkedin, making these results come up42 before the embarrassing1 result you want to get rid of46.
There is no reason why you cant do this yourself. My colleague Michelle has done this and now feels a lot more confident47 about her online profile. She says that it is good to know that there are things you can do on the net to protect your reputation. Of course, some of us have downloaded her gapyear video for safe-keeping! (Only joking!).
Related Resources
S Facebook Topic48: On average49 we can expect to live 30 years longer than our grandparents, so why are we so time poor?
Self Help
Saving Your Reputation

Many people have come across 38 something embarrassing1 about themselves on the net after Googling themselves, even if it is as simple as a photo. Reputation.com is a firm based in Redwood City, California that helps people to manage and repair their online reputation. In some cases they will seek to have39 the embarrassing1 information removed. However, Reputat ion.coms preferred approach40 is to ensure41 that the negative information does not come up42 in the first pages of a webpage search. Research suggests that most
Culture | Methodology
Photo by Bundesarchiv
Teacher
1
Advantages of a Young Teacher
Real English. Older teachers like
Inexperienced
How to Manage an
As was pointed out1 in an article from The Daily Telegraph posted on our Facebook page some time ago the rate of pay for EFL2 teachers is by and large3 atrocious. A career in TEFL4 is strictly vocational. The upshot5 is that an English-language academy that guarantees native teachers is likely to6 pair you up with7 a teacher who is pretty8 young and inexperienced (if you are lucky9 she will be pretty, young and inexperienced what a difference a comma can make!). This is not the catastrophe that many learners think. There are many advantages to having a teacher who has recently arrived from an English-speaking country, just as10 there are many disadvantages to having a jaded11 teacher. It all depends how you approach the class. Lets have a look.
problem for long-term EFL2 teachers. In fact, the problem is worse than that. Jaded11 teachers are so used to hearing English misused that we often leave things uncorrected. There is a point at which youve heard I want that you... so often that it doesnt sound so bad.
Young teachers are more enthusiastic.
myself who have spent decades teaching abroad12 dont speak real English, we speak TEFL 4 English. In other words our language has expanded and adapted to include many words that non-natives will understand. For instance13, the other Only English. Another advantage day when speaking to my father I of just-off-the-boat17 teachers is used the word autochthonous in a that they probably dont speak your sentence. My father is not exactly igno- language. All jaded11 teachers who rant hes a retired professor14 from Oxford University but the word drew a blank15. I could argue that the word is there in the dictionary but it would make no difference: I was translating from Spanish and no native speaker would naturally use autochthonous in speech except if he or she has been living abroad12 for years.16 Its one silly little example but it illustrates a big Photo by MicFinn2011
have learned the local language will at least occasionally shortcut an arduous moment of incomprehension by explaining in your language (rather than 18 English). Its just19 so much easier. And its wrong. Those painful misunderstandings and explanations are some of the most useful moments in class time; real learning comes out of that effort. The only thing to be wary of20 with green21 teachers is to ensure that, as they begin to pick up22 a bit of your language, the class doesnt drift into23 an exchange. You are paying to learn English. Obviously, saying this directly is rather24 blunt25. The best solution if the teacher asks how to say something in your language is to offer to explain after the class.
3
20
Energy and enthusiasm. Lets
face it 26 , experienced teachers are bored to tears of 27 hearing what EFL 2 students think about the death penalty or what they did over the Easter break 28. Most of us dont have
to point out indicate, mention EFL English as a foreign language 3 by and large in general, mostly 4 TEFL teaching English as a foreign language 5 upshot result, consequence 6 is/are likely to will probably 7 to pair A with B (in this context) put A in a class with B 8 pretty (adv.) reasonably, quite 9 lucky fortunate 10 just as in the same way that
1 2
jaded burnt-out, no longer interested in sth. because you have experienced too much of it 12 abroad overseas, in foreign countries 13 for instance for example 14 professor (false friend) senior university teacher 15 to draw a blank (draw-drew-drawn) mean nothing (to s.o.) 16 wed say indigenous or aboriginal 17 just-off-the-boat recently arrived 18 rather than as opposed to, instead of 19 just (in this context) simply
11
to be wary of be vigilant about, be cautious about 21 green (in this context) inexperienced 22 to pick up acquire, learn 23 to drift into gradually become 24 rather quite, (in this context) very 25 blunt discourteously frank 26 lets face it lets be honest 27 to be bored to tears of sth. find sth. very tedious 28 the Easter break Holy Week Think in English Issue 143
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highly29 original opinions or very stimulating lives when viewed from outside. Jaded11 teachers think they have heard it all before and in most cases they have. By contrast, a young inexperienced teacher is possibly confronting foreign culture for the first time and the difference in value systems can be fascinating for them, so they are much more likely to6 really care about what you are saying.
Tech-savvy30 Teachers. Young
Most Anglo 36 university graduates dont know what a phrasal verb or a More flexible and open to third conditional or a complement is. suggestions. Jaded 11 teachers In the Anglosphere37 we simply dont know what you need and know how learn English in terms of nomenclayou need to be taught. They will gener- ture. However, your young inexperially not take kindly to34 your interfer- enced teacher can speak English profiing in their class. Younger less experi- ciently. The fact is, all you really need enced teachers are by and large3 much is someone who can speak English as
teachers from English-speaking countries have grown up with the Internet and all the other new technologies; they simply cannot imagine a world without these things. They are therefore31 far32 better placed to advise you on the wealth of33 interesting free material available to promote and stimulate your learning.
Photo by Aldeasycampamentos
Experienced teachers are less likely to be tech-savvy.
more open to your input 35 about how to assign class time.
Ignorance & Inexperience
it is really spoken and who can identify when something you say is wrong. Green 21 teachers get more nervous when they are asked why-questions to which they dont know the answers but all teachers face38 this situation; its just 19 that experienced teachers are better at talking round the answer39. I dont know but Ill find out for next class is a perfectly reasonable response. In any case many whyquestions about English dont have a satisfactory answer.
If a teacher is young, it is quite possible that you have been learning English for more years than he or she has been teaching it. If the teacher is very green21, you may even have attended40 more English classes than he or she has. I hope I have established above that your green teacher is a valuable resource41; it is your job to manage that resource tactfully. After all, there is plenty of TEFL4 experience in the class, its just that you are the one who possesses it. Suggest that homework be given to the class. Specifically, reading and exercises should be given as homework freeing up class time for conversation and correction. Suggest that each days conversation topics be agreed in the previous class. Suggest how the class might be divided up so that it is more interesting for everyone involved. Ask for stimulating activities from the internet.
highly very tech-savvy knowledgeable about new technologies 31 therefore for this reason 32 far (in this context) much 33 the wealth of the great variety of
29 30 34
Manage Your Green Teachers
If a language topic seems to be a problem for several members of the group, suggest that the teacher find an exercise to practise it. If you dont think the teacher corrects your pronunciation enough, ask if such-and-such a pronunciation is correct. If you come across42 an interesting article or audio file somewhere, offer to bring it into class. Avoid the temptation of only suggesting to do things in class that you find easy and enjoyable; the other things are probably more useful. Remember: an inexperienced teacher is your opportunity to mould the class to your preferences. If you do so with tact, your teacher and classmates will thank you for it.
Related Resources
G
Do you prefer a young or a middle-aged teacher?

to face confront to talk round an answer not give a direct answer 40 to attend be present at, go to 41 resource asset, useful thing 42 to come across (come-came-come) encounter
38 39
to not take kindly to not like, be offended by (+ -ing) 35 input contribution, suggestions 36 Anglo from the Anglosphere, native English speaking 37 the Anglosphere the English-speaking world
Predictions & Prophecies

The future is fashionable. Where documentaries and magazine articles used to be mostly about the present and past (what we know), the trend1 is for them to be increasingly about what we dont (the future). Presumably it is a symptom of our uncertain times but people seem to be increasingly desperate to know what is going to happen and they are ready to pay for it. Unfortunately, as we will see, science and reason are pretty2 useless when it comes to predicting, and the mumbo-jumbo merchants3 are worse. For instance4, as a society we spend a fortune consulting economists despite the proven fact that economics is very bad at predicting, especially the future. How to Prophesy /'profisai/
The secret to a good prophecy is of course to use general descriptions and above all5 not to put a date on your prophecy. The most impressive prophecy of recent years was: In the City of God there will be a great thunder6, Two brothers torn apart7 by Chaos, While the fortress8 endures9, the great leader will succumb, The third big war will begin When the big city is burning... Nostradamus 1654 No doubt you saw this on the internet a decade ago following 9/11. Unfortunately, Nostradamus, who in any case died in 1566, never made this prediction. The lines were invented by a college10 student named Neill Marshall who wrote them to demonstrate how easy it was to write prophecies that were open to multiple interpretations.
trend tendency, fashion pretty (adv.) rather, somewhat, largely, more or less 3 mumbo-jumbo merchant s.o. who promotes esoteric ideas 4 for instance for example 5 above all most importantly 6 thunder the loud noise produced in a storm (= tempest)
1 2
Culture | Feature
Nostradamus
However, the best thing about all this is that Marshall wrote the lines several years before the Twin-Towers attacks!
Mayan Mayhem11
The reason why people are so excited about the Mayans prediction of the world ending (or at least a paradigm shift12) is that there is a date attached. You can never prove Nostradamus or The Book of Revelation wrong; in January 2012 we will be able to contradict the Mayans. However, before taking the Mayans too seriously it is worth remembering 13 three things about that great civilization. First, they thought that the planet Venus was a god and this is central to their world-ending predictions. Secondly, they failed to predict their own manmade14 environmental catastrophe. Finally, bear in mind15 that a standard method of Mayan prediction involved stabbing16 ones penis with a sharp17 stick 18 . The member was then wrapped19 in paper and the bloody20 paper burnt.
manmade anthropogenic to bear in mind (bear-bore-borne) consider, remember 16 to stab knife, spear, bayonet, impale, pierce, perforate 17 sharp sharpened, pointed 18 stick piece of wood 19 to wrap envelop, cover 20 bloody blood-soaked, bleeding, gory
14 15
Photo by Pacofender
7
Mayan calendar
to tear apart (tear-tore-torn) violently separated 8 fortress fort, stronghold, castle 9 to endure survive, continue to exist 10 college university 11 mayhem /'meihem/ chaos 12 paradigm shift fundamental change in society 13 it is worth remembering we should remember
12
Photo by Hannes Grobe
Photo by NASA
Prophecies were based on the movement of the smoke emanating from this curious conflagration21! (Please dont try this at home). I predict the world will not end in December 2011 and, if it does, unlike all those economists, I will publicly apologize in Think 153.
Caucasian Crassness22
Its easy to ridicule the Mayans but the predictions that have peppered23 Western civilization have been even more pitiful24. Whole books of Western experts predictive gaffes25 exist 26 but here are just four of my favourites to illustrate.
1. The French people are incapable of regicide. [Louis XVI, 1789] 2. The South has too much common sense and good temper to break up27 the Union. [Abraham Lincoln, 1860] 3. Your cigar-ettes will never become popular. [187028] 4. There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home. [197729]
Baffin Island
The end of the world as we know it?
The Next Few Decades

So many contradictory predictions are made that someone is bound to get it right 35 . In 2030: Technology That Will Change the World (Oxford University Press 2010) Rutger van Santen, Djan Khoe and Bram Vermeer predict that technology will solve all our major problems over the next couple of decades. Oh, the Dutch 36 such optimists. This sunny scenario is contradicted by Laurence Smith in The World in 2050 [Dutton, 2010] who envisages 37 much of the world catastrophically affected by climate change (including todays winners such as China, India and Brazil). He recommends buying real estate in the areas bordering the Arctic (northern Canada, Alaska, northern Russia, Scandinavia and Greenland). These under-populated areas should benefit from climate change getting warmer and having a plentiful supply38 of fresh water. Of course, if the Dutch guys are right, your kids wont thank you when all they inherit39 is a dozen frozen hectares on Baffin Island!
is bound to get it right must predict correctly 36 the Dutch people from Holland 37 to envisage envision, imagine, predict 38 supply provision, reserve 39 to inherit be heir to, come into, receive in inheritance 40 to lead to (lead-led-led) result in, bring about 41 tipping point point of inflexion 42 to wipe out eliminate, annihilate 43 to swell (swell-swelled-swollen) expand 44 molten hot liquid 45 iron /ain/ (Fe.) a ferrous metal 46 a load of a lot of 47 ultimately (false friend ) in the final analysis 48 sensible (false friend ) reasonable, rational 49 a British punk band of the late 1970s and 80s.
35
Long-Term Predictions
Paradoxically, our distant future is easier to predict than our near future. In 250 million years time the worlds major land masses will form a new super-continent leading to40 extreme weather systems that will make life very difficult. As the sun gets bigger, global warming will reach a tipping point41 about half a billion years from now that will reduce the CO2 levels in the atmosphere to 40% of their current levels, wiping out42 most plant life, (i.e. most life). The last life on earth should have disappeared in 1.2 billion years time as a result of the disappearance of liquid water and surface temperatures of 70C. In 7.5 billion years time the sun will have swollen43 into a red giant, 250 times bigger than its current size. Temperatures on the earths surface will reach 2000C and it will rain molten44 iron45. Of course, the best thing about these geological predictions is that nobody will ever be able to contradict them.
OK, so everyone gets it wrong occasionally, you might think. But its worse than that. A couple of decades ago political scientist Philip Tetlock asked 300 political experts to make thousands of predictions about the world 20 years later; he concluded that they were less accurate30 than dart31throwing chimpanzees32. Economists, of course, dream of 33 achieving 34 simian precision!
conflagration fire, flames 22 crassness stupidity 23 to pepper fill 24 pitiful pathetic 25 gaffe embarrassing mistake, error 26 such as They Got It Wrong: The Guinness Dictionary of Regrettable Quotations 27 to break up (break-broke-broken) cause the disintegration of 28 cigar-maker F.G. Alton rejects an offer from John Player 29 Ken Olson, President of Digital Equipment Corporation 30 accurate precise, exact, error-free, reliable 31 dart 32 in Tetlocks words 33 to dream of fantasize about, aspire to 34 to achieve attain, reach, acquire
21
We are desperate to know the future because we hate uncertainty despite the fact that it is precisely the unpredictability of life that makes it interesting. Ultimately47, there are too many variables in human society for any sensible48 person to take predictions or prophecies seriously. So, I leave the final words to The Clash49, The future is unwritten; know your rights.
Related Resources
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A Load of46 Crystal Balls
What predictions can you confidently make about your future?
Parables about
The two words parable and parabola have a common Greek source1, but one that is not immediately obvious, given that one is used in a Biblical context for a story with a deeper meaning, whereas2 the other is a well-defined mathematical curve. The parabola is a curve that has fascinated people for millennia at least since the Ancient Greeks. As we will see, parabolas occur all around us. For example, the path3 of a local projectile on Earth subject to a uniform uni-directional force (namely4 gravity) is a parabola. In other words, if one does not take air resistance into account, that applies equally to arrows5, artillery shells6 and tennis balls. If such things seem unimportant you should remember that it was an understanding of parabolas that allowed7 Europeans to defeat 8 the Ottomans and other eastern Empires: the Westerners mortars9 were simply more accurate10.
Culture | Geometry
Parabolas
by Prof. Raoul Franklin
Photo by Raul Puy
The Serious Mathematical Bit
Cutting Up Cones
The mathematical equation for a parabola is y = x2,11 where x and y are Cartesian coordinates12. That is a special case, and to follow the particular properties of a parabola we turn the problem on its side and introduce the concepts of a focus at x = a, and y = 0, and a directrix, a line given by x = -a. The parabola is then defined by points that are equidistant from the focus and the directrix. It is quite a simple matter13 to prove14 that in this representation the equation for the parabola is y2 = 4ax and that it is described by a single variable t being defined by y = 2at, x= at2.
source origin whereas while 3 path (in this context) trajectory 4 namely (id est) that is 5 arrow 6 shell (in this context) explosive projectile 7 to allow enable, permit 8 to defeat triumph over, conquer 9 mortar
1 2
Now a parabola is known as one of the conic sections. Circular cones are generated by a line inclined to an axis which, when subject to circular motion, generates the surface of a cone. If this surface is then intersected by a plane, the curves so made15 are known as conic sections, and they are variously ellipses16 , parabolas, and hyperbolas17. Ellipses are closed and essentially squeezed18 circles. By contrast, parabolas are in some sense intermediate and are not closed because the plane that generates them is parallel to the generator. Hyperbolas consist of two curves which like paraboPhoto by Duc las go to infinity.
accurate precise, exact y (= /wai/) equals x (= /eks/) squared 12 Cartesian coordinates a system of representing points in space in terms of their distance from a given origin measured along a set of mutually perpendicular axes (written x,y,z) with reference to these three axes. 13 it is quite a simple matter it is relatively easy 14 to prove demonstrate 15 so made made in this way
10 11 16
Cones are part of everyday life as evidenced by ice-cream cones, pine cones, traffic cones, and conic volcanoes. Even conifers, which produce pine cones, are themselves essentially trees with a conical envelope. The paths3 of planets and comets are approximately ellipses, and that is because we are talking about bodies that are attracted by the Suns gravitational force. On the other hand, when atomic particles interact and are of the same electrical charge they repel each other and their trajectories are hyperbolas. They come from afar and then are deflected19 to go away.
Conic sections
dont confuse an ellipse (= an oval, the term referred to here) with ellipsis (= the omission of part of a word or sentence, represented by ...) 17 dont confuse a hyperbola (= see diagram) with hyperbole (= intentional exaggeration used for effect in rhetoric) 18 squeezed squashed, partially flattened, compressed 19 to deflect sth. cause sth. to change its trajectory Think in English Issue 143
14
Newtons Bridge
Effective Western mortars Photo by David P
Parabolic arches
Illuminating Ideas
Let us now go on to examine the many applications of parabolas, and their significance in scientific development. The use of the term focus should give us a clue 20. A parabolic mirror used with a light source21 at the focus can give us a cars headlamp22, or a searchlight 23. Invert the process and parabolas can be used to create a telescope where the image of a distant object is to be found at the focus. It is believed that the Ancient Greeks used a parabolic mirror directed at the Sun to ignite the Olympic torch.
supported29. The same can be said of all arch bridges and dams30. So are arches in churches parabolas? The answer has to be no; they cannot have a smooth transition at the top of the arch. Interestingly, Gaud did build31 a vault32 from parabolas in Barcelona.
Edifying24 Parabolas
Parabolas also have structural applications and arguably25 the most famous is Newtons Bridge in Cambridge. However, all catenary26 or suspension bridges are approximately parabolic both in the catenary providing the support27 and the shape28 of the road
clue hint, indication a light source sth. that illuminates headlamp the lights on the front of a vehicle that illuminate the road ahead 23 searchlight powerful lights that are used to illuminate at night (e.g. to see escaping prisoners or hostile bomber planes) 24 edifying instructive, enlightening. Notice that edify is rarely used to refer to building edifices in Modern English 25 arguably possibly, perhaps, debatably 26 catenary the curve assumed by a heavy uniform flexible cord suspended freely from
20 21 22
All parabolas can be scaled33 to one another, that is they are geometrically similar and if one varies the plane of intersection with the cone, parabolas are nested34; in other words even when they are projected onto the same plane they do not intersect.
Nesting Parabolas
Riding Parabolas
Human beings are most comfortable when undergoing35 uniform acceleration, so the design of roads employs parabolas when varying the elevation, but not every road designer knows that
two points (think of the electrical cables suspended between pylons) support (in this context) buttressing, carrying capacity 28 shape form 29 supported that is being supported (= held up, borne up) 30 dam wall/barrier across a river that retains water to form a reservoir 31 did build (emphatic) built 32 vault arched roof, arched ceiling, series of parallel arches 33 to scale sth. (in this context) re-proportion,
27
both the entry and exit to a change of elevation should be a parabola and should be taken at 36 a uniform speed. Indeed37 the designers of road bumps38 deliberately try to ensure a lack of smoothness 39. Perhaps the most extreme example of the human gravitational interaction has been employed in the training of astronauts who are able for a short time to experience weightlessness40 when aboard an aircraft that is put into an almost vertical path3 following a parabola. I wonder41 what the Ancient Greek mathematicians, who got such enjoyment out of the elegant results they were able to prove14, would make of the modern-day world in which their knowledge has been applied to physics and to engineering.
Related Resources
T
Anyone can understand mathematical concepts if they have a good enough teacher - do you agree?
make proportionally bigger or smaller to be nested (in this context) to undergo (-go/-went/-gone) experience 36 to take sth. at (take-took-taken) traverse sth., drive through sth. 37 indeed (emphatic) in fact 38 road bump road hump, sleeping policeman 39 lack of smoothness absence of fluidity, abruptness, jolt 40 weightlessness situation in which an object has no apparent weight 41 to wonder ask oneself
34 35
The World of Dickens

Culture | Travel by Anna Richards
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. So wrote Charles Dickens in his colossal work of literary genius, A Tale of Two Cities (1859). The author was actually1 describing the political and social background2 to the French Revolution, though one can easily apply his words to a somewhat later period and an altogether3 different location: High Victorian London, with its parks and palaces and, often only a couple of streets away, poverty-stricken4 slums5 and smoke-belching6 factories. Obviously, the great author lived in a time (and place) of great contrasts. New inventions like the first anaesthetics were saving lives at a time when filthy7 living conditions were still killing thousands. Dickens wrote about it all, penning8 stories of both rich and poor spanning9 thousands of pages for future generations to enjoy and learn from. Even now, in the 21st Century, Dickenss characters really seem to leap off the page10 whenever we read about them. And nowhere is this more true than in a certain bunker11 in Kent at Chatham Maritime, inside of which is recreated the world of dank12, dingy13 and dangerous Victorian London, with its, crumbling14 half-timbered15 buildings, dilapidated side streets and authentically smelly sewers16.
Dickens World (www.dickensworld.co.uk)

This 62 million-pound investment, opened in 2007 attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly. Lately17 it has put on scenes from Oliver Twist, set in the perfectly-recreated town square, surrounded by shops and businesses whose names are all taken from the pages of Dickenss novels. It has been immortalized in popular culture as the set for British band The Hoosiers video of their song, Cops and Robbers, featuring18 the musicians running around the theme park, being chased19 by a couple of Victorian bobbies as they push through a giant street party
to pen write to span cover 10 to leap off the page come to life, seem very realistic 11 bunker (literally) underground refuge 12 dank damp (= wet) and dark 13 dingy sombre, depressing 14 crumbling gradually disintegrating
8 9
Scenes from Dickens World
London Portsmouth
1 2
Chatham Rochester Broadstairs
in the square and take the famous ride through the Victorian sewers16, famously criticized by many for being too tame20 and not up to21 Disneyland standards22 .
half-timber made of brick and wood sewer tunnel for waste water 17 lately recently 18 to feature include as a prominent aspect 19 to chase pursue, hunt 20 tame inoffensive, innocuous, uninspiring 21 up to (in this context) equal to 22 standards level, quality
15 16
actually (false friend ) in fact, really background setting, precedents 3 altogether (in this context) completely 4 poverty-stricken derelict and impoverished 5 slum ghetto for the poor 6 smoke-belching emitting thick polluting smoke 7 filthy very dirty, fetid 16
Photo by Chris Whippet
Dickenss Swiss chalet in Rochester
Photo by Jack1956
Dickenss home in Gads Hill Place
Of course, comparisons with other theme parks are inevitable, but unlike23 Disneyland, Dickens World is not just24 meant to be25 about thrills26. It has an educational background, which peeks through 27 in the 4D cinema located in Peggotys Boathouse, screening28 a short film about the life of the great author. In other locations around the site you can speak to well-informed actor-enthusiasts who will be happy to tell you more about the times Dickens lived in. The flower-girls in the square will teach you to play Victorian games, and watch you getting tangled 29 in a skipping rope 30 and flounder31 at spinning tops32. The lady at the confectioners33 will happily go on for hours on the subject34 of sugar mice 35 and humbugs 36 the sweet kind, not the grumpy37 old Scrooge kind 38 a must-try Victorian treat 39
unlike in contrast to just (in this context) only 25 to be meant to be be supposed to be 26 thrills excitement 27 to peek through emerge furtively 28 to screen project, show 29 to get tangled up (get-got-got) become entangled/muddled 30 skipping rope 31 to flounder fail, falter 32 spinning top 33 confectioners sweet shop, candy store 34 subject theme, question 35 sugar mouse (plural mice) sugary sweet in the form of a mouse 36 humbug 37 grumpy bad-tempered, irritable, irascible 38 In A Christmas Carol Scrooges favourite
23 24
for any sweet-tooth40. She will also be delighted41 to explain to you all about the strange-looking, foot-tall pillar of sugar on the counter42 the sugar loaf43, off which little blocks of the sweet substance would be chiselled44 and sold to poorer customers, while the rich would typically order the whole loaf, for cutting up in the pantry45 by the cook. It is hard46 to determine if Dickens World is more about the author himself, the characters of his novels or indeed47 the period he lived in. Probably a little of each, with some tough modern-day commercialism thrown in48 hence49 the theme-park ride and the pictures thereof50, images of screaming 51 passengers forever immortalized on key-rings52, mugs53 or fridge magnets54, which you can take home as souvenirs. Another example of modern-day technology seeping
exclamation is Humbug! (= Nonsense!, How ridiculous!) 39 treat pleasure, delight, speciality 40 a sweet-tooth preference for sugary food 41 to be delighted be very happy 42 counter work surface (similar to a table) in a shop 43 loaf (in this context) block, pillar 44 to chisel cut 45 pantry larder, storeroom for food 46 hard difficult 47 indeed (emphatic) in fact 48 to be thrown in be included (incongruously) 49 hence which explains 50 thereof of it 51 to scream shriek, yell 52 key-ring 53 mug large cup for tea or coffee 54 fridge magnet picture with a magnetic strip on the back (typically stuck to ones refrigerator door)
through to 55 this would-be Dickensian world are the touch screens in the Victorian classroom. Otherwise it is a near-perfect recreation of Dotheboys School from Nicholas Nickelby, complete with conical dunce cap 56 , donned57 by naughty58 pupils standing in the corner for misbehaviour59, and a preachy60, Victorian motto61 stating62 in huge 63 capitals above the blackboard64, SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO. If the lesson gets you hungry, why not pop over to65 the Porters Bar and Restaurant for some good old-fashioned chunky66 chips 67 served on a wooden board68. Keep in mind though that dinner should only be eaten after the ride through the sewers has taken place 69, owing not only to the steep descent of the boat but also to the painstakingly70 recreated smells. And as if that werent thrilling71 enough,
to seep through to permeate dunce cap (historical ) conical hat (a symbol of stupidity) that a pupil was forced to wear as a way of humiliating him/her 57 to don wear, put on 58 naughty disobedient, badly behaved 59 misbehaviour misconduct, disobedience 60 preachy moralistic, sanctimonious 61 motto maxim, proverb 62 to state declare 63 huge enormous, gigantic 64 blackboard 65 to pop over to visit 66 chunky thick-cut 67 chips (UK English) French fries (US English) 68 wooden board plank of wood 69 to take place (take-took-taken) occur, happen 70 painstakingly carefully, meticulously, assiduously 71 thrilling exciting
55 56
2 3
can be visited. The Dickens House Museum , down the road on the seafront 86 , occupies a house that features 87 in David Copperfield . The Broadstairs Dickens Festival will be held 88 from 16th to 22nd June in 2012 (www.broadstairsdickensfestival.co.uk).
Photo by Simon Burchell
Photo by Colin Smith
Dickenss Birthplace Museum (1), Bleak House in Broadstairs (2), Dickens Festival in Rochester (3)
Dickens World also boasts72 its very own Haunted73 House, where visitors shudder74 at the sight of creepy75 Dickensian spooks76, most notably the spirits from A Christmas Carol. Opinions are divided over Dickens World, some people love it, others dont. One thing is for sure, this was a colossal undertaking77 and Dickens is probably the only author to whose works a whole theme park is dedicated, an honour even Shakespeare cannot boast of78 . I wonder what Dickens himself would have thought of it?
Visiting Dickensian Kent

Dickens World is in Chatham because Dickens lived in the town between the ages of five and 10. Chatham is some 40km east of London and well connected by train (Charing Cross and Victoria). Rochester, which is just 24 3km from Chatham, talks up79 its links with80 Dickens the town pops up81 in several of his novels. Eastgate House
to boast (in this context) have, pride itself on haunted frequented by ghosts 74 to shudder tremble, quake, quiver 75 creepy scary, macabre, ghostly, sinister, spooky 76 spook ghost, phantom 77 undertaking enterprise, endeavour, operation 78 to boast of sth. declare proudly that you have sth. 79 to talk sth. up emphasize, exaggerate 80 links with connections to, associations with 81 to pop up appear
72 73
on the High Street is mentioned in The Pickwick Papers and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. It houses82 Dickenss Chalet83, the small building in which he wrote his final novel. However, the chalet is being completely restored because it is structurally unsound. Its original location was the garden of Gads Hill Place (in Higham, to the northeast of Rochester). This was the only home that Dickens ever owned and it was where the author spent the last four years of his life. This year Gads Hill Place is being turned into 84 an international heritage centre (whatever that means). Further down the North Kent coast right at its easternmost 85 point is Broadstairs. For 14 years during his most productive period Dickens would come here every summer. The property where he wrote Bleak House and David Copperfield has now been renamed... Bleak House (www.bleakhouseholidays.co.uk) and
to house (in this context) contain chalet /'lei/ (in this context) a small wooden building. This chalet was located in the garden at Gads House Place away from the house so that Dickens could write without being interrupted 84 to be turned into be converted into 85 easternmost most easterly 86 seafront line of buildings which look directly out to sea 87 to feature appear (prominently)
82 83
V.S. Pritchett once observed that London was in many ways the chief character89 of much of Dickenss fiction and some visitors are still surprised to find that the British capital is no longer90 Dickensian. Most of Dickenss life was spent in London and the British capital features87 in almost all his novels. Central London is peppered with91 names and addresses from the pages of Dickenss novels, though youd have a hard time92 imagining Oliver Twist on the Farringdon Road or Little Nell in Holborn today. The main 93 sight94 is Dickens House (www.dickensmuseum.com 48 Doughty St., round the corner from the British Museum). It was in this house the only one of Dickenss 15 London homes to survive in which he wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.
London: Dickenss Chief Character
Portsmouth
Those who really want to do the Dickens thing thoroughly95 should begin where it all started, down in Portsmouth which boasts 72 The Dickens Birthplace Museum (www.charlesdickensbirthplace.co.uk) but the excursion is missable96 except for the seriously committed.
Related Resources
L
Is there a writer whose trail you would like to follow?
to hold (hold-held-held) (in this context) organize, celebrate chief character central fictional person 90 no longer not... anymore 91 to be peppered with be full of 92 youd have a hard time you would find it difficult 93 main principal, primary 94 sight place to visit 95 thoroughly fully, completely 96 missable optional
88 89
18
Culture | Music
Theres No Smokin In Here

G
eorge Harp Harper was almost 50 years old when he released his first album of all original songs. He had helped Tim and Danny Carter build a studio onto their existing house. The Carters, knowing that George was a songwriter, insisted that he record a CD in the new studio. After the first session of tunes1 Harp played that night, Tim knew there were some good songs. 20 or so musicians helped Harp get the project off the ground2 and about nine months later he had his first finished record! The Carter brothers along with Brian Budzinski the three partners of Tree-O-Records were so impressed with this great Nashville talent that they signed George and his new CD, Ill Be Back, to their label3. In the couple of years since4, George has had some great opportunitiesto play his own music, his ownway, around the world.He has played at Irelands Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival four times now. In 2011 he had a couple ofsongs ready to record,so about a month before his trip to Longford, Harp and his regular band of four guys went in the studio and recorded a 6 song EP: No Smokin In Here. It was done just in time to takeabroad5. George will be back to Europe in 2012. There is talk of him doing a tour in Ireland in February.
George Harper
Midges6 are swarmin7 this mornin Im scratchin8 my legs all the time Ill have to sit out here on this front porch Smokin to drink on my wine. Its always been that way at mommas9. All that was never allowed10. She thought that it was the right thing to do
Theres no Smokin in Here

Lord knows momma was proud. Lord knows my momma is proud. CHORUS Keep the wine outside, you boys, you hear. Dont you bring in no11 beer. Watch out12 who you let inside And you know theres no smokin in here. You know theres no smokin in here. Weve always been churchgoing people Got dressed up13 on the seventh day. But Saturday nights were made for fun And I was sleeping as the others would pray14. Theres music from down in the basement15 Its the Beatles just16 lettin it be17. CHORUS
We probably should have been singin a hymn But I think those four fellas18 saved me. I think those four fellas saved me.
Now we will do all in our power So that momma will sleep good19 tonight. Cos20 when tomorrow comes round21 And Shes gone off to work, Well be home feeling all right. And well hope that the midges6 wont bite. CHORUS
Related Resources
H, T Track 12
tune melody, song to get sth. off the ground (get-got-got) put sth. in motion, get sth. going 3 label (in this context) recording company 4 since since then, between then and now 5 abroad overseas, (in this context) to Ireland 6 midge small insect similar to a mosquito 7 to swarm (of insects) be abundant, be gathering in great numbers
1 2
to scratch rub ones skin with ones fingernails, use ones digits to lacerate an itchy area of ones body 9 mommas my mothers house 10 to allow permit 11 no (dialect) any 12 watch out (imperative) be careful, beware 13 to get dressed up (get-got-got) wear clean expensive clothes
8
to pray interact with God/the gods basement cellar, underground room 16 just (in this context) simply 17 Let It Be (1970) is a religious song by The Beatles 18 fella (slang) fellow, guy, bloke, man 19 good (dialect) well 20 cos (slang) because 21 to come round (come-came-come) arrive
14 15
Dickens: The Great Entertainer

by Colman Keane
Culture | Performance
for all those there that morning it was well worth16 braving17 the sub-freezing temperatures to see the great Charles Dickens give one of his spellbinding18 readings. With tickets like gold dust19 not surprisingly all the passes for that Monday 9th December performance sold out in just 20 an hour netting 21 $16,000 in receipts22.
An All-Night Vigil
It was a bitterly cold early morning in 1867 as touts2 donning 3 stylish hats mingled with4 over five thousand decent folk who, muffling up5 in thick coats and scarves6, patiently stood in line waiting for the Steinway Hall ticket office in New York to open. Many had been queuing7 all night and had passed the time singing and dancing, in a vain effort to shake off8 the numbing9 effects of the November chill10. By nine oclock in the morning when the ticket office opened on 14th Street the queue was 1.2km long. They had come from far and wide11 to see a performer who was the talk of every English-speaking town on both sides of the Atlantic. The Coggeshall family, chilled to the marrow12 from their nights vigil, summed up13 the spirit of all those determined to get their hands on a ticket. They had made their way from Brooklyn in a blizzard14 and as Edwin Coggeshall told a few of those in the queue, we wouldnt have come to hear the Apostle Paul but we have come to hear Dickens. Indeed15,
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), Scottish novelist and historian. Major influence on and close friend of Dickens 2 (ticket) tout /taut/ s.o. who illegally resells tickets 3 to don wear 4 to mingle with mix with, circulate among 5 to muffle up protect oneself against the cold 6 scarf ( plural scarves) 7 to queue wait in line 8 to shake sth. off (shake-shook-shaken) free oneself of sth., protect oneself against sth. 9 numbing desensitizing, paralyzing, freezing 10 chill cold 11 far and wide all over the place 12 to be chilled to the marrow be very cold, be frozen
1
The Performance
Dickens, the greatest entertainer the world had ever seen, was acutely aware of23 the long and heavy train of dependants24 with whom he was saddled 25 and so was determined to make a financial success26 of a tour that was to last27 four long months. To this end, he had brought with him an impressive entourage28 including his valet29 Henry Scott, Boycett his gas-man 30, Berry his odd-job man31 and George Dolby, his manager and friend, whose task it was to outwit32 the many ticket touts2. That Monday night there was an air of expectancy in a packed33 Steinway Hall as a distinguished, high-brow34 gathering 35 settled back 36 in their seats. While awaiting the arrival of the great man himself, row after row of37 spectators there that night beheld38 what was a typical Dickens reading platform. In front of a large, vivid maroon 39 backdrop 40 the spectators saw a horizontal batten41 of gas-jets 42 that concentrated a powerful light. In the centre of the stage 43 was a 37 high reading desk specially designed by
to last go on for, continue for entourage retinue, group of travelling companions 29 valet manservant, personal attendant 30 gas-man (historical ) person in charge of the illumination in a theatre 31 odd-job man general fixer 32 to outwit outsmart, be cleverer than 33 packed /pkt/ completely full, sold out 34 high-brow sophisticated, refined 35 gathering audience 36 to settle back relax 37 row after row of hundreds of 38 to behold (-hold/-held/-held) see, witness, watch 39 maroon dark red 40 backdrop screen in the background 41 batten row, series 42 gas-jet pressurized flow of illuminating gas 43 the stage the platform on which a performance occurs
27 28
We wouldnt have come to hear the Apostle Paul but we have come to hear Dickens.
to sum up synopsize, express in a concise way 14 blizzard snowstorm 15 indeed (emphatic) in fact 16 to be well worth be acceptable (+ infinitive) 17 to brave endure, suffer 18 spellbinding mesmerizing, captivating 19 like gold dust very valuable, in high demand 20 just (in this context) only 21 to net earn, make 22 receipts /r'si:ts/ (in this context) income, earnings, revenue 23 to be acutely aware of be very conscious of 24 Forster, John, The Life of Charles Dickens, ed. J. W. T. Ley, London, 1928 25 to be saddled with be encumbered with, be burdened with, have (sth. onerous) 26 As Michael Slater has noted, Dickens made a clear profit of some 38,000 on his American tour
13
20
Charley, you carry a whole company of actors under your own hat.1
Dickens himself. On the desk-top was a small box with a slot 44 which served as a book-rest for his promptbooks 45. There was a sudden hush46 as an elderly, bearded man in evening dress came onto the stage and amid47 a prolonged round of applause made his way to the desk and glanced round48 the hall. He was the very essence of sartorial49 elegance, clad50 as he was in a purple waistcoat51, his impressive watch-chain52 glittering53 beneath the flame of the gas-lamps. With a wave of his hand Dickens bade54 the audience to listen. A deathly hush46 fell on the hall as Dickens in a clear, melodious voice spoke that night for the first time in New York: Ladies and Gentlemen I am to have the pleasure of reading to you first tonight, A Christmas Carol, in four staves55 . Stave One Marley was dead to begin with. Within minutes this extraordinarily engaging56 storyteller and actor had the 2,000 plus audience in the palm of his hand. The performance was hypnotic. A Christmas Carol, written originally to be read aloud, was quintessential Dickens and those privileged enough to be present were listening to a fascinating story told by a compelling 57 raconteur58. That night Dickens seemed to disappear as he became in turn Scrooge, Scrooges nephew59, Bob Cratchit and 20 other different characters, dazzling60 in the process his audience and losing them completely in the story. He was after all a consummate actor, marvellous raconteur, extraordinary enchanter and above all a close friend who, with his remarkable skills, mesmerized61 those present.
Rage Against the Garish62 Lights

A full 15 years earlier Dickens had begun giving charity readings. His first in Birmingham63 which featured A Christmas Carol and The Cricket 64 on the Hearth65 were so successful that the author, a man never to turn up his nose at66 a good business opportunity, decided to turn professional in 1858, thus spurning67 the advice of his loyal friend John Forster68 . The lure 69 of the stage70 proved too much and his first professional reading that April was rapturously71 received. Dickens
compelling mesmerizing, captivating raconteur storyteller, narrator 59 nephew the son of ones brother or sister 60 to dazzle (in this context) hypnotize 61 to mesmerize hypnotize, captivate, fascinate 62 garish very bright, glaring 63 held on December 27, 29 and 30, 1853 at the Town Hall 64 cricket (countable) 65 hearth fireplace (especially when it is symbolically the warm centre of a home) 66 to turn ones nose up at reject, not accept 67 to spurn turn down, reject, not accept 68 John Forster (1812-1876). Dickenss best
57 58
never looked back and armed with his bulky72 Gladstone bag, an array73 of prompt-books 45 and extraordinary repertoire proceeded to conquer every city he visited. His renderings74 of Little Dombey and Mrs Gamp together with those from the Christmas Books transported his audiences into raptures. By 1869 the gruelling75 tours were taking a frightful toll on76 the English author. On March 15th 1870 he gave his last reading. His last words in public, from these garish 62 lights I vanish now for evermore, proved to be prophetic. He was buried77 12 weeks later in Poets Corner78 .
Related Resources
F
Dickenss reading desk slot long straight groove (= aperture) prompt-book book containing notes to remind a performer of a sequence 46 hush silence 47 amid amidst, (in this context) during 48 to glance round look about 49 sartorial relating to clothing 50 clad in dressed in, wearing 51 waistcoat (UK English) vest (US English) 52 watch-chain 53 to glitter shine 54 to bid (bid-bade-bidden) ask 55 stave (in this context) part 56 engaging charming, likeable, delightful
44 45
Who would you most like to go and see speak in public? Why?
friend, literary advisor and official biographer 69 lure attraction, fascination, pull, appeal 70 the stage (in this context) the theatre, performing 71 rapturously ecstatically, euphorically, enthusiastically 72 bulky voluminous, immense 73 an array a selection, a variety 74 rendering (in this context) performance, reading 75 gruelling exhausting, arduous 76 to take a frightening toll on (take-tooktaken) do terrible damage to 77 to bury /'beri/ put a cadaver underground 78 in Londons Westminster Abbey
Dickens Flicks
Culture | Cinema
Dickens is the most adapted author of all time.

More films and TV series have been made based on Dickenss novels than on those of any other writer. Incredibly, before the advent2 of sound in 1927, already over 100 film adaptations of the Victorian authors work had been made around the world. Sound gave fresh impetus to Dickensian movies in 1935 alone Hollywood made versions of David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Since then a steady stream3 of Dickensian movies and miniseries has been produced to the extent that nobody has seen Dickenss entire audiovisual oeuvre and film buffs4 have simply lost count of the total, though it is clearly well over 200. Just5 browse6 Amazon and you will be offered half a dozen versions of Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield or A Christmas Carol. Adaptations have starred everyone from Michael Caine7, Gwyneth Paltrow8, Jamie Bell9, Bill Murray10 and Daniel Radcliffe11 to Elijah Wood12 and Miss Piggy13 (to name some of the more unlikely14 actors). In contrast to other great authors, every one of Dickenss major works has been turned into a film, including various versions of The Mystery of Edwin Drood even though it was only half written when the author died in 1870!
The Father of Cinema

Dickens movies are as old as cinema itself. The oldest surviving fragment of Dickensian audio-visuals is Scrooge
(1901), though British, French and American adaptations are known to have existed from the late 1890s. Indeed15, Russian film director Sergei
Eisenstein himself an immensely important figure in celluloid history credited Dickens with inventing much of the language of movies, from parallel montage16 to the close-up17. The conduit18 for Dickens into the movies was the notorious19 D.W. Griffith, who openly recognized his indebtedness to the Victorian novelist. Dickenss influence on cinema is less surprising when you take into account 20 several factors. First his real passion was for the theatre and, partly as a result, he wrote very visually, carefully depicting 21 a sense of place. Moreover, Dickens tends to populate his stories with psychologically simple characters who are either saints or sinners22; the goodies and villains that have always populated Hollywood movies and are far more popular with the general public than nuanced23 characters.
close-up when a characters face occupies the entire screen conduit channel 19 notorious infamous. Griffith directed the racist blockbuster Birth of a Nation (1915) 20 to take into account (take-took-taken) take into consideration, consider 21 to depict represent, describe 22 sinner bad person, baddie, villain 23 nuanced subtle, (in this context) who have good and bad facets
17 18
flick (old fashioned ) film, movie advent arrival, appearance 3 steady stream constant flow 4 film buff s.o. who knows a lot about cinema 5 just (in this context) simply 6 to browse look through, peruse 7 in The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) 8 she starred in Great Expectations (1997) 9 famous for starring as Billy Eliot. He played Smike in Nicholas Nickleby (2002) 10 famous for his role in Lost in Translation
1 2
(2003). He starred in Scrooged (1988) a comedy based on A Christmas Carol 11 famous as Harry Potter. He played young David Copperfield in the 1999 film version. 12 famous as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings, he played The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist (1997). 13 in The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) 14 unlikely improbable 15 indeed (emphatic) in fact 16 parallel montage technique in which two stories are told at the same time
22
All-Singing, All-Dancing Dickens

The sentimentalism of many of Dickenss stories has also meant that they make perfect fodder24 for musicals. The best known is of course Carol Reeds hugely25 successful Oliver! (1968), which was followed by David Copperfield (1969), Pickwick (1969), Scrooge (1970), Smike! (1973) and Mr Quilp (1975). The project for the musical Pip! was an exclamation mark too far26 and it eventually27 mutated into the nonmusical Great Expectations (1974).
Dickens Adapts Badly to the Movies

Having said all that, it is also true that Dickenss novels are often ruined by their conversion to the silver screen28. Take the classic examples of David Leans Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948), undoubtedly masterpieces of film noir29 providing some of the most memorable moments in film history. However, these pictures actually30 make rather a mess of 31 Dickenss stories, leaving the viewer with nonsensical32 coincidences that hold the scripts together33. Some of the problems of movie versions are solved by the TV series and perhaps the best place to first
encounter Dickens is in the BBC adaptations where four to eight hours give time for the novels true story to be told. Half a dozen TV versions of Dickens novels were Auntie34s way of combating the values of Thatcherism in the 1980s. Independent British television has also made some memorable adaptations, notably Hard Times (1977). 480 minutes might sound like an awful long time but I have to say that the most mesmerizing35 film version of Dickens Ive ever seen was the RSC36s Nicholas Nickleby (1982), first screened on Channel 4.37 Even though it is filmed theatre and I was a restless 15-year-old, I sat there transfixed for eight hours watching the whole thing in one go38.
Finally, its worth noting39 that TV returned the compliment to 40 the written word: the BBCs Bleak House (2005) put Dickens back on the bestselling booklists.
So, where to from here? Can we only look forward to41 endless BBC serials and a Hollywood foray42 every decade or so? Well, I can see another option. Many of Dickenss novels could be transferred successfully to a Third World context. In many ways the conditions in countries such as India and Brazil parallel those in Victorian Britain: rapid change and an expanding economy, great wealth43 combined with great poverty, street children, contagious diseases and corruption in the legal system. Actually30, theres much that is Dickensian about44 Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Through cinema Dickens could once again raise45 the worlds conscience. The man himself would be much prouder of that legacy than that of endless costume dramas46.
Related Resources
Q
A Dickensian Future
Can you think of a novel that would make a good film?
fodder material, ingredients hugely very, highly 26 was an exclamation mark too far was one too many exclamation marks (= !) 27 eventually (false friend ) in the end 28 the silver screen cinema 29 film noir genre of films characterized by pessimism and dark expressionistic camerawork 30 actually (false friend ) in fact 31 to make rather a mess of (make-made-made) spoil, ruin
24 25
nonsensical incomprehensible, that are not reasonable 33 to hold sth. together (hold-held-held) give unity to sth. 34 Auntie (informal ) the BBC 35 mesmerizing enthralling, spellbinding, captivating 36 RSC Royal Shakespeare Company 37 available on DVD, though sadly for the moment without subtitles 38 in one go in a single sitting, continuously
32
its worth noting you should notice to return the compliment to be equally beneficial for 41 to look forward to anticipate, expect 42 foray incursion, (in this context) movie 43 wealth prosperity, affluence 44 about (in this context) in 45 to raise foment, stimulate, inspire 46 costume drama film or TV series in which the emphasis is on recreating the look of a historical period
39 40
Unpicking Dickens
1
The Trauma
The central fact about Dickens from a psychoanalytical point of view is that his life of comfortable middle-class security collapsed when he was 12. His father was sent to debtors prison4 where the rest of the family joined him, while Charles was taken out of school and sent to work in a blacking factory5 (living alone nearby6). There was nothing very strange about a child working at 12 in Georgian Britain and Charles was the only Dickens boy who was not an infant.7 Moreover, the factory had certain guarantees: it was owned by8 a relative 9 of Elizabeth Dickens, Charless mother. After three months John Dickens came into a serendipitous10 inheritance11 and was able to leave the debtors prison4. However, for some reason Elizabeth Dickens insisted that her son Charles continue in the blacking factory5 living away from the family for several months more. Probably, she just12 wanted the familys finances to become stable before giving up13 Charless income. A few months later John insisted that Charles leave the factory, rejoin his family and return to school. Charles never forgave his mother. He took his revenge by portraying her as the idiotic snobbish Mrs Nickleby in Nicholas Nickleby.14 As a result of this experience, which lasted15 less than a year, Dickens considered himself effectively an orphan and his novels suggest he was rather16 obsessed with parentless children.17 However, at another level, for Dickens the orphan is the archetypal innocent preyed on18 by reifying19 adults. The fateful20 events of 1824 also shaped 21 the other two obsessions of Dickenss novels. The first is Mammonism22 and its power to pervert naturally loving human relations. The second is the corruption of the judicial system, which he saw as arbitrary and brutal in contrast to natural justice, which in his novels leads to23 goodness and loyalty being rewarded24, while evil25 gets its comeuppance26.
Culture | Literature
Photo by J & C Watkins
Charles Dickens circa 1860
A Man of Our Times

Dickenss works still appeal to 27 us because his criticisms of Victorian society are exactly what all of us would condemn about 19 th-century culture. Dickens described himself as a radical and a liberal but the truth is his works today appeal27 as much28
to conscientious conservatives as to communists. Dickens campaigned against public executions, child labour, cruelty to animals and slavery29. He also demanded universal education and sanitary reform. In contrast to his Romantic predecessors Dickens feared the sublimity30 of the mob31 and was pro-reform precisely because he feared revolution. Indeed32, it could be argued that the unparalleled influence of his novels meant that the most influential literary moralist and social critic of the 19th Century was partly responsible for the mindset 33 of the modern world.34
We do not believe in the permanence of his reputation. 50 years hence2... our children will wonder3 what their ancestors could have meant by putting Mr Dickens at the head of the novelists of the day. The Saturday Review, 1858
to unpick deconstruct, take apart hence from now, into the future 3 to wonder ask oneself 4 debtors prison a prison for people with substantial debts (= financial obligations) 5 blacking factory factory that makes shoe-polish 6 nearby close-by, (in this context) near to the factory 7 his sisters Fanny and Letitia were 13 and 7, while his brothers Frederick and Alfred were 4 and 2, respectively 8 to be owned by be the property of 9 relative relation, member of ones extended family 10 serendipitous lucky, fortuitous, unexpected 11 inheritance legacy, bequest, endowment 12 just (in this context) simply
1 2
to give up (give-gave-given) renounce, waive by contrast he represented his father as the lovable (though financially disastrous) Mr Micawber in David Copperfield and William Dorrit in Little Dorrit 15 to last go on for, continue for 16 rather somewhat, reasonably, quite 17 His orphans include David Copperfield, Little Nell (The Old Curiosity Shop), Nicholas Nickleby, Oliver Twist, Pip (Great Expectations) 18 to prey on exploit, victimize, terrorize 19 reifying who consider people to be objects (to be used) 20 fateful decisive, crucial, significant 21 to shape determine, define 22 Mammonism avarice, the love of money 23 to lead to (lead-led-led) result in
13 14
to reward receive a recompense evil (n.) wickedness, badness, villainy, malevolence 26 comeuppance just deserts, just punishment, retribution 27 to appeal (to) be attractive (for) 28 as much equally 29 slavery bondage, servitude, (in this context) the subjugation of Blacks in the Southern States of the USA 30 sublimity awesome power, terrific strength 31 the mob the tumult, proletarian violence 32 indeed (emphatic) in fact 33 mindset way of seeing the world 34 by a marvellous coincidence Dickens was inducted into the Athenaeum Club in London at exactly the same time as Charles Darwin, the other architect of our modern world.
24 25
24
Dickenss public persona was hugely35 attractive. However, his character at home left a lot to be desired36. In the mid-1830s Dickens met the Hogarth sisters and fell in love with all three of them. Incredibly, he married Catherine in 1837, who he apparently liked least of the three. When his sister-in-law37 Mary Hogarth died suddenly in 1838 she became an image of idealized young womanhood 38 in Dickenss mind. Despite a growing coldness in the marriage, between 1838 and 1852 long-suffering Catherine bore39 Charles 10 children. In 1858 Dickens met and fell in love with Ellen Ternan, a 19-yearold actress. This, of course, is fairly40 standard behaviour41 for a successful man in his mid-40s. However, what is inexcusable is that, in order to get a divorce, Dickens publicly declared Catherine to be mentally unsound42 and insisted that her children break off43 all contact with her.44 Meanwhile, he continued living with his sister-inlaw37 Georgina, while carrying on his affair with Ellen. On 9th June 1865 Dickens and Ellen were travelling on the Dover-to-London train when the locomotive jumped the tracks45 at Staplehurst. Several passengers were killed and many badly injured46. Charles and Miss Ternan, however, walked away unscathed47. Coincidentally, Dickens died of apoplexy on the fifth anniversary of the crash, 9th June 1870. Not only was Dickens a bad husband but he was also clearly obsessive-compulsive. He lived to a finely-tuned 48 routine and was neurotic about tidiness49 and punctuality. According to his daughter Mary (Mamie) he made a point of visiting50 every room in the house once each morning and if a chair was out of place, or a blind51 not quite right, or a crumb52 left on the floor, woe betide53 the offender!
Related Resources
2
The Devil Indoors
Kate Dickens
Katey and Mamie Dickens
Ellen Ternan
A Great Novelist?
Dickens was the worlds best-selling novelist, read by people of all classes and admired by literary giants such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Few writers have ever created such a string54 of memorable characters as Miss Havisham, Magwitch, Smike, Squeers, Fagin and Bill Sikes. However, the characters of his early novels at least are more fairy-tale 55 caricatures than realistic individuals. Moreover, some of the stories best-loved by the
hugely very, enormously to leave a lot to be desired (leave-left-left) be far from perfect 37 sister-in-law (in this context) the sister of his wife 38 womanhood femininity 39 to bear (bear-bore-borne) produce for 40 fairly reasonably 41 behaviour conduct 42 mentally unsound crazy, mad 43 to break off (break-broke-broken) sever, terminate 44 according to Claire Tomalin in Charles Dickens: A Life (2011) one of 90 full-length biographies of Dickens 45 to jump the tracks come off the rails 46 to be injured be hurt, come to harm, suffer
35 36
High Victorians are mawkish 56 in the extreme. Oscar Wilde famously commented on The Old Curiosity Shop a curious mix of the comic, the macabre, the sentimental and the surreal that One must have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing! Moreover, many of Dickenss novels are held together57 by implausible58 coincidences. Of course, none of that ever bothered the reading public, who will no doubt continue to enjoy Dickens for centuries to come.
lesions unscathed unharmed, unhurt, uninjured, safe and sound 48 finely-tuned precise, exact 49 tidiness order 50 he made a point of visiting he intentionally visited 51 blind (n.) screen in front of a window 52 crumb particle of bread or cake 53 woe betide X X would suffer the consequences 54 string series, succession 55 fairy-tale unrealistic, mythical, fanciful 56 mawkish sentimental 57 to be held together be unified, be integrated 58 implausible unlikely, improbable
47
If a public figure has good ideas it doesnt matter if hes a hypocrite at home- do you agree?
The Great Illustrator

by Colman Keane
Phiz
Culture | art
Posthumous Papers
By May 1836 the debonair journalist4 and up-and-coming author Charles Dickens was in a quandary5. After the publication of three monthly numbers, sales for his first serialised novel The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club were very disappointing.6 Added to this, Dickens himself was under fire 7 from some quarters 8 after his original illustrator, Robert Seymour, refusing to play second fiddle to9 the authors brilliant prose, had gone home one evening in April after a row10 with the author and had blown his brains out 11. Seymours widow laid the blame squarely (and unfairly) at the authors door12. Dickenss publishers, Chapman and Hall were aghast13 and fearing that The Pickwick Papers might be doomed14, moved heaven and earth15 in an effort to find an illustrator that could complement their star author.
3
Boz and Phiz

They hit on a self-effacing , 20-yearold engraver, Hablot Knight Browne, who not only was an excellent illustrator but worked with amazing skill18. From the very outset 19 he called himself Phiz, a sobriquet20 chosen to chime with21 Dickenss nom-de-plume Boz. He came into Dickenss life in the fourth number of The Pickwick Papers just when Dickenss newest creation, the jaunty22 Sam Weller, first meets
16 17
Phiz
Mr Pickwick. With Phizs illustrations and the authors brilliant comic purple patches23 The Pickwick Papers took off24 and the uproarious25 comedy was soon on everyones lips26. So much so that sales rose meteorically from the 400 copies printed for the first monthly part to 40,000 by the end of the book.27 Dickens was truly delighted with28 his new illustrator and felt much more at ease working with Phiz than with the brilliant caricaturist George Cruikshank 29 who was already at the pinnacle30 of his career. Phiz, a truly imaginative artist who was able to act on the spur of the moment 31, exactly filled the situation.32 His illustrations (particularly the famous court scene) were a hit and within 33 months Londoners were making their way in droves34 to catch sight of 35 David Copperfield Phizs illustrations of Dickenss
Valerie Browne Lester, Phiz: The Man Who Drew Dickens, Pimlico, London, 2006 28 to be delighted with be ecstatic/euphoric/ elated about 29 The man who illustrated Oliver Twist (1839); his illustration of Oliver asking for more is sublime. 30 pinnacle peak, high point, summit, apex, zenith, apogee 31 on the spur of the moment spontaneously 32 Edgar Browne, Phiz and Dickens as they appeared to Edgar Browne, James Nisbet & Co Ltd, London, 1913 33 within (in this context) after only a few 34 Londoners were making their way in droves /drouvz/ multitudes of Londoners were coming 35 to catch sight of (catch-caught-caught) glimpse, see
27
to be suited to be appropriate/apt for G. K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens: A Critical Study, N. Y.: Dodd Mead, 1913 3 debonair sophisticated, cultured, gentlemanly, elegant 4 journalist reporter 5 to be in a quandary be perplexed, not know what to do 6 as Michael Slater has noted, sales of the first number had been disappointing and the print run for the second had been halved 7 to be under fire (in this context) be criticized 8 quarters (in this context) sources, people 9 to play second fiddle to be subservient to 10 row /rau/ quarrel, disagreement, argument 11 to blow ones brains out (blow-blew-blown) commit suicide with a firearm 12 to lay the blame squarely at s.os door
1 2
(lay-laid-laid) hold s.o. fully responsible to be aghast be horrified 14 to be doomed be destined to fail 15 to move heaven and earth make every possible effort 16 to hit on (hit-hit-hit) discover 17 self-effacing shy, timid, diffident 18 skill ability, talent 19 from the very outset right from the start 20 sobriquet nickname, pseudonym 21 to chime with harmonize with, be compatible with 22 jaunty cheerful, vivacious 23 purple patch text characterized by ornate language 24 to take off (take-took-taken) be very successful 25 uproarious hilarious, riotous 26 to be on everyones lips be the talk of the town
13
26
They were suited to1 each other as Gilbert and Sullivan. No other illustrator created the true Dickens atmosphere.2
most recent creations on display36 in booksellers shop windows. 37 The Boz-Phiz tandem was ready to take the literary world by storm38. Not only was their professional relationship a success but both young men got on like a house on fire39 going on excursions, dining out together and playing badminton on a regular basis.27 Nevertheless, they were delighted with the copy they had got and on the long coach journey back to London Phiz spent his time sketching while Dickens took notes. Nicholas Nickleby, with its exposure of the Yorkshire schools, which began to appear that very year, was a sensation. So happy was Dickens with his illustrator that in November 1838 he presented him with a gold ring as a token53 of his esteem for Phiz.54
Oliver Twist by George Cruikshank
A Trip to Yorkshire
In January 1838 Dickens and Phiz (by now a joint venture40) set out from the coachyard in Saracens Head41 and made their way up to Greta Bridge in Yorkshire in search of material for Dickenss next novel Nicholas Nickleby. From there they went to the village of Bowes where they had an interview with a frightful42 , one-eyed scoundrel43, William Shaw, proprietor and headmaster44 of Bowes Academy. This Dickens transformed into Dotheboys Hall45 while Shaw became the prototype of the cruel headmaster Mr Squeers. The fact is, it aint46 a Hall 45, observed Squeers dryly47 We call it a Hall up in London, because it sounds better, but they dont know it by that name in these parts.48 Shaw smelt a rat 49 and sent the foppish50 Mr Hablot Browne (Dickens in disguise51) and his far-from-well dressed c om p a n ion p a c k i n g 5 2 .
on display exhibited This publicity stunt whetted (= stimulate) the appetite of tens of thousands of readers who would subsequently look forward to the publication of the next issue 38 to take swh. by storm (take-took-taken) conquer swh. 39 to get on like a house on fire (get-got-got) have an excellent relationship, be great friends 40 venture enterprise, project, undertaking 41 Then a famous terminus situated on Snow Hill near Holborn St. 42 frightful dreadful, awful, insufferable 43 scoundrel villain, rogue, fraudster
36 37
Uncommonly Characteristic and Capital

The Old Curiosity Shop began to appear in Dickenss next venture 40, Master Humphreys Clock , a weekly publication. The illustrations were executed on wood and Phiz55 reached new levels of brilliance in his drawings of the grotesque figure of Quilp and began to display56 the versatility that would
enable him to keep pace with57 Dickens.58 After finishing The Old Curiosity Shop and in need of another serial for his publication, Dickens began to serialize Barnaby Rudge. This novel, set in the late 18th Century, has as its climax the Gordon Riots 59. Here Browne caught the spirit of the English author and fully embodied the violent excitement of the prose.58 Dickens and Phiz continued to feed off each others talent and in 1844 Phiz superbly portrayed the personality of Sarah Gamp (in Martin Chuzzlewit), one of the authors most loved characters. Phiz went on to illustrate six further novels by Dickens. His illustrations for Dombey and Son (in the view of Queenie Leavis a significant milestone60 in his development), his dark plates61 for Bleak House, and his wonderful illustration of Mr Micawber in David Copperfield (which Dickens called uncommonly characteristic and capital), are undoubtedly high points in the work of a great illustrator, inextricably linked to Dickens, who in 1859 decided to retire to the Surrey countryside far away from the strains and stresses of demanding authors and publishers.
Related Resources
The Pickwick Papers headmaster most important teacher in a school 45 hall (in this context) manor, aristocratic building 46 aint (slang) isnt 47 dryly sardonically 48 Nicholas Nickleby, p. 140 49 to smell a rat (smell-smelt-smelt) suspect that sth. is not right 50 foppish dandified, dandyish 51 in disguise in a camouflaging clothing 52 to send s.o. packing (send-sent-sent) eject/ expel s.o. 53 token demonstration, expression, symbol
44 54
Only childrens literature should be illustrated: discuss.
he became Dickenss principal illustrator, illustrating 10 of the authors novels who dropped his sobriquet20 and signed his illustrations H. K. B. 56 to display show, exhibit, demonstrate 57 to keep pace with s.o. (keep-kept-kept) maintain s.os standard 58 Jane Rabb Cohen, Dickens and His Principal Illustrators. Columbus: Ohio State University, 1980 59 riot /'rait/ commotion, tumult, public disturbance 60 milestone (in this context) important event 61 plate (in this context) engraving, illustration
55
Endearment
Dear Words
Terms of endearment are words and expressions we use to express our affection. Endearment comes from the verb to endear1, which comes from the adjective dear. Dear is a complicated word. It has lost a lot of its affection because we use it in letters (i.e. Dear sir) to refer to bank managers and others we may be less than devoted to. 2 As a term of endearment dear is the sort3 of word an old lady might use to refer to her husband or someone much younger; lets say its rather4 passionless. My dear sounds terribly pompous unless it is said in a rustic accent (in which case it sounds
Terms of
Language | Functional English
comically quaint5). Dear is a homophone of deer6. Moreover, in some varieties of English dear means expensive, costly: e.g. That restaurants very dear and the portions are pathetic. Darling is a diminutive of dear. Its the sort of word a passionate Victorian might use to refer to his or her beloved7. The other diminutive of dear deary (or dearie) is again the sort3 of word an old lady might use to refer to a younger person: e.g. [in a shop] Here you are and theres your change, deary. Cheerio8. The superlative (my) dearest like (my) darling, smacks of9 passionate Victorians.10 Be careful with the noun dearth /d3:r/. It is etymologically related to dear but in the expensive sense. It means scarcity11: e.g. Because of the blockade12 there was a dearth of fresh vegetables in the region.
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when the speaker is a stranger13, such as a shopkeeper14. A man calling another man he doesnt know as love would be very unusual (unless they were British actors). In British English a luvvie /'lvi/ is an actor. The term comes from the stereotype of an actor behaving15 in a very affectionate but insincere way, calling everyone love or lovey. My love sounds rather4 old-fashioned and my lovely more so.
Male Bonding16
blad: a term of camaraderie between young people derived from the African-American term of address blood, itself a shortening of blood brother. bredren : a term of camaraderie between young British people of West Indian origin. The term is a corruption of brethren (an archaic plural of brother).
to smack of suggest, have overtones20 of in The 100 Words that Make the English (2009) Tony Thorne suggests that darling and dearest are so old-fashioned that they sound menacingly sinister! 11 scarcity shortage, insufficient supply, inadequate provision 12 blockade siege, embargo 13 stranger (false friend ) s.o. who is not known 14 shopkeeper (UK English) shop manager, storekeeper (US English) 15 to behave act 16 male bonding camaraderie
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Love
Love often spelt luv is quite a common affectionate term. A woman or a girl might be addressed as love by a man or a woman and a man could be addressed by a woman as love, even
to endear /in'dir/ cause s.o./sth. to be liked/ loved 2 However, notice that, as email and SMS have replaced letters, Dear Sir has become less and less used. 3 sort type, kind 4 rather (in this context) reasonably, quite, somewhat 5 quaint attractively oldfashioned 6 deer 7 beloved /b'lvid/ (n.) dear one, darling 8 cheerio (old-fashioned ) goodbye
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Here you are and theres your change, deary. Cheerio8. 28
boyo: Welsh term of camaraderie (based on boy). bro: a term of camaraderie popular in the USA. bud: a short form of buddy [see next]. buddy: comes from babies attempts17 to say brother. chum: an old-fashioned term meaning friend kept alive by a brand18 of dog food. mate: a confusing term because mate means sexual partner when we are talking about animals. However, when used between men there is no sexual undertone19 and it is a standard British term of camaraderie. Mate is especially popular as a term of camaraderie in Australia where supposedly it transmits the ideas of equality, solidarity, classlessness and machismo! matey: a term of camaraderie popular amongst young Britons. pal: a term originally from Romany (= brother), meaning friend. Pal is only used to address men. However, notice that gal pal means a girlfriend in the sense of a friend who is a girl, without romantic or sexual overtones20.
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Other Terms of Endearment

babe: a shortened form of baby [see next]. baby: a potentially offensive term of endearment used by a man to a young woman. It is the sort of term that someone who has spent more time listening to 60s music Come on, baby, light my fire than interacting with women might use. baby-doll: a potentially offensive term that manages to infantilize and objectify a woman in one breath21! cupcake: a term of endearment that can be used in all situations except when a man is addressing a man or when addressing someone who is older. hon /h n/: diminutive form of honey. Hon is a homophone of Hun22. e.g. Attila, hon, could you lay the table23, please? honey : a very common term of endearment, though not used by men towards men or boys. honey-bun: a form of honey based on honey-bunny24. gorgeous: a term that expresses physical attraction. It can be used by both men and women. laddie: an affectionate term used in Scotland by an older person to address a young man or a boy. The term is a diminutive of lad (= boy). lassie: an affectionate term used in Scotland by an older person to address a young woman or a girl. The term is a diminutive of lass (= girl). Lassie was also a dog on TV and in the movies. pet: an affectionate way of addressing a woman or a child, especially in the north of England. This term is not considered offensive. petal: an affectionate way of addressing a woman. poppet: British English corruption of puppet, used by women to address small children. precious : af fectionate term,
Well, hello there, precious!
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Male bonding
Related Resources
W
Foreign terms of endearment sound more romantic to native English speakers than their own terms. Do you agree?
attempt effort, endeavour brand commercial name, trademark 19 undertone connotation 20 overtone connotation, secondary meaning 21 in one breath simultaneously 22 Hun (historical ) member of a tribe, led by Attila, that devastated the late Roman Empire 23 to lay the table (lay-laid-laid) put eating utensils on the dinner table 24 bunny (informal ) rabbit (e.g. Bugs Bunny) 25 common (in this context) unsophisticated
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especially used to address a small child. princess: term of endearment used to address a girl or young woman. This term may seem a little common25 to some people. son: condescending term used by a man to refer to a teenage boy or younger. sonny: diminutive of son sugar: affectionate term for someone who is as sweet as sugar. sunshine: a term of endearment, however, it can express annoyance with the person you are addressing: e.g. Come on, sunshine, youve been looking through those magazines for half an hour. Either buy one or leave, please. sweetheart: a term of endearment between lovers. It can also be used by women addressing children. sweetie: an affectionate term used when talking to a small child. sweetness: another term of endearment between lovers. sweet pea: an affectionate term used when talking to a small child. It is currently very popular amongst British parents, probably because of the assonance. Literally, the term refers to Lathyrus odoratus, a leguminous plant. treasure: an old-fashioned term of endearment, used especially when addressing a child.
Beware of Defective
Defective verbs are ones that lack1 the full set of forms that you expect a verb to have.2
Beware
An extreme example of a defective verb is beware: Beware is a verb that is only used in the imperative. It has no inflected forms, no past and no future. It means be wary (of), be on the alert for. It can be used with some modal verbs but only when these have a quasi-imperative meaning: e.g. Beware! This house is haunted3. e.g. Beware of the dog [a standard sign] e.g. I warned him to beware of the dog. e.g.You must beware of pickpockets4 on the bus. e.g.You had better5 beware or someone might mug6 you. cannot/cant and couldnt). To express can-could in other tenses we have to revert to be able to. would: has only one form (though it can be combined with not: wouldnt). Would is used to form the conditional tense and it can also imply past habits: e.g.When I was a child I would get up at 5 every morning. shall: nowadays8 shall is only used for offers and suggestions. As a result, the negative form shant has become obsolete: e.g. Shall we open that bottle of wine? should: has only one form (though it can be combined with not: shouldnt). Should expresses advice9 and mild10 obligation: e.g. You should apologize to her. may: has only one form and cannot be combined with not. May is used to express permission and possibility: e.g. May11 I smoke? e.g. He may arrive late tonight.
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Language | Common Mistakes
Verbs
Modal Verbs
She used to work in a circus.
The most obvious group of defective verbs are the modal auxiliaries. These verbs do not have infinitives or participles. As a result, they are not used in the continuous or the perfect tenses. must: to express must in other tenses we have to revert to7 have to: can-could: each has only one form (though both can combine with not:
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to lack not have they dont conjugate fully 3 to be haunted be frequented by ghosts 4 pickpocket
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had better should, must to mug intimidate and rob 7 to revert to (in this context) use 8 nowadays these days 9 advice recommendations
mild weak though Can I...? or Could I...? are more frequent
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might: has only one form (though it can be combined with not: mightnt). Nowadays8 may and might are more or less interchangeable: e.g. He might arrive late tonight. e.g.Dont panic! it mightnt12 (= may not) be true. It may just be a rumour. Will is an important modal verb. As such it has only two forms will and wont /wount/. It is used to express the future tense, especially to express prediction. e.g. I think it will rain tomorrow. It also expresses willingness13: e.g. A: Will anybody help me? B: I will. Wont can express refusal14: e.g.The car wont start and Ian wont repair it. However, will is not a defective verb because it does conjugate fully: e.g. You have to do it because she wills15 it. e.g.We were willing16 our horse to win but telepathy wasnt enough that day at the races.
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The water must be very cold.
Semi-Modal Verbs
ought to: means more or less the same as should (obligation) and has only one form (though it can combine with not: oughtnt): e.g.You oughtnt to go out alone so late at night. used to: implies past habits and states. It has only one form and in other tenses we have to revert to7 the adverb usually: e.g. I used to eat meat but I dont any more. Notice that while dare17 and need are counted as semi-modal verbs because they can be used like modal verbs (e.g. You neednt come. Dare I say it?) they are not defective verbs because they have the full set of verbal forms: e.g. Dont you dare speak to me like that!
they are not really defective because to rain at least can be used metaphorically with other subjects: e.g.Janette really rained on his parade18, didnt she? e.g. Bombs were raining down on the city.
Impersonal Verbs
Some verbs are defective not because they lack1 tenses but because they can only be expressed in one person. The obvious examples are the verbs of precipitation: to rain and to snow. In their primary senses these verbs cannot be used with any other subject than it. However, there is a strong argument that
to will sth. want sth. to occur to will sth. want sth. so desperately that you try to influence it telepathically 17 to dare be brave enough to, have enough courage to
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Two more defective verbs are often added to the list. However, neither is common in everyday English: The first is quoth (= said). It is only found in the past tense and used almost always facetiously19. Normally the subject is placed after quoth (e.g. quoth she, quoth Brian). e.g.Come up to my laboratory and Ill show you my instruments, quoth he. The other archaic defective verb is to wit which only exists in the infinitive. It is a fixed expression and does not need to be considered as a verb. It means namely20: e.g.It happened around the time of the winter solstice, to wit on 21st December.
Related Resources
A
Archaic Additions
Its snowing. though might not or may not are much more frequent 13 willingness readiness, preparedness, disposition 14 refusal non-acceptance
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Is it useful to group these verbs in this way?
to rain on s.os parade ruin s.os plans facetiously flippantly, jokingly, in a way that is supposed to be clever and funny but is in fact silly and irritating 20 namely i.e. (id est), that is
Language | Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs and Euphony

Most discussion of phrasal verbs focuses on the meaning of the base verb or the particle. Sometime writers may even suggest how the combination of the base verb and the particle(s) leads logically to1 the meaning of the phrasal verb. In this article we are going to avoid2 meaning as an explanation of the form of phrasal verbs and look at an inferredsemantic factor: sound. Believe it or not there are around 284 phrasal verbs that display3 some sort of phonic repetition: allitero-assonance4: abide by5 alliteration6: wither away7 assonance8: suck up9 rhyme10: scout out11 pararhyme12: blurt out13 On the one hand, it is true that most of these phrasal verbs are a felicitous combination of sound and meaning. For instance14, to bandy about offers
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alliteration but it also implies ideas being knocked back and forth between people like a hockey ball.15 e.g.She called the brainstorming session to bandy some ideas about to see if they could come up with16 a slogan for the new product.
The aroma of samosas conjures up memories of my time in India.
Sound Before Meaning The Improbability of Figures of Sound

On the other hand, it should be pointed out that the repetition of sounds from the base verb in the particles of phrasal verbs is no simple coincidence. The 11 most important particles used in English phrasal verbs about, (a)round, away, back , down, in, off, on, out, over, up offer comparatively few sounds to repeat. Over half cannot alliterate because they begin with a vowel sound. None of these 11 particles can assonate with the many monosyllabic verbs whose vowel sound is /i:/ (e.g. keep, reach), /e/ (set, get, let, rest), /3:/ (e.g. turn, serve) or /u/ (e.g. look, push, put).17 Obviously, there is not enough room18 here to list and define nearly19 300 verbs, so Im going to concentrate on two groups. First, those verbs whose form I believe can be primarily explained in terms of euphony20. Secondly, those phrasal verbs whose figures of sound help you to pronounce them correctly.
subservient way rhyme the repetition of the consonant and vowel sounds at the end of a stressed syllable 11 to scout out explore, reconnoitre 12 pararhyme the repetition of the consonant sound at the end of a stressed syllable 13 to blurt out say without thinking, reveal 14 for instance for example 15 bandy was a primitive type of hockey; about often has the idea of moving around in the same place. 16 to come up with (come-came-come) invent, think up 17 because none of the 11 particles contain the vowel sounds /i:/, /e/, /3:/ or /u/.
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The meaning of component parts of these 10 phrasal verbs wont help you to understand what they mean. They exist primarily because of the figure of sound each contains: brush up21 [assonance] e.g.You need to brush up on your English before you go to Detroit. chip in22 [assonance] e.g.Feel free to chip in if you have something to say. cotton on23 [assonance] e.g. The dog cottoned on very quickly. crop up24 [ pararhyme] e.g.That expression cropped up earlier in the text. dawn on25 [ pararhyme] e.g.It finally dawned on him that she was the same woman hed seen on the train. drop off26 [assonance] e.g.You dropped off in the middle of the film again. drown out27 [assonance] e.g.His words were drowned out by the shouting.
room space nearly almost, just under 20 euphony sounding harmonious and correct 21 to brush up revise, read up, refresh ones memory of 22 to chip in interject, contribute an idea 23 to cotton on begin to understand. Notice that what is relevant in terms of sound is the -o- in the stressed syllable (cot-) not the unstressed syllable (-ton) 24 to crop up appear, pop up 25 to dawn on s.o. enter s.os consciousness 26 to drop off fall asleep (usually not in bed ) 27 to drown sth. out make sth. inaudible
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Bow down
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to lead to (lead-led-led) result in to avoid (in this context) ignore, not examine 3 to display exhibit 4 allitero-assonance the repetition of the consonant and vowel sounds at the beginning of a stressed syllable 5 abide by comply with, conform to, adhere to, act in accordance with, accept, respect 6 alliteration the repetition of the consonant sound at the beginning of a stressed syllable 7 to wither away become emaciated, shrivel, atrophy 8 assonance the repetition of the vowel sound in the stressed syllable 9 to suck up absorb using suction; act in a
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swan off39 e.g.I cant work with you if you are going to swan off without telling me. toughen up40 e.g.The idea of the boot camp41 is to toughen up the recruits42 before they are placed in harms way43. waffle on44 e.g.When he starts waffling on about his family I stop listening. wander off45 e.g.Dont wander off otherwise mummy will make you hold her hand and you know you dont like that. e.g. I was bowled over by their generosity. break away33 e.g.The Southern States tried to break away in the 1860s. conjure up34 e.g.The aroma of samosas conjures up memories of my time in India. cover up35 e.g.The Government tried to cover up the scandal. crowd (a)round36 e.g. They crowded round the platform. double up37 e.g.The kitchen doubles up as a dining room. lounge about38 e.g.Stop lounging about and go and look for a job.
to conjure up evoke, bring to mind to cover sth. up hide sth., keep sth. secret 36 to crowd (a)round congregate around 37 to double up function, have a dual purpose 38 to lounge around laze about, relax 39 to swan off leave in an irresponsible way, wander off 40 to toughen up harden, make s.o. more resilient 41 boot camp military training camp
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knock back 28 [ pararhyme] e.g.Shed knocked back three whiskies before Id finished my first drink. pop up29 [ pararhyme] e.g. His name keeps popping up. thumb through30 [alliteration] e.g.He thumbed through the magazine but didnt really read it.
Helpful Pararhyme
Knowing that these phrasal verbs offer pararhyme should help you to pronounce them correctly: laugh off46 e.g.He managed to laugh off her remark47 but I know it really hurt his pride. slough off48 e.g.These snakes slough off their old skin several times before reaching49 their mature size.
Related Resources
P Track 13
Helpful Assonance
Knowing that these phrasal verbs offer assonance should help you to pronounce them correctly: bow down31 e.g.You must bow down when you meet the Queen. bowl over32
to knock back swallow, gulp down, drink, finish 29 to pop up appear 30 to thumb through look through, peruse, leaf through 31 to bow down incline ones body/head, genuflect, kowtow 32 to bowl over knock down; surprise 33 to break away (break-broke-broken) become independent
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recruit new soldier in harms way in danger 44 to waffle on babble, talk incessantly 45 to wander off get lost, walk away 46 to laugh off make light of, pay no attention to, play down 47 remark comment 48 slough /slf/ off (of serpents) lose, cast off (skin) 49 to reach get to, arrive at
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Language | Idioms
Business Idioms Illustrated 1:
Money & Success

Money
e.g.Come on, people! This truck6 should have been loaded7 an hour ago. Time is money.
money-laundering To launder means to wash clothes either by hand or in a washing machine (as here). The verb is related to laundrette1. The idea here is that ill-gotten gains2 are dirty and so by laundering them they become clean, i.e. apparently legal. Of course, the process means that the sum is reduced, thats why the dollar sign is smaller in the last picture. Somebody who launders money is a money-launderer: e.g.Money-laundering is on the increase in that part of the world. e.g.The drugs cartels launder their revenue3 through a series of apparently legal small businesses like restaurants, dry cleaners and language schools. time is money = time is valuable, so one should do things as quickly and as efficiently as possible. T h e concept is ancient: in the 5th Century BCE 4 the Athenian orator Antiphon is recorded as saying The most costly outlay5 is time. The modern form of the expression dates from a speech by Benjamin Franklin made in 1748.
laundrette (UK English) laundromat (US English), shop where people take their dirty clothes and clean them using rented washing machines 2 ill-gotten gains money that has been illegally obtained 3 revenue earnings, income 4 BCE Before Common Era, before Christ 5 outlay expenditure, expenses, spending 6 truck lorry (UK English), commercial vehicle for transporting merchandise
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to balance the books = make sure that no more money is spent than is earned. Technically, accounting book s 17 must balance in that expenditure 18 plus debt must equal income19: e.g.Do you think well be able to balance the books this year?
(to do business) under the table [do-did-done] = do business in a dishonest or unethical way. The allusion is to poker. If you hold 8 your hand9 under the table you can cheat10 by substituting better cards11: e.g.They offered the senator money under the table if he would change his vote. chicken feed [uncountable] = an insignificant sum of money. US farmers12 found that they could ensure13 that there was meat and eggs throughout14 the long winter by feeding15 grain that was too poor for human consumption to chickens. From this idea came the use of chicken feed to denote something of inferior value, such as small coins: e.g.The bank has offered us an overdraft16 of $1000 but thats chicken feed compared to what we need.
to load fill up, pack, prepare to hold (hold-held-held) (in this context) have, keep 9 hand (in this context) group of five cards11 10 to cheat infringe the rules of the game 11 (playing) cards 12 farmer agriculturalist 13 to ensure guarantee 14 throughout during all of
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Success
to be riding (on the crest20 of ) a wave = to be at a very successful point, enjoy a period of good fortune. Presumably, surfers prefer the shorter version since21 it is more accurate22. However, the inclusion of the crest does add the idea that ones good fortune is precarious and not permanent: e.g.The band is riding the crest of the wave at the moment. Theyve never had this type of success before.
to feed grain to chickens (feed-fed-fed) give chickens grain as food overdraft line of credit 17 accounting book book in which expenditure and earnings are written down systematically 18 expenditure spending, expenses, outlay 19 income earnings, revenue 20 crest summit, peak, highest part, top 21 since (in this context) given that 22 accurate precise, exact
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miss the target/mark = fail to achieve23 ones goal. Although target is less ambiguous, mark alliterates with miss: e.g.The department missed its targets yet again24 this quarter25. e.g.The advertising campaign missed the mark and failed to generate a significant increase in sales. to miss the point = misunderstand. This allusion is basically the same but comes from shooting firearms at a target: e.g.All thats true but youre missing the point. We cant take advantage of this opportunity unless we obtain more capital from somewhere. to hit the bull26s eye [hit-hit-hit] = b e p r e cis e l y correct. Apparently, the black circle in the centre of a target is roughly27 the same size28 as a bulls eye. Notice that we do not call a small round window on a ship a bulls eye; its called a porthole.
to roll out the red carpet = treat s.o. like a VIP. e.g.In Britain hes nobody special but when he visited Houston they really rolled out the red carpet for him.
You should go with the flow = do what others are doing or agree with other people because its the easiest thing to do: e.g.Why dont you just32 relax and go with the flow for once33? to come up against a brick wall [come-came-come] = encounter an insurmountable34 problem that impedes ones progress: e.g.Weve come up against a brick wall. We cant get planning permission35 for the extension to our Birmingham factory.
A related expression is to get the red-carpet treatment [get-got-got] = be treated like a VIP. Both expressions come from the tradition of laying29 a red carpet for a royal visit: e.g.They gave the visiting ambassador the full red-carpet treatment. It isnt entirely clear what this drawing refers to. There are three options:
Related Resources
X
Pairwork: use each of the idioms once to tell your partner about your experience at work.
to paddle ones own canoe = be independent and self-sufficient e.g.After the death of his parents he had to learn to paddle his own canoe. to go against the flow30 [go-went-gone] = be a maverick 31; say or do the opposite of what most people are saying or doing: e.g.Bernie loves to go against the flow. It makes him feel hes a free-thinking individual.
to achieve accomplish, attain, get yet again (emphatic) again 25 this quarter during this three-month period 26 bull 27 roughly approximately, more or less 28 size dimensions 29 to lay sth. (lay-laid-laid) put
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sth. down, deploy sth. flow current, descending movement of water 31 maverick individualist, nonconformist 32 just (in this context) simply 33 for once for a change 34 insurmountable insuperable, overwhelming, hopeless 35 planning permission authorization to build
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Language | US vs. UK
Swallowing Idioms Whole

British and American English are converging. The British resist Americanisms less now than at any time since The Declaration of Independence (1776). Meanwhile, British English is having an unprecedented impact on US English. The reason is, of course, that speakers of the two varieties are communicating with each other more than ever before thanks to the new technologies. Even without the Internet, travel, movies and television have been exposing Britons and Americans to the others variety more and more. One result is that the list of terms that cause real confusion is getting shorter and shorter.1 Formally there are still around a thousand concepts that are expressed differently on the two sides of the North Atlantic. In fact, its more a question of active2 and passive vocabulary3. However, even this distinction is eroding. This is because there are terms in the other variety that we would never use as such but which we unconsciously use when they are embedded 4 in an idiom. For example, as a Briton I would never refer to a biscuit5 as a cookie. However, Im perfectly happy saying Thats the way the cookie crumbles6. Why? Well, for one thing7 when we use idioms we dont normally analyze them for their literal meaning. For another, the alliteration8 between cookie and crumbles is euphonic9.
in Think 144 we will look at some real examples of confusion. 2 active vocabulary words and expressions one uses in speech and writing 3 passive vocabulary words and expressions one understands when reading and listening but does not use 4 to embed implant, insert, place, immerse 5 biscuit (UK English) cookie (US English)
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The British Swallowing US Idioms

There are at least a dozen US expressions that British English has swallowed whole10: Britons have cupboards not closets. Even so, gay people in Britain come out of the closet11, just like12 their US cousins. In fact, to have a skeleton in ones closet 13 is gaining ground14 on to have a skeleton in ones cupboard in Britain, too. British people put petrol in their cars, never gas. However, you often
Road hog!
He has a skeleton in his closet!
hear the alliterative15 US term a gasguzzler 16 in Britain. In Britain pork and bacon come from pigs, not hogs. Despite this fact, we talk about a road hog17. A rhyming American expression we have adopted is to have ants18 in ones pants19. However, the expression in the UK is much more unpleasant since 20 whereas the US idiom suggests that the insects have invaded ones trousers21, in Britain we imagine them in the persons underwear22. Police officers are called many things in Britain including coppers. However, we never refer to the Old Bill23 as cops, a term that implies American law-enforcers24. Despite this, the need to rhyme has lured25 us into coining26 the term a cop shop to refer to a police station.
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thats the way the cookie crumbles thats what the situation is, thats exactly what one would expect to occur 7 for one thing to start with, to begin with 8 alliteration repetition of the consonant sound at the beginning of stressed syllables 9 euphonic pleasing to the ear, that sounds nice 10 to swallow whole devour without chewing (= masticating), (in this context) adopt without making any changes 11 to come out of the closet (come-came-come) publicly accept ones homosexuality 12 just like exactly the same as 13 to have a skeleton in the closet (have-hadhad) have an embarrassing secret that you dont want to be revealed 14 ground (literally) terrain 15 alliterative that exhibits alliteration8 16 gas-guzzler vehicle that uses gasoline very
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inefficiently road hog s.o. who drives as if the public highway was his (or her) private road, s.o. who drives badly and egotistically 18 ant 19 to have ants in ones pants (have-had-had) be nervous 20 since (in this context) given that 21 trousers (UK English) pants (US English) 22 underwear pants (UK English), underpants 23 the Old Bill (UK English) the police 24 law-enforcers police officers 25 to lure tempt 26 to coin invent (a word or phrase) Think in English Issue 143
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In the UK dumb means mute27, not stupid as it does in the States. Nevertheless, we have been quite happy to adopt the phrase verb to dumb down28 (because of the alliteration). An Englishman will never call his back garden a back yard. But we are happy to use the US acronym Nimby 29, even though it stands for30 Not in my back yard. One of the first things a British EFL31 teacher will tell you is that gotten is American. If and when that happens ask said32 teacher why he or she is happy to use the expression illgotten gains33. In the UK we talk about a rucksack34, not a backpack (US English). So, what do the British call people who carry rucksacks? Backpackers35 of course! The terms rucksacker and knapsacker dont exist.
Finally, to bathe means to take a bath in the USA, not to swim in the sea (UK English). Nonetheless, Americans will still refer to a bathing suit even though very few of them wear one in the bathtub42.
Two-Way Traffic: Money

The British dont use the dollar. This hasnt stopped us adopting the expression you can bet your bottom dollar 43; presumably the temptation of consonance44 and assonance45 was just46 too great. By contrast in the USA there are only dollars and cents... except in the world of idioms. Americans will talk of turning an honest penny47 and say that something cost a pretty penny48 (because of their pararhyme 49 and alliteration8, respectively).
Backpackers
Two-Way Traffic: Shops

You should be aware of50 the dichotomy between US store and UK shop. So, for instance51, we Brits would always talk about a sweet shop, never a candy store. Even so, presumably because of the alliteration, we use the simile, like a kid in a candy store52. We also adopted the term a convenience store to refer to a shop that is open late. Meanwhile, it may come as some surprise that somebody who steals from a store in the USA is called a shoplifter (as in Britain).
Related Resources
L
UK Terms in the USA

The traffic in invasive idioms is not all oneway, though. Americans also happily use British words in expressions.
Photo by Ixnayonthetimmay
Jawbreakers/gobstoppers mute not able to speak to dumb down present information in the simplest way possible so that everyone can understand it and nobody has to make an effort to think 29 nimby hypocrite who supports the construction of an unpopular facility (e.g. a nuclear power station) except when it will affect where s/he lives 30 to stand for (stand-stood-stood) represent 31 EFL English as a foreign language 32 said (in this context) the, this 33 ill-gotten gains money that has been earned dishonestly 34 rucksack 35 backpackers
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Americans never adopted the (now dated36) British term the flicks to refer to the movies. However, they will talk about a chick flick 37, simply because it rhymes. As you know motion pictures in the US are called movies... except in the alliterative8 expression a feature film38. Ask an American what comes out of a faucet 39 and they will answer tap-water. British slang offers you the word gob40. Americans never refer to their mouths in this way. However, they do use the term a gobstopper41 to refer to a specific sweet I mean candy.
dated old-fashioned chick flick movie specifically for women (i.e. a romantic film) 38 feature film movie that lasts 90+ minutes 39 faucet (US English) tap (UK English) 40 gob (UK slang) mouth 41 gobstopper very hard big spherical sweet, jawbreaker (US English alternative) 42 bathtub 43 you can bet ones bottom dollar (bet-bet-bet) you can be absolutely certain 44 (full) consonance the repetition of the consonants at the
36 37
What was the last thing you bought that cost a pretty penny?
beginning and end of the stressed syllables (here bet bot tom) 45 assonance repetition of the vowel sound at the beginning of stressed syllables (here bottom dollar) 46 just (in this context) simply 47 to turn an honest penny earn a living in an honest and honourable way 48 to cost a pretty penny (cost-cost-cost) be very expensive 49 pararhyme repetition of the consonant sound at the end of stressed syllables (here honest penny) 50 to be aware of be conscious of 51 for instance for example 52 like a kid in a candy store overwhelmed (= so impressed that you cannot act) by the variety on offer
Language | Names
Most maps of the world illustrate the political boundaries1 between nation states. The names of countries generally pose2 few problems for EFL3 learners. However, underneath the artificial national divisions there exists the natural world and the names of supranational areas. 50 non-political toponyms4 are illustrated on these two pages.
Non-Political Place Names

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Hudson Bay 1 The Great Lakes 2 The Prairies5...............................................................................................3 The Eastern Seaboard..........................................................................4 The Rocky Mountains...........................................................................5 Central America.......................................................................................6 The Bermuda Triangle..........................................................................7 The Gulf of Mexico.................................................................................8 The Caribbean Sea.................................................................................9 The West Indies...................................................................................... 10 The Andes (Mountains)......................................................................11 The Amazon Basin6..............................................................................12 The Southern Cone..............................................................................13 Cape Horn7 14 The Tropics 15 The Tropic of Cancer 16 The Equator 17 The Tropic of Capricorn 18 Scandinavia 19 The Balkans20 Eurasia 21 The Sahara Desert22 The Middle East23 The Fertile Crescent24 The Gulf of Guinea25 Sub-Saharan Africa26 The Horn8 of Africa27 The Cape of Good Hope28 Arabia29 The Steppes30 Siberia 31 The Gobi Desert32 Tibet33 The Himalaya Mountains34 Southeast Asia35
38
39
boundary border, frontier to pose present, create 3 EFL English as a foreign language 4 toponym place name 5 prairie area of treeless grassy plains (similar to pampas, steppes and savannah) 6 basin (in this context) area
1 2
affected by a river the Cape was named after Hoorn in Northern Holland, the birthplace of Dutch navigator William C. Schouten (c. 1580-1625) who discovered it in 1616. The name is not related to horn8. 8 horn
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43 42 22 44 15 16 17 18
48
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37
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The Indian Subcontinent 36 Southeast Asia (The East Indies) 37 Australasia 38 The Roaring Forties9 39 The Arctic Ocean 40 The Atlantic Ocean 41 The Mediterranean Sea 42 The Black Sea 43 The Caspian Sea 44
The Arabian Sea 45 The Indian Ocean 46 The Bay of Bengal 47 The South China Sea 48 The Pacific Ocean 49 The Southern Ocean 50
9
stormy ocean tracts between latitudes 40 and 50 South, characterized by violent westerly winds
Related Resources
I
Which of these places would you most like to see?
Language | Signs
Error Detectives:
Ambiguity in Native Signs

1. Kontrol CRAWLING4 INSECT KILLER5 2. DRY FLY & WASP6 KILLER7 3. Oyster pay as you go users must touch in8 4. Formulated with Hyaluronan to Moisturize9 Nose and Dry Skin10
Over the years weve criticized many signs abroad1 written in broken English2. However, signs that are badly written by native speakers are much more censurable. Here are four examples. Before looking at the notes, try to work out3 whats wrong and how they could be improved:
Photo by Robbie K. Jones
abroad in foreign countries broken English imperfect English as used by some non-native speakers 3 to work out determine, deduce 4 crawling scuttling, that run on four or more legs 5 some ambiguity: is this an insecticide that crawls or an insecticide for insects that crawl 6 wasp /wosp/
1 2
very ambiguous: it reads like the insecticide kills dry flies (whatever they are) and wasps 8 this is an impenetrable sentence unless you have a detailed knowledge of Londons transport culture. To begin to understand it you have to know that an Oyster card is a type of debit card for public transport. To pay your fare (= the cost of travelling) you have to swipe (= pass) the card in front of a sensor, which deducts the money from the card. 9 to moisturize dampen, make humid
7
40
1. Kontrol crawling-insect11 killer 2. Dry fly-and-wasp killer 3. Oyster pay-as-you-go12 users must touch in 4. Formulated with Hyaluronan, it moisturizes nose and dry skin
Related Resources
Which of these signs is genuinely confusing for you and which are just formally ambiguous?
Suggested Answers
ambiguous: does Ocean Gel moisturize your nose and dry your skin? Moreover, there is no reason for capitalizing (= writing in CAPITAL letters) the initial letters of the words in the second line. 11 crawling-insect (adj.) relating to insects that cannot fly (e.g. ants, cockroaches, etc.) 12 pay-as-you-go (mobile phone, Oyster card ) pre-paid, referring to a type of debit card through which you pay for a service before you use it and money is deducted in accordance with how much you use it
10
Test how well you have retained the vocabulary from this issue of think by doing the following crossword: If you find the crossword difficult, do the easy clues (in red) first. This will make the rest of the words much easier to find.
Crossword
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 00 8 9 10 00 15 00 00 30 37 00 46 52 55 47 00 00 53 00 00 00 00 00 77 00 78 00 00 00 00 73 66 74 00 81 82 67 00 61 68 69 75 00 83 00 00 62 00 00 79 41 00 26 31 00 42 48 00 49 00 56 32 00 00 23 00 16 24 27 33 38 43 50 00 57 63 70 00 80 00 58 00 71 76 54 00 64 72 28 34 00 44 51 00 59 00 00 39 00 35 40 45 00 00 60 65 17 11 18 00 19 00 20 12 00 25 00 36 21 00 00 00 29 13 22 14
1. faulty; type of incomplete verb 2. just deserts, retribution 3. daggers 4. therefore. Homophone of sew 5. unassailable, well fortified 6. the choice is open 7. zero in football 8. male offspring. Homophone of sun 9. same as 25 ACROSS 10. lament, deplore 13. insatiability, greed 14. same as 11 ACROSS 15. observed. Homophone of scene 17. (adj.) covering the entire surface 19. not available; no answer (initialism) 20. cultural, relating to a specific culture
Down
23. complain, groan 26. internet address for 29 ACROSS 28. significant other, romantic partner 29. the goggle box, the boob tube 30. possessive adjective 32. same as 32 ACROSS 34. preposition finished? 36. improve, enrich 37. large town 42. stress 44. top, stopper, cover 46. capable. Homophone of Abel 49. for example (Latin initialism) 51. primitive mind 53. sight; apparition 56. land visited by Dorothy. Australia 57. multitude of flying insects 58. female chicken
59. nitrogen and oxygen. Homophone of heir 60. pinnacle of rock, escarpment 61. propel with ones finger; movie 62. menagerie 63. pleasantly hot 64. was/were dressed in. Homophone of war 65. piece of cloth 67. genetically modified (initialism) 68. clean/taste with ones tongue; beat (US English) 69. same as 11 ACROSS 70. human upper limb 71. firearm 72. metal in rock. Homophone of 25 ACROSS 73. lair. Anagram of end 74. same as 11 ACROSS 78. Egyptian sun god 79. same as 23 ACROSS
1. (adj.) squalid and poverty-stricken like parts of Victorian London 8. weep. US acronymic insult 11. preposition activated? 12. theyll eat anything 16. widespread hunger 18. personal pronoun; underground bomb 21. structure from which high-voltage cables are hung 22. same as 11 ACROSS 23. object pronoun 24. US lift 25. conjunction 26. digit of the foot. Homophone of tow 27. hint 29. Far Eastern island country 31. pale, pallid 32. indefinite article 33. summits; maximum. Anagram of spot 35. forsake, fail to look after 38. intravenous pyelogram (abbreviation) 39. eastern Scandinavian 40. tavern 41. catalogue, register 43. meat from calves. Anagram of vale 45. wooden skiing-holiday home 47. allow, permit 48. snake-like fish 50. electronic random number indicator equipment (acronym) 51. that is (Latin initialism) 52. antibody; about (abbreviation) 53. competing 54. compact disc (initialism) 55. Dutch internet address 57. subject pronoun 58. subject pronoun 59. entrance, entry, admission 61. effervescence, sparkle. Homophone of Phiz 63. subject pronoun 64. cable telegram! 66. Inuit structure made of ice 68. toilet 70. type of Turkish cat, goat or rabbit 73. black rectangular block with white dots on it 76. ancient Mesopotamian city 77. environmental; inexperienced 80. means of exchange; currency 81. slide over ice 82. Catherine 83. consumed food. Homophone of eight
Across
think 142 solutions

F A M I N E A B O N U S R A M EW I A E I N D S E N WE D H I S H F I T E M D O I D E C L I E O K R S N A R C H S U A E H O P K E E N T E R O R K A T D S I S K A M I A D R Y N E A G H P R E O D U G E P E S C L O E A I K B S B L A S A D A N R M A A P S R O L A B E S R C H A Z E C E S K M E A C T C C O H D A O I L R R O E L S E S C H O O L S W
Miscellany
Picture Description
19
Picture Description
Try to describe the two photographs on this page. First, for each picture, describe what you can see and what the people are doing. Remember to describe posture, faces, colours, textures and materials. Mention similarities and contrasts between the two photos. Finally, comment on your personal reaction to what you can see. How do you let your hair down1? When you have finished, listen to the model version on the CD (track 19) and try to follow what the nativespeaker is describing. Finally, read through the tapescript for the recording (on p. 50) while2 you listen again. Remember there is a largetype3 version to download at www.thinkinenglish.net. Write down any new words or expressions you have come across4.
track
Photo by Irene Sanz
Related Resources
Track 19
to let ones hair down relax while at the same time as large-type in big letters 4 to come across (come-came-come) encounter
1 2 3
Photo by Mario Herrera
42
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Pronunciation Symbols Key

Here are the symbols we use in this magazine to help your pronunciation:
Consonants
// church (a CH sound) // wash, sure (a SH sound) // judge // vision, measure /j/ yes, yellow // thick, path // the, this, breathe // sing
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Pure Vowels
/o/ hot /a/ cat / / cut, some, couple /o:/ court, taught, warn // occur, aroma, supply
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Diphthongs
/ou/ oboe, know, broke /oi/ toy, soil /i/ ear, here /e/ air, there
Download an illustrated version with larger type at www.thinkinenglish.net

Debate: The Roots1 of Hunger 2 (17m29s) 1. Part 1: What is Famine3? (2m58s) Commentary: Listen to the following debate about famine3. Northern Irishman (NI): So, I understand weve just4 reached seven billion people on planet Earth. Englishman (EM): Yeah, last November, right? NI: Thats right an but we understand that about a billion of those people are suffer from hunger2, not in the state of famine3 but dont get enough to eat on a day-to-day basis or are in danger of starving to death5. Why do you think that is? What do you believe are the causes of hunger2? EM: Well, I have a bit of a problem with that sort6 of statistic. I get suspicious7 by a figure 8 like a billion. Theres obviously NI: Its too round9? EM: Yeah. And its also hunger2 as such is a very elastic a very elastic concept. I mean10 I think obviously theres a big problem. Far too many11 people have far too little12. But I dont particularly like the statistic. I think it would be wrong to get lost in that problem, but I find that slightly13 suspect. NI: I think the statistic I think comes from recently Ive been been studying Brazil and one of the big things about Lulas political plan when he came into power was that children should have should have one good meal every day, should eat once every day. And I think yknow14 this is difficult for us to imagine but there are people out there who who may not be starving to death5 but they dont eat every day. And yknow14 I think we can say that those people are hungry people and thats too little food to live on, to thrive15 on. Scotsman (SM): I mean10, its difficult as well16. We also judge it from a Western point-of-view where were used to17 having three good meals a day. And so were judging everything from overeating18 and it is very difficult to define hunger2. I mean10, famine 3, as far as I see it19, is related to poverty20. I mean10, poverty and famine 3 go together 21. And thats also related to a lack of capacity22 to travel, to change roles or to change place, a lack of23 education and a lack of23 human rights. I mean10, they all go together. And hunger2 is actually24 the tip of the iceberg. I mean10, were talking about its the final result of an unviable political structure, of problems with communications or infrastructure in a country and national and international situations. I mean10, the hunger2
roots (in this context) origins, causes hunger a lack of23 food, need for food, starvation, famine, malnutrition, inanition 3 famine scarcity of food resulting in widespread hunger, food shortages causing deprivation, malnutrition and death 4 just (in this context) recently 5 to starve to death die of malnutrition and/or hunger 6 sort type, kind 7 to get suspicious (get-got-got) become sceptical and disbelieving 8 figure (in this context) number, statistic 9 round (in this context) approximate 10 I mean ( pause filler) yknow, like, well, sort of, kind of 11 far too many (emphatic) many too many 12 far too little (emphatic) much too little 13 slightly a little 14 yknow ( pause filler) like, kind of, sort of, I mean 15 to thrive prosper, flourish, do well 16 as well too, also 17 to be used to be accustomed to 18 overeating consuming too much food 19 as far as I see it in my opinion 20 poverty penury, destitution, indigence, privation, need, hardship 21 to go together (go-went-gone) (in this context) occur simultaneously 22 lack of capacity (in this context) inability
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Tapescripts 143
Think 143 | Tapescripts

is kind of25 the final part of that huge26 process. So, trying to solve it is ridiculous if youre not kind of25 tackling27 the whole world and how it s set up28. 2. Part 2: Local Governments (1m37s) NI: I sort of29 tend to think I mean10, clearly poverty and famine 3 go hand-in-hand 30, but more often than not what goes hand-in-hand with famine 3 is either war or some disastrous government management of a particular zone of the world. South African Woman (SW ): I think quite often the springboard for 31 the famine 3 is a natural disaster that is extremely badly handled32 by the government who should be handling a situation in a given country. EM: But really were just33 talking about a government or institutions in a particular area having enough slack 34 to be able to cope with35 a crisis. If people are at the limit or a significant part of the population is at the limit anything can tip them over36, cant it really? SW: Yes, but there are there are documented cases of governments that have prevented 37 help from getting to areas that need help. There are historically, there are governments that have allowed 38 famine 3 to happen to entire nations deliberately. And the failure 39 of a crop40 or a season41s failure in many instances 42 could have been overcome43 by good management 44 of other resources 45. 3. Part 3: The Media & NGOs (2m16s) SM: Sorry, I think theres another danger here that we often relate famine 3 to moments of crisis. So when theres a natural disaster or war everyone talks about famine3. Every now and again46 itll come into the press, 94 in Ethiopia or this year in Somalia, they talk about the famine3. In many of these places famine is something chronic. Its not something that suddenly47 appears or goes away. Its something that the press picks up on48 every now and again46 to make a big story about. And normally when the story comes out 49 in the press the worst part of the famine3 is already finished. American man (AM): Isnt this where the role of the NGOs50 comes in? I mean10, shouldnt these types of organizations, in addition to sovereign countries51, but specifically the NGOs50 that are tasked with 52 dealing with 53 these types of programs problems, sorry, arent they the ones that should be following this, the day to day, and doing some sort6 of preventative or taking some sort6 of preventative measures? SM: I mean10, the big problem is that NGOs 50 are are generally Western-based organization
a lack of (in this context) deficient, insufficient actually (false friend ) in fact, really kind of ( pause filler) sort of, yknow, like, well, I mean 26 huge enormous, gigantic, great 27 to tackle try to solve 28 to be set up (in this context) be structured 29 sort of ( pause filler) yknow, like, well, I mean, kind of 30 to go hand-in-hand occur together 31 springboard for origin of, cause of 32 to handle tackle, try to solve 33 just (in this context) only 34 slack excess capacity 35 to cope with deal with, solve 36 to tip s.o. over hurl s.o. into the abyss, push s.o. into crisis 37 to prevent stop 38 to allow permit 39 failure non-success, inadequate production 40 crop harvest, produce, agricultural production 41 season time of the year when crops grow 42 in many instances in many cases, on many occasions 43 to overcome (-come/-came/-come) (in this context) control, solve 44 management (in this context) supervision, organization 45 resources assets, useful things 46 every now and again occasionally 47 suddenly quickly and unexpectedly 48 to pick up on notice, report on
23 24 25
and Erich Wiedermann came out with54 a great quote55 saying that Western therapy for Africa is like giving poison56 to a sick man; or a chocolate to a diabetic. So, its saying that NGOs50 arent solving the problem and, in fact, a lot of the time theyre maintaining the problem. So, by sending help to countries, theyre helping maintain the governments and corruption and the terrible infrastructure in place. NI: I think because more often than not the NGOs50 to operate have to operate hand-in-hand with57 whatever government is ruling58 in that particular place. SM: To a certain extent 59. And also NGOs50 are used very often to appease 60 peoples uneasy61 feelings of guilt 62. So, when they hear about hunger2 people want to do something, well, not too much but just enough to make them feel better. And, so, NGOs50 are responding to those needs. And everyone if theres hunger2 everyone thinks of sending food. I mean10, I remember as a child every time I didnt finish my meal I remember my parents saying yknow14 Think of those starving 63 children in Ethiopia. My argument would be, Well, send them the food. 4. Part 4: Europe & Africa (3m43s) EM: Yeah, I wanted to pick up on that, this idea of Western guilt62 etc. I mean10, are they two sides to the same coin 64? Do people starve5 in developing countries because we eat too much? Because our big food problem is not putting on 65 too much weight and other developed problems like bulimia and anorexia and other types of eating disorders that just 66 yknow14 obviously other people wouldnt even dream about. Or are we in different worlds in a very real sense? NI: I think theres definitely a relationship between what we do and what happens elsewhere on Earth. I think probably one of the biggest things that has most impacted Africa, for example, is, in terms of politics in another part of the world or how we live affecting them, the Common Agricultural Policy67 in Europe, for example, subsidizes the production of food. And a lot of farmers in Europe have made their money from the subsidies, made some more money from selling their goods 68 and then with a profit made and a quota filled they have a lot of surplus 69 food which they sell into Africa at prices that are way below70 market, thus71, destroying the local market. EM: Thus speaks the thus spake72 the UK Independence Party! SW: There is NI: This is something I believe that has had a very bad effect on Africa, goods68 coming in below cost. SW: Theres another there is another point
to come out (come-came-come) appear, emerge NGOs non-governmental organizations sovereign country independent nation 52 to be tasked with (US English) be responsible for 53 to deal with (deal-dealt-dealt) try to solve, tackle 54 to come out with (come-came-come) express 55 quote (n.) quotation, memorable declaration 56 poison venom, a toxic substance 57 hand-in-hand with in collaboration with 58 to rule govern, administer 59 to a certain extent to some degree, in part 60 to appease placate, satisfy 61 uneasy perturbing, alarming 62 guilt bad conscience, remorse, culpability 63 starving hungry, malnourished 64 coin (in this context) problem, (literally) 65 not putting on trying not to gain 66 just (in this context) simply 67 Common Agricultural Policy European Union agricultural administration 68 goods products, (in this context) produce 69 surplus excess 70 way below far below, much lower than 71 thus (formal ) in this way 72 spake (archaic) spoke, quoth
49 51 50
Tapescripts | Think 143

that must that I think must be brought up73 in relation to how we affect what might happen in, specifically, Africa. A lot of people in African countries are encouraged74 by European powers to grow cash crops75, things like cashew nuts76, tea and coffee, which those crops are not useful to the country itself as food. But the best land is given over to cash crops75 in exchange for money, which means that the population is not growing the usual subsistence crop that he might have done if Europe wasnt asking for cashew nuts76. Then in a time of low rainfall the land that is set aside77 for local use is completely useless. The best land has been used for a cash crop75 that may or may not fail, but there is nothing left for the local small-time farmer to grow. NI: And the investment 78 in the forms of food production in terms of using best practices for producing those crops 40. It doesnt advance. Theres no incentive to farm the best land. Theres no and exactly, those are influences that come from outside that impact the whole large parts79 of Africa. SW: Furthermore80, usually those cash crops75 are rainfall dependent and, therefore 81, if there is no rain, there is no crop40, there is no money for the crop and there has been no subsistence farming either. So, hunger2 is an inevitable result. 5. Part 5: The USA & Famine3 (0m42s) SM: We also have to think that famine3 itself is a great business. For example, in the case of Ethiopia, 70% of Ethiopian aid comes from the US and according to US law all food-aid money must be spent on food grown in the US and at least half of it must be packed in the US and the majority of it must be transported in US ships. And so basically famine3 in Ethiopia is supporting 82 all the farms in Oklahoma and keeping the agricultural business in the States alive. So, famine3 is wonderful for the developed countries in a lot of ways. 6. Part 6: Famine3 & Democracy (2m35s) EM: When you when we think about the major83 famines3, for example, Russia in the 1930s or China in the late 1950s I think it was, the current 84 type of situation in North Korea, you mentioned earlier Ethiopia in 1984. It seems to be almost necessarily under undemocratic regimes. Is democracy a solution to famine3? Would it be much more useful for these people to promote or to help those elements in that society that believed in democracy than to worry about sending them food thats been grown in Oklahoma? AM: I think it might be slightly13 easier but I think the real problem is the amount 85 of corruption. I mean10 you have corruption in any type of government, whether86 its autocratic or a democracy. NI: Still, its difficult to imagine a democratic government surviving long if people are starving to death in that country. SM: Well NI: And I think I find it difficult to think of a country with what I would call a good government or
to bring sth. up (bring-brought-brought) mention to encourage urge, stimulate cash crops agricultural products for export 76 cashew nuts an edible dried fruit from the Anacardium occidentale tree 77 to set aside (set-set-set) assign, allot 78 investment spending money on things that should increase production and efficiency 79 large parts major extensions 80 furthermore whats more, besides 81 therefore thus, for this reason 82 to support (in this context) sustain, help 83 major (adj.) most important 84 current present 85 amount (in this context) level 86 whether (in this context) irrespective of whether ( if) 87 large (false friend ) big
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Do you feel responsible for hunger in the Third World? How would you solve it?
AM: Ive seen recently I dont mean to cut you off103, but talking on the same subject104, that a lot of work has been done on specific draughtresistant105 crops 40 and little by little theyre I think the education of the farmers in Africa will help to improve the 8. Part 8: False Solutions (1m25s) SM: Yeah, there are a lot of other interests. In 2002 the US government tried to donate a lot of genetically-modified grain to Zambia claiming106 that this would grow better in their terrain. The Zambian government refused to accept the grain claiming106 that it was yknow14 it would be dangerous, it could cause problems. And so the American government used that as an excuse to attack them, saying how this government was not helping their people and blamed107 them for everything and cancelled aid going to that country. You have so many international interests combined with the national interests. I mean10, with the corruption in the country, the corruption is sustained by international interests. Its very difficult to see a solution. So, I mean10 yeah, I mean Africa a lot of people say, Yeah, leave Africa to the Africans. I mean10 but you do have108 this kind109 of arrogance of the West. You see it in the NGOs 50. The people that go there always think they have the solution, they can save the world, they can make things better. Western governments believe that they have the solution, that they know what the African government should do. And history repeats itself. Its not in the rich countries interests that poor countries get richer cos110 that means that we have less power. Interview with George Harper: Part 1 (15m13s) 9. Who Is George Harper? (4m08s) Think in English ( T): What I thought would be a good thing to start with is for those people that dont know who you are how would you describe yourself? Who is George Harper? George Harper (GH): Nathan, George Harper is a guy that was born in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up111 there and I put a guitar in my hands for the first time when I was about 12 and never really ever took it out. Ive always played and just like112 a thousand other guys or ten thousand guys in Nashville I mean10, everybody in Nashville was born with a guitar in their hand and its nothing special there. And youve gotta113 be humble114 in Nashville because if you start thinking that youre the best or that youre good even, theres115 a lot of guys116 following you thatll show you just117 how good you really are. Th: Yeah. GH: And Ive been able to make friends in the music business, not necessarily in the music industry end of it but in the music musicians end of it. Ive been able to Ive had the fortunate opportunity to be invited and get to play in jams118 with some yknow14 very special people. Ive played
quantity of water is provided directly to each plant continuously to cut s.o. off (cut-cut-cut) interrupt s.o. subject theme, question, matter 105 draught-resistant that can survive even if it doesnt rain 106 to claim declare, state, say 107 to blame s.o. hold s.o. responsible, condemn s.o. 108 do have (emphatic) have 109 kind sort, type 110 cos (slang) because 111 to grow up (grow-grew-grown) mature, become an adult 112 just like the same as 113 gotta (slang) got to 114 humble modest, meek, self-deprecating 115 theres (informal ) there are 116 guys (US informal ) people 117 just (in this context) exactly 118 jam (in this context) improvised performance
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an open democratic system where theres also famine3. Im sure theres a case but I cant think of any large 87 ones off the top of my head 88. SM: It all depends how a democracy is classified I guess 89. Yeah, well, certainly the big famine 3 theory by Amartya Sen is based on democracy. So, the lack of90 democracy is one of the major causes of famine3. EM: Well, I mean10 democracy in the wide sense in terms of the rule of law91 as well16. SM: Yeah. Well, youve got other people youve got Rubin is arguing always that democracy actually24 doesnt help in cases of famine 3 because democracy causes a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy. So, for getting aid to certain places, its slowing down the process. NI: No, I dont think its going to help in the moment, but I think its gonna92 help in prevention yknow14 something over the long term93. SM: Yeah, I mean10 I think if democracy NI: Things in democracies dont happen fast. SM: Yeah, if democracy is linked to 94 improved human rights, if you improve communication and infrastructure, then, yeah, in the long term there will be an improved EM: And the focus on the fact that the individual is important perhaps. SM: Yeah, certainly education is one of the key factors here. I mean10, if people are educated that gives them more possibilities, more mobility. They can move away. 7. Part 7: Solutions (2m13s) EM: OK. If corn 95 grown in Oklahoma is the people were attacking, isnt it? Oklahoma if corn grown in Oklahoma is not the solution, what is? Is it micro-loans96, for example? Is that would that solve this problem permanently? SM: Without education theyre useless. NI: I dont think theres any theres no single fix97. I think theres a whole raft98 of things that are required and the point I made before about the internal markets in Africa being destroyed by cheap imports from Europe is certainly a major one. The other thing is, well, what do you dedicate the land to? How do you use it? What are the priorities? Obviously it shouldnt be cashew nuts76. It should be things that are more dedicated to yknow14 things like cereal crops 40 that are important for survival, for subsistence. And after that then youve got to bring in education and so forth99 and best practices in agricultural production. At the moment because theres no market, because things are focused on the wrong types of crops 40 the methods that are being used to farm are completely insufficient for the purpose. So, it starts with correct policies100 outside and then education, I suppose, and the importation of knowledge and technology. There are someone pointed out101 that a lot of the problems could be solved by using the sort6 of drip irrigation102 that we see in Southeast Spain or in other parts of the sort of29 Mediterranean area is a good way of producing a lot of food using very little water.
off the top of ones head without having to think about it I guess I suppose lack of absence of 91 the rule of law situation in which the judicial system treats everyone equally 92 gonna (slang) going to 93 over the long term in the long run, over the years 94 to be linked to be connected to, be associated with 95 corn cereal, grain 96 micro-loans credit provided to poor people in very small sums 97 fix (in this context) solution 98 raft (in this context) series, combination 99 and so forth and so on, et cetera 100 policies programmes, plans, strategies 101 to point out mention, indicate 102 drip irrigation type of irrigation by which a very small
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T Scruggs until the Beatles came out132. And when the Beatles came out everything else stopped. And from then on133 it was rock and roll in our house. And it wasnt until I became an adult that I started realizing134 the beauty back of that bluegrass135 and roots136 sound. And it wasnt until I was in my probably I was in my 40s when I decided that thats what I wanna137 to do. And I wanna137 put down the big amplifiers and I dont wanna137 haul138 that heavy stuff139 and I wanna137 bring a guitar and a small P.A.140 and thats what I wanna137 do and I dont want all those loud drums141 and I dont wanna137 hurt142 peoples ears. I wanna137 I wanna137 do something pleasant, more pleasant, and easier to listen to, which I think acoustic music offers, yeah. Th: How would you describe your music now? I mean10, I guess89 you could describe it as Americana, bluegrass, country. But from what Ive heard of your Ill Be Back album and the No Smokin in Here album is the wide143 variety of influences from rock to country to bluegrass and Americana. How would you yourself describe the type of music that you play? GH: Man yknow14 when I write songs sometimes Im in the mood144 to write I wont never know until I start to write it, but sometimes I come up with145 a bluegrass jig146 or a rock-and-roll ditty147 or a country idea and if I start to strum148 and have a chord progression that I like it doesnt matter to me what it sounds like. To me good music is good music. I had just as soon149 sit and listen to an orchestra as I had listened to Led Zeppelin or go over here150 and listen to The Grascals or go over here and listen to Vince Gill. If its good its good and I try I try not to write anything that I dont like. And I feel that if I like it somebody else is gonna92 like it. Th: Sure. GH: Theres theres115 a lot of songs that Ive started and itll be middle-of-the-road151 and mediocre and nothing special and I will lay it down152 and wait for something else that comes along that has more of maybe more of a catchy153 melody, catchy chord progression, catchy chorus. Yknow14, as long as154 its a catchy something that draws people in155, it doesnt matter to me what genre it fits in156. So, therefore 81, I would say that what I do is Americana because it definitely includes blues, rock and roll, bluegrass, country easy-listening. Th: But its not something youre thinking about before you write the song? GH: No, Im not conscious about it. No, Im just33 trying to do something original and when I come up with145 something that I think is a little bit different than anything else Ive heard, then Ill expand on157 it, Ill keep158 writin on it. It might take me five years to finish a song. I might set it down159 and pick it up160 and, case in point161,
traditionally performed on acoustic stringed instruments roots American folk music wanna (slang) want to 138 to haul lug, drag, carry 139 that heavy stuff those heavy things 140 P.A. public-address system, combination of microphones, amplifier and loud speakers 141 drums 142 to hurt (hurt-hurt-hurt) harm, damage 143 wide ample, extensive 144 in the mood in an appropriate mental state 145 to come up with (comecame-come) (in this context) compose 146 jig (in this context) song, melody 147 ditty (informal ) song 148 to strum play a guitar by moving ones fingers up and down across the strings (as opposed to plucking individual strings) 149 I had just as soon (dialect) Id rather, Id prefer to 150 to go over here (go-went-gone) (in this context) change
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I had this No Smokin in Here record on my mind and theres theres115 a couple of songs on there that I started a couple years ago. One of them I started five years ago. And right at the last minute I decided, well, youve gotta113 get up off162 the couch163 and finish these songs. And so one of them is the end of the record and its You Better Think. And its probably my favorite song on the record. Its finally a song that maybe tells a story about something that we need to be doin164 instead of165 something thats just33 mush166 and about a woman or about a relationship. Its about something that we all need to be doin and thats thinking about thinking about our future. 11. No Smokin in Here (4m29s) Th: Thats one of my favorite songs on that CD, also the title track is a very beautiful song, No Smoking in Here. Is there some sort6 of personal story behind that? Is that GH: Well, yeah, and the title, Nathan, just 66 to correct you its No Smokin Th: Without the g. GH: Without the g. Th: No smokin. GH: No Smokin in Here and its really a song about growing up in my mothers house and there was no smokin allowed 38 , there was no drinkin allowed38. We were not allowed38 to cuss167. We went to church, but we loved the Beatles and we loved to smoke and we loved to drink. And so we had to go out outside on the porch to do that kind109 of thing and although she didnt really agree with it as long as154 we werent inside the house, we werent invading her space. Th: Right. GH: And believe me, inside the house was her space. And so when my mothers very old; shes 89, shell soon be 90. And my brother, hes 58 years old and he lives with her. And he grew up in the 60s. He wanted to be he wanted to grow his hair long like the kids130 did back then. She didnt want him to and they fought and they fought168. And now hes 58 and shes 89 and sometimes they still have the same kind109 of confrontation. And one particular morning I went down I go down to see her every day and hes he might be there, he might be at work, but she was she had obviously been in argument with him, neither one of them were speakin and he told me he didnt want me to feel like I wasnt welcome because nobody was speakin to me, but it was just33 that nobody was speakin. And he didnt want me to feel unspoken to169 so all he could really conjure up170 to say was, The mosquitoes are swarmin171 this mornin. And thats all he said and five minutes later No Smokin in Here was a song. Th: OK. GH: Because the more things I realized134 the more things change, the more things stay the
middle-of-the-road uninspired, unexceptional to lay sth. down (lay-laid-laid) leave sth., abandon sth. catchy memorable, contagious, infectious 154 as long as so long as, provided that, if (and only if) 155 to draw s.o. in (draw-drew-drawn) attract s.o., entice s.o. 156 to fit in (in this context) be categorized as 157 to expand on sth. develop sth. 158 to keep (keep-kept-kept) (in this context) continue 159 to set sth. down (set-set-set) abandon sth., leave sth. 160 to pick sth. up (in this context) start working on sth. again 161 case in point a good example 162 to get up off (get-got-got) stop relaxing on, stand up from 163 couch sofa, settee 164 doin (US colloquial ) doing 165 instead of as opposed to, rather than 166 mush (in this context) sentimentality 167 to cuss (US English) curse, use bad language 168 to fight and fight (fight-fought-fought) be in constant conflict 169 to feel unspoken to (feel-felt-felt) feel ostracized, feel ignored 170 to conjure up think up, imagine 171 to swarm (of insects) be abundant, be gathering in great numbers
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with John Prine. Ive played on stage119 with John Paul Jones, Dierks Bentley, Marty Stuart. Ive played on the Grand Ole Opry and the list goes on and on120 of these wonderful things that Ive had the opportunity to do. But Im just33 very average121 when it comes to whats goin on in Nashville. Im maybe even below average. Th: Yeah. And for people that arent from the States, is there an easy way to explain why Nashville, why that area, is such a. I guess89 you could say a Mecca for great musicians. Has it always been that way? GH: Yeah, it really has. But I would say that in the last 20 years theyve had an influx of music from all genres. Sheryl Crow lives there now. Peter Frampton lives there. Every day I hear somebody else is living in Nashville. And they come there not just33 because the musics good, its because all the pickers122 are good. Theres115 so many real good musicians and although theres115 not a lot of places like pubs or bars that pay a lot of money for bands because theres115 so many musicians its still a place that you like to be because you enjoy the music being so good. Th: Sure, sure, sure. You said youre from Nashville, but I believe youre from a town right outside Nashville, is that correct? GH: I was born in Nashville and I grew up in a town just north of Nashville called Goodlettsville and I still live very close to there in a suburb123 called Union Hill. And it got its name from the Union troops124 occupying it. Th: OK. GH: And theres115 a lot of Union Hills in the South cos110 the Union Army would take the hills and so they could overlook the valleys. Th: Sure. GH: So, theres115 a lot of Union hills but I live in Union Hill and its about 20 miles125 north of Nashville. 10. Good Music is Good Music (6m36s) Th: And you said you started playing guitar at the age of 12. Are there any other instruments that you play? GH: Oh, yeah, man. I play all the brass instruments126 and I play fiddle127 and banjo and mandolin and yknow14, just66 I try to get my hands on128 anything that If youre a musician then you figure out129 what to do, how to do something with any instrument. Yknow14, you figure it out129. You might not ever become a great player on any of them, but you figure it out. Th: And why did you decide to start playing a guitar at 12? Was it the family a family thing or...? GH: Oh, yeah, man. When I was a kid130 we listened to Flatt and Scruggs. They had a show on TV and we would listen to that and my brother was really my major83 influence. He loved the way Uncle Josh played that dobro131 and it was it was Flatt and
on stage in performance, in front of an audience to go on and on (go-went-gone) continue almost indefinitely 121 average typical, mediocre 122 picker (US English) guitarist, guitar player 123 suburb (false friend ) a middle-class area on the periphery of a city 124 troops soldiers 125 32 km 126 brass instruments trumpets, horns and similar metallic instruments 127 fiddle (informal ) violin 128 to get ones hands on (get-got-got) acquire, obtain 129 to figure out work out, determine, discover 130 kid (informal ) child 131 dobro a resonator guitar traditionally played with fingerpicks and a slide and positioned horizontally on ones lap182 132 to come out (come-came-come) (in this context) appear, emerge 133 from then on after that 134 to realize (false friend ) become conscious of 135 bluegrass a sub-genre of American country music based on traditional English, Scottish and Welsh music and
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same. And nothings really changed. And also, Nathan, Ive recently been able had the opportunity over the past six years to go to Ireland several times for the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Longford. And this record my first record, Ill Be Back, first introduced me because they really liked it and they wanted me to come play it. And so when I went to Ireland, of course, the first thing you notice as a smoker is that youre not allowed38 to smoke in any building. And the Irish dont like that, especially if theyre a smoker and they like goin to pubs. Yknow14, youll see them outside smoking their cigarettes. And, so, when I finished the song its really written in such an Irish vein172 that I just66 really wanted to get this record done so I could get it there for this festival this year. And the chorus is written in such a fashion that no smokin in here you might not listen to the rest of the story, but everybody knows that theres no smokin in here, you know? Th: Great. End of Part One 12. Song: No Smokin in Here (4m47s) 13. Phrasal Verbs & Euphony (3m15s) Monologues: Bad Designs (21m36s) Commentary: Listen to these people talking about things in their life that are badly designed. 14. Monologue 1 [Irish English] (3m28s) Bad design well, I feel like Marvin, the robot 173 from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy in that Im slightly13 yknow14 this topic174 apart from my mood175 is going to be one of depressiveness, which kind of25 suits176 what were talking about, bad design. Its like a bad day, its bad design. So, to kick off177 I think the worse design ever without doubt178 is those little crappy179 metal teapots180 that you get in restaurants and bars all over the world. And every time that I m pouring181 the tea on my lap182 or everywhere but183 the cup with very little tea or water to begin with, Im wondering184, Somebody made themselves very rich with this crappy179 little design. And I actually24 think it has won officially worse design ever, which makes me think, Why are they still making them? or Why are we still having to put up with185 them? Why dont we just66 throw it all on the bad-design-teapot heap186 and move on and get something that works187 cos110 the mind boggles188. But anyway, somebodys out there
vein (in this context) state of mind, disposition (1978) by Douglas Adams a comic science fiction adventure 174 topic (false friend ) theme, subject, matter 175 mood frame of mind, state of mind 176 to suit sth. be appropriate to sth. 177 to kick off start off, begin 178 without doubt without question, indubitably 179 crappy ridiculous, inferior, useless 180 teapot closed container in which tea brews (= infuses) before it is put into cups 181 to pour tip a liquid from one container so that it falls into another 182 ones lap the horizontal surface formed by ones thighs (= upper legs) when one is sitting 183 but (in this context) except for, apart from 184 to wonder ask oneself 185 to put up with (put-put-put) tolerate, stand for, suffer 186 heap pile of rubbish, mountain of garbage 187 to work function (correctly) 188 the mind boggles its difficult to believe 189 to be amazed be astonished, be shocked, be very surprised 190 trouble (in this context) effort 191 hand dryer machine that blows hot air with which to dry ones hands (in a public toilet) 192 bagless that does not have a bag that you have to extract and throw away 193 hoover (UK English) vacuum cleaner 194 rather somewhat, reasonably 195 pet hate fixation, obsession
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Tell your classmates about something that is frustratingly badly designed in your life. the fitted219 inside a sort6 of lip220. However, the new one is designed so that the lid207 covers the bin. This means that if the bin is standing against a cupboard or a wall and you dont usually have the bin in the middle of the kitchen, do you? then the lid only opens halfway when you step on221 the pedal. Worse still, it pretends to222 open fully and then falls back to the half-open position. So, time and time again, we go to throw something in the bin and end up throwing it on to the lid207, from where it falls onto the floor. If the something223 is teabags then its a mild inconvenience224 but if its used ground coffee225 or leftovers226 off a plate, then it makes a real mess227. We have been putting up with185 it to see if we learn to use it but it still regularly tricks228 us so were probably going to have to buy a new one. So, people, before you buy a pedal-bin216, check that it opens fully when it is hard229 against a wall. Im still learning to use my new-ish 230 gas cooker. There are two features231 that catch me out232. First the knobs233 for me are in an illogical order, so I go to turn on one burner but I am in fact turning on another. Yes, its true there is an illustration beside each knob233 but you dont necessarily look each time and its easy to make a mistake. The other thing is that, unlike my previous cooker, you have to press the knob in while you apply the match234. With the previous cooker you could turn on the gas and then strike235 the match. I realize236 this is a safety feature231, so I accept that I just66 have to learn to change the order I do things. I wouldnt put the designer of the cooker in the stocks215 with the previous two because my difficulties in using the cooker arise from237 my habits and not poor design. Another design thing that irks238 me a bit is the new fashion in British publishing for putting page numbers at the top of the page on the inside of the page near the gutter239. It often means you have to force the book open, damaging the spine240 in the process. Page numbers should be at the bottom of the page in the middle or in the outside corners. Everyone knows that! 16. Monologue 3 [British English] (6m30s) Right! Badly designed things Erm, is there a time limit on this exercise because I could go on241 all night? OK, alright, within reason242 then. I have grouped the following into two categories: things pertaining to small, everyday nuisances243 that, with an only modicum 244 of forethought245 could be endlessly246 improved for everyones benefit and global issues247 that
to step on sth. activate sth. with ones foot to pretend to simulate that it will the something the substance in question 224 mild inconvenience small irritation 225 ground coffee particles of triturated coffee beans 226 leftovers uneaten food, the residue of a meal 227 mess dirty and/or untidy situation 228 to trick fool, deceive 229 hard (in this context) fully, directly 230 new-ish more or less new 231 feature (in this context) aspect, characteristic 232 to catch s.o. out (catch-caught-caught) trick 228, cause s.o. to make an error 233 knob 234 to apply the match ignite the burner with a match 235 to strike (strike-stuck-stuck) ignite 236 to realize (false friend ) be conscious 237 to arise from (arise-arose-arisen) be the result of 238 to irk s.o. irritate s.o., annoy s.o. 239 the gutter groove down the middle of a book near to the spine240 240 spine (in this context) binding, where all the pages are glued or bound together 241 to go on (go-went-gone) continue (talking) 242 within reason Ill moderate myself 243 nuisance irritation, inconvenience, annoyance 244 modicum little bit, small amount 245 forethought planning, preparation 246 endlessly infinitely 247 issue (in this context) question
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very happy. Hes the teapot millionaire and hes a bastard. OK, moving on, I wanted to say that the opposite of bad design is obviously good design and one thing that Im amazed189 at is how much time and trouble190 is being put into the design of hand dryers191 in bathrooms, which is a good thing. Even Dyson, this wonderful inventor who has designed these fantastic bagless192 hoovers193, has designed a rather194 marvellous hand dryer. But and I guess89 this is a good thing because another pet hate195 and another obviously not so much bad design, but bad use of design are the hand dryers that will not work187 long enough for you to get your hand into the stream196 of hot air. You can press it with one hand and try to get the other hand in but invariably you have to use your elbow197 to try and place both hands in the stream of hot air and you look like an idiot at the end of the day198. So, that really I dont know if that is the owner of the bar or restaurant or whatever it is trying to limit electricity use by I dont know there must be some sort6 of design feature199 with that hand dryer that allows38 you to only blow200 hot air for three seconds or, this is the problem, you have to keep it pressed down all the time. So, again, unbelievable! And to finish up, since201 I dont want to put you into a terrible mood175, I dont like cans that have no pull-ring202 on them because, lets face it203, it is quite dangerous trying to open a can with a sharp204 knife if you dont have a can-opener. And invariably most of us dont have can-openers these days because most of them come with pull-rings. So, there we go205. There are my little gripes206 of the day. 15. Monologue 2 [British English] (3m31s) I would like to condemn one designer, who should be publicly humiliated in some way. Im talking about the person who designed the transparent lid 207 for my flash-pen. This lid can camouflage itself almost208 anywhere. You place it on a work surface209, on a magazine, on top of the printer and it instantly blends into210 its background211. I probably spend about four hours a year looking for the damn212 thing. So, designer of the lid207 of my pen-drive you know who you are you ought to213 be ashamed of yourself214! Next to the flash-pen-lid designer in the stocks215 I would place the guy it must have been a man who designed the pedal-bin216 in my kitchen. For nearly 15 years we had a properly217 functioning pedal-bin 216 but finally the pedal mechanism gave way218 about six months ago and we bought a new one. The old one had a lid207
stream flow, jet, gush, torrent elbow the articulation in the middle of ones arm at the end of the day in the end, in the final analysis 199 design feature attribute/characteristic that has been designed 200 to blow (blow-blew-blown) (in this context) blast, discharge, emit 201 since (in this context) given that, as 202 pull-ring 203 lets face it lets be honest, frankly 204 sharp razor-edged, that cuts with ease, keen 205 there we go there you are, thats it 206 gripe complaint, grumble, moan, protest, whinge 207 lid top, cover, cap 208 almost nearly, practically, virtually 209 work surface desk top 210 to blend into camouflage itself with 211 background surroundings, physical context 212 damn (mild expletive) bloody, accursed 213 ought to should 214 to be ashamed of oneself be shamefaced, be compunctious, be contrite 215 the stocks 216 pedal-bin 217 properly correctly, fully 218 to give way (give-gave-given) stop functioning 219 to fit be the right size to go, correlate 220 lip protruding rim (= edge)
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would make the world a better place. Everyday nuisances243 then. Actually 24 you could rename these: all things mostly used by busy housewives or chief cook and bottle-washers. It seems to me that a great many things that have been designed for daily consumption i.e.248 to be used, or eaten on a daily basis have never passed by the eye of a person who actually24 does those things in real life. Take, for example, most food packaging 249. Bags that cannot be opened except with access to life-endangering250 implements and a martialarts belt 251 of some mid-tone colour or darker. Just 33 a packet of crisps for goodness sake!252 I mean10, didnt anyone ever envisage 253 the moment of purchase254 and consumption when they designed the closure? Take almost anything wrapped255 in cling film256 much too much cling film. I mean10, when preparing steamed257 cauliflower, does the recipe ever bother to say, Two minutes prep time, five minutes cooking time, and 10 minutes to get the wrapping258 off259? well, they should! I actually24 think things used to be more openable in the good old days260. Could we please go back in time to the old packaging machinery and forget the airport-style multiplewrapping principles that help no one in particular, not the consumer, not the shelf-life261 or the planet, come to that. Heres my contribution for what its worth262. Paper bags that are recyclable (I dont need them to be a funky263 designer brown either) and which are by far264 the nicest for most foodstuffs265 especially anything meant to be eaten in the near future: old newspapers often work187 well. Or what about easily cleanable, properly217 reusable plastic bags or even pots266 with lids207 that we can all take down to the store and fill up ourselves and then clean comfortably at home? Would that really be such a big deal267? Oh, heres another one. Teapot spouts268 Tea tastes nicer from a pot, says my husband. And I mostly agree with him except for now picture it please a nice cup of jasmine tea to accompany the fried rice and chilli beef269. I have a total mental block because I keep forgetting, dont know why: Ah! lovely cup of tea in that innocent little stainless-steel pot270 (actually24 I think there must be a religious multinational company somewhere responsible for these things because you find them
i.e. (id est) that is food packaging the wrapping around food, food packets 250 life-endangering lethal, dangerous 251 belt (in this context) sash, waistband (that represents ones prowess e.g. a black belt) 252 for goodness sake! (minced oath) for Gods sake!, damn it! 253 to envisage envision, imagine 254 purchase buying 255 to wrap cover, package 256 cling film (UK English) thin flexible transparent wrapping, plastic wrap (US English) 257 steamed cooked in very hot water vapour 258 wrapping packaging 259 to get sth. off (get-got-got) take sth. off, remove sth. 260 the good old days the past (considered with nostalgia) 261 shelf-life period of time a perishable food product can be on sale in a shop 262 for what its worth as a modest contribution 263 funky trendy, fashionable 264 by far easily, without question 265 foodstuffs food, ingredients 266 pot jar, food container 267 a big deal an effort, a problem 268 spout nozzle, small tube or similar on a container through which liquid is directed when being poured from that container into another 269 beef meat from a cow 270 stainless-steel teapot 271 the famous sculpture of a small boy urinating in Brussels 272 this is wordplay because knob can mean spout268 or penis (slang) 273 to pour out tip the tea from the teapot into teacups 274 without another thought automatically, impulsively 275 linen type of thick textile used for making sheets and tablecloths 276 tablecloth piece of textile that covers a dinner table
248 249
everywhere!) with a tiny Manneken Pis271 knob272 of an excuse for a spout 268. And I always go to pour out273 without another thought 274, when bang, next thing you know, tea flavoured everything and a yellow linen275 tablecloth276, nothing much277 in the cup. Now, actually24 chaps278, this is a no-brainer279. Just33 a little more of a spout268, more of a spout-shape and room280 for the air to circulate. There are pictures of these things on Google for crying in a bucket!281 Hoovers193. I live in an Aladdins cave of a flat with immovable furniture282 everywhere, balancing on little feet about 10 centimetres off the ground 283 and dust 284 rolling out like tumbleweed 285 in the desert from under everything when you walk past and then cannily286 rolling back again before you can get to287 them with the hoover193. I need a hoover with a small head that can slide288, and I mean10, really slide, underneath289 pretty much290 every piece of furniture ever designed, that can, for instance291, go right292 up to the wall and pick up the stuff 293 backing itself neatly294 against the skirting295 to avoid the suction path296 and not just33 claiming to do so297 in the TV ads. Oh and that does not also need a clear space of at least five feet 298 around everything to be able to do so. You see the tubes on most hoovers193 are either five feet long minimum or concertina up299 to nothing with no, usable in-between300. Oh, and how about cordless301? Yes, yes, yes, I know they claim to have302 invented these things but weve gone backwards again. All, and I mean ALL cos110 Ive looked at them longingly303, the current cordless models are designed for upright hoovering304 with a huge26 immovable bulge305 halfway up the stem306. Forget chests of drawers307, beds, computer tables, sofas. Guys, what Im talking about is cordless, or batterypowered with a small head and a flexible, variablelength, retractable tube. Something like one of those toy snakes308 that bends309 and stiffens310 at a flick of the wrist311 or is it just66 that everyone else in the world lives in an art gallery? And whilst were on312 equipment, how about arranging it so that anything and everything in the kitchen cupboard doors, fridge drawers, juicer components gets to be designed by someone who actually24 does cleaning for a living! Why is it that almost everything in the one room in the
nothing much very little chaps (UK English) guys (US English), people 279 no-brainer simple problem to solve 280 room (in this context) sufficient space 281 for crying in a bucket! for crying out loud! (minced oath), for Christs sake! 282 furniture tables, chairs, sofas, beds, etc. 283 the ground the floor 284 dust dry particles of dirt 285 tumbleweed spherical mass of dry plants that moves about in deserts (especially in westerns) 286 cannily cunningly, craftily, cleverly 287 to get to (get-got-got) reach, (in this context) trap, catch 288 to slide slip, move smoothly, glide, skate 289 underneath beneath, below, under 290 pretty much more or less 291 for instance for example 292 right (in this context) all the way, completely 293 the stuff the things, (in this context) the dirt 294 neatly adeptly, cleverly, in a precise way 295 the skirting (board) (UK English) baseboard (US English) long piece of wood that is fastened to the bottom of the walls around a room 296 the suction path the flow of suction 297 to claim to do so declare that it can do it 298 approximately 1.5 metres 299 to concertina up telescope in on itself, collapse down , be retractable 300 in-between (in this context) intermediate option 301 cordless not having a cable 302 they claim to have declare that they have 303 longingly yearningly, covetously, desirously, wistfully 304 hoovering (UK English) vacuuming 305 bulge lump, protuberance, protrusion 306 stem the pole-like vertical bar that forms a prominent part of some vacuum cleaners 307 chest of drawers
277 278
house that probably gets cleaned more often than anywhere else in the house is invariably, ridiculously impossible to clean? With deep corners that dont even make a right angle, how, on earth, do you get the carrot 313 juice stain 314 out of that? Easy, no indentations, no deep corners, no stickyout 315 trim 316 of any kind109. Just 33 smooth 317, wipe-clean318, rounded edges, please. It makes me wonder184 who designed this stuff319 for the astronauts or did they have to take a spare 320 toothbrush321 with them? OK, this is the last one but its a good one. And its real322 easy. Lets take the problem as read323 and just 66 head straight 324 for 325 the solution. No private cars, at all, in the inner cities326 only licensed ones needed for work or large 87, regular quantities of people carrying. Large 87 car parks on the outer rim327 of town with proper328 connections and transporters for our purchases329 between public transport and the car. And wait for it we could devise330 a slim-line331 peoplecarrier that travels comfortably through the centre of town guided by rails and/or overhead cables speed regulated, easy to get on and off, a joy for sightseeing, electric to help save the planet Oh and providing a whole bunch of332 jobs whilst333 building and setting up334 and then running335 all of these Uh, didnt we used to have these about 100 years ago? I think we called them cable cars? 17. Monologue 4 [US English] (4m00s) OK, things that Ive noticed that have bad design. One thing I remember, Ive never actually24 seen it directly, but theres one thing that I remember seeing when I was growing up on television a video of a bridge, the bridge over a bay and I dont even remember where that I think it was a hanging336 bridge sort of29 like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. And this bridge because it was hanging it had a certain amount of337 flexibility to it and when the wind338 started kicking up339 really strong, like perhaps a storm or something very strong like that, the whole bridge started to ripple340 and it would ripple so much that the cars would even fall off the bridge into the water. And there exists a black-and-white old video of this and it looked really frightening. I mean10, it looks like something it looks like a cartoon. A bridge just66 rippling340 like a flag in the wind.
snake serpent to bend (bend-bent-bent) buckle, be flexible 310 to stiffen become rigid 311 flick of the wrist rapid hand movement 312 whilst were on given that we are talking about 313 carrot 314 stain dirty mark, smudge, blotch 315 sticky-out (informal ) protruding 316 trim decoration, ornamentation 317 smooth uninterrupted, frictionless 318 wipe-clean that can easily be cleaned with a cloth 319 this stuff (informal ) these things 320 a spare an extra 321 toothbrush 322 real (slang) really 323 to take sth. as read (take-took-taken) accept sth. 324 straight directly 325 to head for go towards, (in this context) try to find 326 inner cities urban centres, town centres 327 outer rim periphery 328 proper (in this context) efficient 329 ones purchases the things one has bought 330 to devise invent, think up 331 slim-line aerodynamic 332 a whole bunch of a lot of 333 whilst while, during the period of 334 to set up (set-set-set) create, establish 335 to run sth. (run-ran-run) manage, organize 336 hanging suspension 337 amount of level of 338 wind 339 to kick up (in this context) become gusty, blow, blast 340 to ripple undulate
308 309

OK, something else that has bad design. Something that I find really irritating is cheap countertops 341 in the kitchen. Cheap countertops in the kitchen tend to have this problem. Little ridges342 that you can never get into the cracks343 and things little bumps344 that make the sink 345 higher than the actual countertop346 so you can never just66 push water into it, it has to always go up over something. So you get these little pools347 of water that sit in the back just66 waiting to rot348 the wooden countertop346 or create little bits of grime 349 and just 66 gross 350 and disgusting 351 things. And the other thing that happens when you get these little pools347 back there because the water doesnt just66 run down352 into the sink 345 is that it starts to drip353 on your feet and if you dont have shoes on thats really irritating. Its irritating to me, anyway. And one other thing that I noticed that had a bad design, I saw a photograph of this and it was excellent. Ill try to describe this. A bridge that looked directly towards if you were standing on the bridge you could look directly west to the setting sun354 and the side of the bridge has these cut-outs355 that look like three circles that overlap356 in the middle, like a triskele357 or something, three circles that overlap in the middle. So, the way when the sun starts to go down358 it creates just117 a sort of29 angle because of the shape359 of the cut-outs355 that the top circle creates the design on the bridge itself, the part that you walk on, and the shadow360 shape elongates361 so that the top circle doesnt look like a circle it looks like a long shaft362. And the two bottom circles continue to look round. So, what you get is a whole sidewalk 363 covered with phallic symbols. 18. Monologue 5 [US English] (4m07s) Well, while there are loads of364 badly designed things that have frustrated me throughout 365 my lifetime, Im gonna92 focus on a few that have recently made me wonder184, Who in the heck 366 designed this and what on earth 367 were they thinking when they did so? The majority of the items368 that most frustrate me are found in the kitchen. Lets start with food packaging. Im sure that everyone at one point or another has had to open some sort6 of foodstuff265 packaged by Tetra Pak. Now, I dont have anything personal against this Swedish company, in fact, I think they revolutionized the food processing
countertop work surface ridge elevated line crack fissure, crevice 344 bump hump, bulge, lump, protuberance 345 sink (n.) 346 the actual countertop (false friend ) the countertop341 itself 347 pool puddle 348 to rot putrefy 349 grime dirt, filth, muck 350 gross (in this context) repellent, repulsive 351 disgusting (false friend ) repellent, repulsive 352 to run down (run-ran-run) flow down, descend 353 to drip fall as drops, dribble 354 the setting sun the sun at sundown/dusk, when the sun is near the horizon in the evening 355 cut-out silhouette, hole 356 to overlap interconnect 357 triskele triskelion, symbol consisting of three curved lines radiating from a central point 358 to go down (go-went-gone) set, descend to the horizon 359 shape form, silhouette 360 shadow dark silhouette 361 to elongate lengthen, become longer 362 shaft pole, rod, bar 363 sidewalk (US English) pavement (UK English) 364 loads of a lot of, lots of 365 throughout during (all of) 366 heck (minced oath) hell 367 what on earth...? (emphatic) what...? 368 item object, thing 369 out of of, from 370 layer coat, sheet
341 342 343
and packing industry. However, some of their products could be improved. Take the Tetra Brik, for example. These packages are made out of369 layers370 of paperboard371, plastic and aluminium foil372 and are commonly used for milk, wine and juices. While these brick-shaped373 packages are ideal for transporting and storage374, they become problematic once you get them home. For starters, Ive found the Easy open, tear375 here indications on the top of the carton are hardly ever376 what they claim to be377. I always seem to tear off378 too much of the carton379 and end up with a gaping380 hole and some of the product on the counter381 and floor. Now I always use scissors to open Tetra Briks. But even carefully snipping382 the corner off doesnt prevent37 spillage383. If you forget to turn down the corners of the carton379 when storing it, theres bound to be384 spillage383 when putting it in or taking it out of the fridge385. Theres another type of carton379 made by the same company that is used for the orange juice that we normally buy at the supermarket. This differs from the Tetra Brik in that it has a screw-on cap386 on the top. Opening the container is easy. All you have to do is unscrew the cap and pull out a ring that acts as a seal387. So far, so good388. What frustrates me about this particular container is that once you finished the orange juice there always seems to be some left over389 inside and no matter390 how you angle the container it never comes out. Really, the only way to get it out is by cutting the top of the container off with a knife. I think it has something to do with 391 the way the cap 386 is connected to the inside of the carton379, which creates folds392 in the paperboard371 that the juice sits in preventing37 it from flowing out393. Another item368 used in the kitchen that frustrates me is plastic wrap394, or as I like to call it, plastic crap 395. Everyone knows that it comes wrapped around a cardboard tube that is packaged in a cardboard box. One of the edges396 of the box has a plastic or metal strip of teeth 397 that are supposed to be used to cut the plastic wrap394 once youve pulled it out of the container. Ive never had any luck with these things. I either break the box or end up wadding the plastic wrap up into a ball398 trying to tear it off378 the roll. In the end I use twice399 as much as I need. I really dont know how this could be improved and recommend just66 staying away from the stuff400. The last badly designed appliance401 I have in
371 372 373
my kitchen is a universal mixer and blender402. The problem with this mixer-blender combo 403 is that it shares 404 the same motor. It has a safety device405 incorporated in it that prevents37 you from turning on the blender if the mixing bowl is not locked into place406. But what happens if the bowl breaks or the lock mechanism is faulty407, which is what has happened to us? For the past couple of months, every time we want to use the blender to make a shake 408 we literally409 have to arm-wrestle410 the mixing bowl just 66 to get the blender to turn on 411. Its a real pain in the butt 412. To improve this, I would either not design a machine that has both a mixer and blender or give each of them their own motor and control switches 413. 19. Picture Description (2m13s) Commentary: Listen to the following description of the two photographs on p. 42. Examiner: Could you describe the two photographs youve got in front of you, please? Examinee: Yes. Both photographs are of one person. In the first photograph a young man is sitting on what appears to be a top of a mountain. Hes alone; hes looking away from the camera. Hes carrying a backpack414 on his back which makes one think that hes probably climbed415 the mountain. Hes looking down and contemplating something. In the second picture is a young man holding416 a beer bottle, leaning against417 a counter418 and next to him are several other beer bottles. Hes smiling directly at the camera which gives one the impression that hes not alone although he is the only figure in the picture. Hes smiling and very relaxed. It is clear that both these pictures describe a pastime419 or a way of enjoying life or relaxation. One of them is drinking and apparently in company and the other is doing physical exercise and apparently less involved with the other person who must be there because somebody took the picture. Examiner: How do you let your hair down420? Examinee: Ah I have two favourite lettinghair-down moments. One is a couple of long gin and tonics in a lounger421 watching the clouds 422 drift 423 across the sky and the other one is losing myself in a good book. Examiner: Thank you very much.
400 401
paperboard thick paper foil very thin sheet of metal used for wrapping food brick-shaped having the form of a brick 374 storage storing, keeping, stockpiling 375 to tear (tear-tore-torn) rip 376 hardly ever rarely, seldom, almost never 377 they claim to be they say they are 378 to tear off (tear-tore-torn) break off, rip off 379 carton (false friend/in this context) Tetra Brik 380 gaping cavernous, enormous 381 counter countertop, work surface 382 to snip cut with scissors 383 spillage spilling, unintentional overflowing 384 theres bound to be there will certainly be 385 fridge refrigerator 386 screw-on cap lid207 that is attached by a rotating movement 387 seal (in this context) a way of closing sth. hermetically 388 so far, so good all that is fine/great 389 to be left over be remaining 390 no matter irrespective of 391 to have something to do with (have-had-had) be related to, be connected with 392 fold pleat, ruffle, turn, doubled-over section, overlap, crease 393 to flow out run out, (in this context) leave the carton 394 plastic wrap (US English) cling film256 (UK English) 395 crap shit, rubbish, garbage 396 edge rim, side 397 strip of teeth serrated band 398 to wad X up into a ball accidentally forming a ball of X 399 twice two times, x2
the stuff (in this context) the product, plastic wrap394 (electrical) appliance small machine used at home 402 mixer and blender 403 combo combination 404 to share jointly use 405 device mechanism 406 to be locked into place be securely in position 407 faulty defective 408 shake (US English) milkshake 409 literally (in this context/informal ) practically, virtually 410 to arm-wrestle (literally) 411 to turn on activate itself 412 pain in the butt (US English) nuisance243 413 switch 414 backpack rucksack, knapsack 415 to climb ascend 416 to hold (hold-held-held) clasp, clutch, have in ones hand 417 to lean against (lean-leant-leant) rest on, prop oneself up on 418 counter bar, table 419 pastime leisure (= free-time) activity 420 to let ones hair down relax 421 lounger adjustable and/or extendable sofa 422 cloud 423 to drift float
50
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sth. = something, s.o. = someone, swh. = somewhere

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Banking Now and Then

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Painkillers13 are Killers in US

Here Herd18 Heard and Smelt How Strong is Your Coffee?

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Current Affairs | Internet

Staying Anonymous Online

opposed to risky venture dangerous strategy, perilous activity, unsafe project

alias /'eilis/ false name, pseudonym to set up (set-set-set) create 25 to be willing to be

prepared to, be ready to to lead (lead-led-led) guide, take 27 to attempt to try to

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Energy and enthusiasm. Lets

Tech-savvy30 Teachers. Young

Experienced teachers are less likely to be tech-savvy.

more open to your input 35 about how to assign class time.

Ignorance & Inexperience

Manage Your Green Teachers

Do you prefer a young or a middle-aged teacher?

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Predictions & Prophecies

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The Next Few Decades

A Load of46 Crystal Balls

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The Serious Mathematical Bit

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The World of Dickens

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Scenes from Dickens World

Chatham Rochester Broadstairs

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