On Screen p 6. Vocabulary

On Screen p 6. The Search for Wonder. Cloze

 

 

Read out the title and subtitle of the article. 

What is the text about?

 

KEY

why people travel.

Do you like to travel? Would  you like to travel? Why? 

 

What is it that makes travelling worthwhile? 

 

Do Ex 1

Do Ex 2

Suggested Answer Key
The author’s opinion about travel is very positive and he/she views it as something that offers a great deal to the traveller. This can be seen in parts of the text such as ‘we travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate,’ and ‘travel is a wondrous thing that guides us toward a better balance of wisdom and compassion.’ He/She also talks about the beneficial impact that travellers themselves have upon the people that they meet, ‘… one of the subtler beauties of travel is that it enables you to bring new eyes to the people you encounter.’ He/She also describes travel as, ‘a kind of life-changing ritual,’ and finishes by saying that ‘travel, in the end, is a
heightened state of awareness, in which we are receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed.’ 

wondrous: /ˈwʌndrəs/ strange, beautiful and impressive. E.g. It was a wondrous thing to see the sea for the first time.

Check these words:

venture (v): to dare to go somewhere  

e.g. After arriving on the island they decided to venture up the volcano.

 

ignorance (n): lack of knowledge

e.g. Ignorance of the law is no excuse in court.

 

disperse (v): to distribute loosely

e.g. The government scheme disperses money throughout the community by giving it to the social schemes.

 

from a crooked angle (phr): from a different point of view

e.g. The artist painted scenes from a crooked angle so they don't look exactly like reality.  

 

sovereign (adj): most important

e.g. The sovereign benefit of travel is that it turns everything you know upside down.

 

whirl sb around (v): to cause sb to move around

e.g. The dancers whirled each other around the dancefloor.

 

famously (adv): in a way that is widely known

e.g. Stockholm is a famously liveable city with a high quality of life, clean air and a beautiful harbour.

 

relativism (n): the philosophical theory that everything should be judged in relation to other things

e.g. Some philosophers believe in relativism - that there is no such thing as absolute truth.

 

provisional (adj): temporary, likely to change

e.g. With 80% of the votes counted, they could make a provisional estimate of the election result.

 

provincial (adj): old fashioned and narrow-minded

e.g. It was a small village and many people had provincial attitudes that were out of line with current opinion. 

 

abstraction (n): sth which exists only as an idea

e.g. The perfect geometrical triangle only exists as an abstraction.

 

ideology (n): beliefs that influence the way people behave

e.g. Philosophers often provide cultures with ideologies and beliefs that stand the test of time.

 

impoverished (adj): very poor

e.g. In parts of the world, people are impoverished and live without basic amenities.

 

subtle (adj): not obvious

e.g. Although the twins look exactly the same, there are actually small subtle differences between them.

 

appreciative (of sth) (adj): showing that you understand and enjoy sth

e.g. The audience was very appreciative of the talk and gave a standing ovation.

 

intrinsic (to sth) (adj): being an integral part of sth

e.g. The creative arts are intrinsic to a good education.

 

scrutinise (v): to examine closely

e.g. Clark scrutinises the stocks and shares every morning while he examines the business pages.

 

secular (adj): not religious or spiritual

e.g. ‘The Thinker' represents a modern, secular man - strong in mind and body - but lonely and doubtful on a journey of self-discovery.

 

latch onto (sth) (v): to attach oneself to sth (literally or figuratively)

e.g. People nowadays try to latch onto some sense of spirituality in order to give their lives meaning.

 

nimble (adj): quick and agile (mentally or physically); able to think/learn quickly

e.g. Puzzles help to keep the mind nimble and mentally agile.

 

prejudice (n): bias; a preconception

e.g. Some people express prejudice towards others just because they're different.

 

receptive (to sth) (adj): willing to listen to new ideas

e.g. Mike was very receptive to Harry's ideas for the new project.

 

undimmed (adj): not weakened 

e.g. Even after being a doctor for many years, Helen's passion for her work is undimmed; she enjoys every moment!

 

On Screen p 6. The Search for Wonder. Cloze

 KEY

 

 

 

 

 

1. By 

by now: before this moment. Sp. a esta hora, a estas alturas. E.g. My parents should have arrived by now. I wonder what's keeping them.

consist in something
​(formal) to have something as the main or only part or feature. Sp. consiste en.

E.g.
The beauty of the city consists in its magnificent buildings.
consist in doing something True education does not consist in simply being taught facts.

consist of somebody/something
​to be formed from the people or things mentioned. Sp. componerse de

E.g.
The committee consists of ten members.
The exhibition consists of a series of photographs that he took between 1915 and 1939.
Their diet consisted largely of vegetables.
to consist mainly/mostly of somebody/something

yet: 

despite what has just been said.

Synonym: nevertheless

E.g.
It's a small car, yet it's surprisingly spacious.
He has a good job, and yet he never seems to have any money.

 

 

2. Thus/Therefore/So

thus: 

as a result of something just mentioned 

Synonym: hence, therefore.

E.g.
He is the eldest son and thus heir to the title.
We do not own the building. Thus, it would be impossible for us to make any major changes to it.

 

 

3. not

not least: especially

E.g.

The documentary caused a lot of bad feeling, not least among the workers whose lives it described.

 

 

 

4. for

quest 

a long search for something, especially for some quality such as happiness.

E.g.
quest for something the quest for happiness/knowledge/truth
in quest of something He set off in quest of adventure.
a quest narrative/novel/story

 

unknowing:  

not conscious of a particular situation or problem. Sp. inconsciente, ignorante, desconocedor.

E.g. 

He took secret pictures of his unknowing victims.  

He was the unknowing cause of all the misunderstanding. Sp. Él fue la causa, inconscientemente.

5. at

at least:
not less than. Sp. por lo menos.

E.g. 

I've known her at least as long as you have.

scrutiny:  

careful and thorough examination of someone or something.

E.g.

careful/close scrutiny: 

Careful scrutiny of the company’s accounts revealed a whole series of errors.  

Their activities have come under police scrutiny.

6. much

 

 

 

7. least

at the very least:  even if nothing else happens or is true. Sp. por lo menos.

E.g. 

At the very least the player is guilty of violent behaviour.

 

 

 

8. who

 

 

 

9. at heart

used for saying what someone’s basic character is. In essence. Sp. en el fondo.

E.g.  I’m really a country person at heart.

 

latch on (to somebody/something) | latch onto somebody/something (informal)
1. ​to become attached to somebody/something. E.g. antibodies that latch onto germs.

2. to develop a strong interest in something
She always latches on to the latest craze.

3. (latch onto someone) to go with someone who does not want to be with you. E.g.  Two boys tried to latch onto us as we were leaving. 

10. As.

nimble: 

able to think, react and adapt quickly. Agile.
As a comedian, she has a quick ear and a nimble mind/brain.
The company has been outsmarted by more nimble competitors.

He tried to catch his friend, but she was too nimble.

 

foster: 

foster something to encourage something to develop. Encourage, promote.

E.g.

The club's aim is to foster better relations within the community.

I'm trying to foster an interest in classical music in my children. 

They were discussing the best way to foster democracy and prosperity in the former communist countries. 

heighten: 

if a feeling or an effect heightens, or something heightens it, it becomes stronger or increases.

synonym: intensify      

E.g.

Tension has heightened after the recent bomb attack.     

heighten something 

The campaign is intended to heighten public awareness of the disease.     

His breakdown was followed by a period of heightened activity.     

Fears of a pandemic were heightened by rising case numbers.     

The drug is said to give users a heightened sense of well-being.

undimmed:

(of enthusiasm, admiration, etc) not diminished or lessened. Not weakened 

E.g.

Everyone clapped and hooted, the kids’ enthusiasm undimmed though they’d probably seen her do this trick a thousand times.

Even after being a doctor for many years, Helen's passion for her work is undimmed; she enjoys every moment!