On Screen p 143. Review. All in the Mind. Word formation

The real-life struggle of brilliant minds with paranoid schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease may not sound like the ingredients of an (1)____________ (ENTERTAIN) afternoon's (2)__________ (VIEW). But Russell Crowe's (3)_____________(STUN) (4)______________ (PERFORM) as (5)______________ (MATHS) genius John Nash in A Beautiful Mind and Judi Dench's (6)_______________ (MOVE) (7)_____________ (PORTRAY) of (8)___________ (PHILOSOPHY) and (9)_____________ (NOVEL) Iris Murdoch in Iris, will have you rushing out to buy the books on which these two (10)______________ (OSCAR) films are based.
It is in their (11)________________ (THEME) content that the two films (12)____________ (RESEMBLANCE) each other most. Both focus on the (13)_____________ (WITHDRAW) of the protagonists into their own (14)___________ (IN) world and the effect this has on their long-suffering but devoted marital partners. Also common to both films is the fact that we witness the two (15)_____________ (ACADEMY) in their youth and old age. Hats off here to Crowe's make up team- he is (16)_______________ (REMARK) (17)______________ (CONVINCE) as the sixty-six-year-old Nash receiving his Nobel Prize in 1994.
Iris (18)__________________ (DIFFERENT) from A Beautiful Mind in this respect, (19)____________ (RELY) instead on other actors to play the (20)____________ (VIVACITY) young Iris - a very (21)_____________ (CREDIBILITY) ( Kate Winslet- and her (22)_____________ (STUTTER) (23)________________ (COMPANY) John Bayley. In addition, (24)_____________ (LIKE) the more linear American film, (25)____________ (FLASH) are used to good effect to switch (26)_______________ (BACK) and forwards between the two (27)___________ (CONTRAST) stages of Murdoch's life.
The (28)____________ (STRONG) of Iris lies in its (29)___________ (POWER) acting and mundane (30)____________ (REAL), with the novelist seen doing the (31)____________ (SHOP), or watching children's TV in her (32)__________ (CLUTTER) Oxford house. However, if, as I do, you (33)____________ (FAVOURITE) something more (34)____________ (VISUAL) (35)______________ (APPEAL), but no less (36)___________ (PLAUSIBILITY), then A Beautiful Mind is a (37)___________ (DEFINITELY) (38)_______________ (SEE).

 

KEY

1. entertaining

 

 

 

2. viewing 

 

 

 

3. stunning 

 

 

 

4. performance

 

 

 

5. mathematical

 

 

 

6. moving  

 

 

 

7. portrayal

theatrical representation of [sb]. Sp. representación, interpretación, actuación. E.g.   His portrayal of the great fighter won him an Oscar.   Sp. Su representación del gran luchador le hizo ganar un Oscar.

 

 

 

8. philosopher  

 

 

 

9. novelist 

 

 

 

10. Oscar-winning 

 

 

 

11. thematic /θɪˈmætɪk/

connected with the theme or themes of something

• the thematic structure of a text

 

 

 

12. resemble

 

 

 

13. withdrawal 

 

 

 

14. inner 

 

 

 

15. academics 

 

 

 

16. remarkably 

 

 

 

17. convincing 

 

 

 

18. differs 

 

 

 

19. relying 

 

 

 

20. vivacious

vivacious: /vɪˈveɪʃəs/ (especially of a woman) having a lively, attractive personality. Sp. vivaz.

• He had three pretty, vivacious daughters.
• She appeared to be her old, vivacious self again.
• Olga has a vivacious personality and is full of energy
  

vivacity noun   /vɪˈvæsəti/     [uncountable] (approving)      ​the quality of being lively and attractive. E.g.       He was charmed by her beauty and vivacity. The photograph captures the vivacity of the children.

 

 

 

21. credible

 

 

 

22. stuttering

 

 

 

23. companion 

 

 

 

24. unlike 

 

 

 

25. flashbacks 

 

 

 

26. backwards 

 

 

 

27. contrasting 

 

 

 

28. strength 

 

 

 

29. powerful 

 

 

 

30. realism

/ˈriːəlɪzəm/ a way of seeing, accepting and dealing with situations as they really are without being influenced by your emotions or false hopes

• There was a new mood of realism among the leaders at the peace talks.

 

 

 

31. shopping 

 

 

 

32. cluttered 

 

 

 

33. favour (prefer) 

 

 

 

34. visually 

 

 

 

35. appealing

attractive or interesting

• Spending the holidays in Britain wasn't a prospect that I found particularly appealing.

 

 

 

36. plausible

plausible adjective   /ˈplɔːzəbl/       ​(of an excuse or explanation) reasonable and likely to be true. Sp. creíble, verosímil. E.g.         Her story sounded perfectly plausible.         The only plausible explanation is that he forgot. 

OPP: implausible

plausibility noun   /ˌplɔːzəˈbɪləti/  [uncountable]      ​the quality of being reasonable and likely to be true. Sp. credibilidad, verosimilitud. E.g.         This new evidence lends plausibility to the theory that she was murdered.

 

 

 

37. definite   

 

 

 

38. must-see 

TEXT WITH EXPLANATIONS:  

 

The real-life struggle (a hard fight in which people try to obtain or achieve sth, especially sth that sb else does not want them to have. Sp. Lucha) of brilliant minds with schizophrenia /ˌskɪtsəʊˈfriːniə/ and Alzheimer's /ˈæltshaɪməz/ disease may not sound like the ingredients of an entertaining afternoon's viewing.
Russell Crowe's stunning performance as mathematical genius John Nash and Judi Dench's moving portrayal of novelist Iris Murdoch will have you rushing out to buy the books on which these two films are based.
It is in their thematic content that the two films resemble each other most. Both focus on the withdrawal (the act of moving or taking sth away or back. Sp. Retirada) of the protagonists into their own inner world and the effect this has on their long-suffering but devoted marital partners. Also common to both films is the fact that we witness the two academics in their youth and old age. Hats off here to Crowe's make up team- he is remarkably convincing as the sixty-six-year-old Nash receiving his Nobel Prize.
Iris differs from A Beautiful Mind in this respect, relying instead on other actors to play the vivacious (having a lively, attractive personality) young Iris - a very credible Kate Winslet- and her stuttering (having difficulty speaking because he cannot stop himself from repeating the first sound of some words several times; stammering) companion. In addition, unlike the more linear American film, flashbacks are used to good effect to switch (change from one thing to another) backwards and forwards between the two contrasting stages of Murdoch's life.
The strength of Iris lies in its powerful acting and mundane (ordinary) realism, with the novelist seen in her cluttered (full of a lot of things and untidy) Oxford house. However, if, as I do, you favour something more visually appealing, but no less plausible, then A Beautiful Mind is a definite must-see.

On Screen p 81. Word Formation

 Do Ex 11

intern: a student or new graduate who is getting practical experience in a job, sometimes without pay, for example during the summer holiday. Sp. alumno en prácticas.

E.g.

a summer intern at a law firm

underpaid: not paid enough for the work you doNurses complain of being overworked and underpaid.
The maintenance staff are grossly underpaid.

On Screen p 68. Essay about the impact of social media on human relationships. Written mediation task. Word Formation

 

Read the instructions for the task. With the information given, produce a text using your own words. (approximately 200 words) 

Task description 

You have had a class discussion on the impacts of social media. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay for your class based on some opinions expressed in the discussion and to analyse the positive and negative impacts of social media. You should say which impacts of social media on human relationships are more significant, giving reasons in support of your answer. Include your own opinions on this subject.

Write your essay

Opinions expressed in the discussion:

"It's easy to keep in touch now that we've left school."

"I've discovered a completely new hobby." 

"It's good to know there are people who share my views." 

"I feel everybody is having more fun than I am. This makes me feel increasingly despondent."

"It seems everybody else has lots of friends. I feel so left out."

"My Instagram friends constantly publish selfies of their beautiful faces and bodies. I wish I were so good-looking" 

"Very often I see groups of friends looking at their phones and not speaking to one another" 

"There are social media users who seem to enjoy taking the mickey out of other more sensitive users" 

 

Sample answer

The impacts of social media on human relationships

Social media has had a (1)_________ (REMARK) effect on human relationships in the last few years. I will focus on the merits and (2)_________ (MERIT) I think are particularly important. On one hand, how social media helps people stay in touch with loved ones and facilitates finding people with shared interests. And on the other hand, how it can damage self-esteem and body image and may even be (3)_______________ (DETRIMENT) to face-to-face communication.
 

To begin with, the main impact of social media is improving our ability to communicate with one another. For example, in the past, when someone left school or university, it was easy to lose touch with their friends. Nowadays, however, not only can people (4)____________ (SUCCESS) communicate with one another on social media platforms, but also keep up to date (5)__________ (SIMPLE) by checking their posts, without needing to directly talk to them. What is more, you can do this with people anywhere in the world, because your geographical location is (6)____________ (RELEVANCE) on social media.

Furthermore, social media platforms are ideal for putting (7)______________ (MIND) people together. There are social media groups or communities for all interests where you can share knowledge and ideas and even form (8)____________ (FRIEND). Say you are fan of a popular TV show and want to discuss it with other fans, you will have no problem finding a forum to discuss it on, no matter where you are in the world.

On the other side of the coin, teenagers on social media spend much of their time observing the lives and images of their peers. This leads to constant comparisons, which can harm their confidence and their self-image, (9)_____________ (EXACERBATION) depression and anxiety among adolescents. This is made even worse by cyberbullying, which remains rampant on social media. Unfortunately, it has been on the rise amongst adolescents due, in part, to increased access to electronic devices, the Internet, and at times lack of (10)_______________ (SUPERVISE) of online activity. It can be argued that cyberbullying is a more (11)___________ (THREATEN) form of aggression than traditional bullying, as cyberbullies can remain (12)____________ (ANONYMITY), causing bullying to occur around the clock. What is also an issue is that the act of a cyberbully can be viewed (13)____________ (REPEAT) and shared with others without limit, making it difficult for support networks to shield victims from cyberbullying. (14)____________ (LIKE) traditional bullying, cyberbullying can be (15)____________ (GO), even after the youth has left school grounds, making a teen feel (16)___________ (HELP) and without haven.

In addition, cell phones connect us to people far away – but distance us from the ones right in front of us. No one would dispute the fact that smartphones have changed the world. As a matter of fact, a quick glance around any street or (17)___________ (COMMUNE) space shows how (18)______________ (DOMINATION) our favourite digital devices have become. We are familiar with the sight of groups of teenagers not talking, but (19)___________ (EAGER) composing messages and posts on their screens. Or seeing couples dining (20)______________ (SILENT) in restaurants, ignoring the romantic (21)____________ (FLICKER) candle in favour of the (22)___________ (COMFORT) blue light of their phones. But why do these devices that are meant to connect us when we are far apart seem to cause so much division when we are close together? There can be no doubt that even in a (23)________ (RAPID) (24)____________ (DIGIT) world, face-to-face interactions remain the most (25)____________ (INTIMACY) ones.

In conclusion, there are many positive aspects of social media for human relationships. Personally speaking, I think the most (26)___________ (SIGNIFICANCE) of these is how it enhances our ability to stay in touch, something that is becoming (27)_____________ (INCREASE) difficult to do in real life due to the changes our society is going through. Nevertheless, we need to be aware of the (28)______________ (DESIRE) effects social media can exert, not (29)__________ (LESS) on young minds and as a society take the necessary measures to avoid any (30)___________ (HARM) consequences.

 

KEY

 

1. remarkable 

 

 

 

2. demerits 

 

 

 

3. detrimental 

 

 

 

4. successfully 

 

 

 

5. simply 

 

 

6. irrelevant 

 

 

 

7. like-minded 

 

 

 

8. friendships 

 

 

 

9. exacerbating 

 

 

 

10. supervision 

 

 

 

11. threatening  

 

 

 

12. anonymous 

 

 

 

13. repeatedly 

 

 

 

14. Unlike 

 

 

 

15. ongoing 

 

 

 

16. helpless 

 

 

 

17. communal 

 

 

 

18. dominant 

 

 

 

19. eagerly 

 

 

 

20. silently 

 

 

 

21. flickering 

 

 

 

22. comforting 

 

 

 

23. rapidly 

 

 

 

24. digitised  

 

 

 

25. intimate 

 

 

 

26. significant 

 

 

 

27. increasingly 

 

 

 

28. undesirable 

 

 

 

29. least 

 

 

 

30. harmful 

On Screen p 63. Word Formation

 Do Ex 9

cherry-picking: the act of choosing the best people or things from a group and leaving those that are not so good.

E.g.

There can be no cherry-picking of statistics that happen to support your case.

markedly /ˈmɑːkɪdli / in a way that is very easy to notice. Sp. notablemente

E.g.

Johnson and Rivera have markedly different leadership styles.  

Trade has increased markedly

remarkably: /rɪˈmɑːkəbli/ in a way that is unusual or surprising and causes people to take notice. Synonym: astonishingly. Sp. notablemente, extraordinariamente, sorprendentemente.      

E.g.

The car is in remarkably good condition for its age.     

Remarkably, nobody was killed.     

The two reports are remarkably similar.

Service quality to the local community had remarkably deteriorated, working conditions were poor and local council costs were rising.

On Screen p 59. A Great Catch. Narratives. Word Formation

Does anyone know what a DJI Phantom is? Can you guess?

 

 

KEY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Predict the story with these phrases:

An aerial video
A safety feature
An automatic landing
A GPS (Global Positioning System)



Answer these questions:
1. Is this a hobby that anyone here is interested in – making drone aerial videos ?
2.Can you guess how much a drone like this would cost?
3. There’s something important that isn’t included in the price. Can you guess what it is?
4. Imagine this: you are flying a drone and the battery dies. What do you think would happen?


Answers:
2. (Answer: between 500 € and 1500 € )



3. (Answer: the video camera. Other guesses may include: the remote control; the battery.)



4. (Answer: the DJI Phantom has a safety feature . The drone will make an automatic landing just before the battery dies. A GPS inside the drone will guide it back to the same spot where it took off from.) 


Story text 
Part one
Drone aerial videos are becoming more and more popular these days. Perhaps you’ve seen some on YouTube – bird’s-eye views of urban landscapes and city landmarks for example.
 For amateur enthusiasts , the DJI Phantom is a popular model. A drone from the DJI Phantom series can cost anything from between 500 € and 1500 € . That’s quite an expensive piece of equipment and it doesn’t include the video camera.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if the battery died while the drone was in flight? Well, the DJI Phantom has a safety feature . Just before this happens, the drone will make an automatic landing. A GPS (Global Positioning System) inside the machine will guide it back to the same spot where it took off from. Clever, no? What could go possibly wrong?



YOUR TASK:   

Constructing a narrative
 

Tell a story which involves a drone. It takes place in the Netherlands and it involves the following:
- A cold day in December
- An amateur drone aerial video enthusiast
- A ditch filled with ice-cold water
- Fully clothed
- Over 4 million views

Using these prompts construct a narrative! 

Now I want you to work together to guess what you think happens in the story. It doesn’t matter if you are right or if you are wrong. This is a speaking activity. I want you to share ideas and construct a narrative. Consider all of the details!

_____________________________________________________________

TIP: 

The use of adjectives, adverbials, collocations, idioms,... will make your stories more colourful:

Examples of adverbials

relatively, easily, suddenly, extremely, gratefully, desperately, dangerously, continuously, possibly, urgently, immediately,

Attitude adverbials

amazingly, apparently, astonishingly, unbelievably, clearly, conveniently, curiously, disappointingly, disturbingly, evidently, (un)fortunately, funnily, happily, indisputably, inevitably, interestingly, ironically, laughably, luckily, miraculously, naturally, obviously, personally, predictably, presumably, reassuringly, regrettably, rightly, sadly, sensibly, strangely, (not) surprisingly, understandably, undoubtedly, unexpectedly, unmistakably, (un)wisely, worryingly.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Vocabulary:
a ditch : a long hole beside a road or a field that water goes into. Sp. zanja, cuneta, acequia. Note that in the Netherlands, ditches can be very wide and deep!
Google maps:
http://lessonstream.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ditch.jpg

an enthusiast : someone who is passionate about something (a hobby, for example)
fully clothed : If someone is fully clothed, they have all of their clothes on. Fully dressed.

fully dressed. adjective    wearing clothes, including things such as shoes. E.g.  She collapsed fully dressed on the bed



Story text 
Part two 
Sample answer
Story text 
Part two 

A Great Catch

It’s a cold day in December. A (1)_____________ (RELATE) young Dutch man called Zwier goes out with a group of friends to test his brand new DJI Phantom drone. He begins by placing it in the middle of a (2)___________ (FAIR) quiet road. As if by (3)___________ (MAGICALLY), it takes off (4)_______________ (VERTICAL) and Zwier flies it (5)______________ (SMOOTHNESS) above the local (6)______________ (SUBURBS) houses, the (7)______________ (LEAVE) trees, the almost (8)______________ (DESERT) roads and Holland’s (9)________________ (UBIQUITY) canals.

After about 15 minutes, however, Zwier has a (10)_______________ (WHAT) (11)__________________ (EXPECTATIONS) problem: the battery seems to start to die and the (12)____________________ (STATE) drone begins to make an (13)__________________ (AUTOMATE) (14)_______________ (LAND). But to everybody’s surprise, instead of landing on the (15)___________________ (PRACTICE) empty road, the drone slowly starts to come down above a water-filled ditch. The minor problem is that Zwier didn’t set the GPS (16)_______________ (CORRECTNESS)!

The ditch is (17)_______________ (WIDTH) and (18)____________ (DEPTH) and the drone is going to land right in the middle of it. Zwier has (19)____________________ (ABSOLUTE) no choice but to quickly run to the ditch and without (20)____________________ (HESITANTLY) jump in, fully clothed at that. (21)___________________ (OBVIOUSNESS), the ice-cold water (22)_______________ (GRADUAL) comes up to his waist.

Zwier (23)______________(ARDUOUS) wades to the centre of the ditch as quickly as he can, desperate to catch the rather (24)_____________ (COST) drone before it lands in the water. The water gets deeper and deeper as he goes: first, up to his chest, then up to his neck and next up to his chin.

The drone is just centimetres from the surface. However, just in the nick of time, and with all his effort, Zwier reaches out his arms and makes a (25)____________ (HERO) one-handed catch. He spits out a (26)_____________________ (MOUTH) of water and (27)____________ (HAPPINESS) smiles. (28)__________________ (SURPRISE), his friends cheer and applaud him (29)____________________ (ENTHUSIASM). (30)_____________ (CURIOSITY), Zwier’s (31)____________________ (COURAGE) catch was caught on camera, which was attached to the drone that he saved! He then decides to publish the video on YouTube and (32)_____________ (WITH) weeks, it goes (33)_____________ (VIRULENT) and it is viewed over 4 million times.

 

 

KEY

1. relatively

 

 

2. fairly 

 

 

3. magic 

 

 

 

4. vertically 

 

 

 

5. smoothly

smoothness: the quality a surface has when it is completely flat and even, without any rough areas or holes.

• the smoothness of her skin

  

 

 

 

6. suburban

 

 

7. leafy 

 

 

 

8. deserted 

 

 

 

9. ubiquitous

ubiquity noun /juːˈbɪkwəti/ [uncountable] (formal or humorous) ​the fact that something seems to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; the fact that something is very common. E.g. the ubiquity of the mass media.

ubiquitous adjective /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/  [usually before noun] (formal or humorous) ​seeming to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; very common. E.g. the ubiquitous bicycles of university towns. The ubiquitous movie star, Tom Hanks.

 

 

 

10. somewhat

somewhat adverb /ˈsʌmwɒt/ (rather formal) ​to some degree, rather. E.g. somewhat different/similar. I was somewhat surprised to see him. The situation has changed somewhat since we last met. What happened to them remains somewhat of a mystery. My options are somewhat limited.  

 

 

 

11. unexpected

 

 

 

12. state-of-the-art 

/ˌsteɪt əv ði ˈɑːt/ 

using the most modern or advanced techniques or methods; as good as it can be at the present time

• The system was state of the art.
• a state-of-the-art system
• The Physics Department has state of the art facilities.

 

 

 

13. automatic
/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/

automate verb /ˈɔːtəmeɪt/ [usually passive] ​to use machines and computers instead of people to do a job or task. Be automated. The entire manufacturing process has been automated. The factory is now fully automated. 

 

 

 

14. landing

 

 

 

15. practically 

 

 

 

16. correctly 

 

 

 

17. wide

 

 

 

18. deep 

 

 

 

19. absolutely 

 

 

 

20. hesitation

hesitantly adverb /ˈhezɪtəntli/ ​in a way that is slow because you feel uncertain, embarrassed or unwilling.     E.g. He smiled hesitantly

 

 

 

21. Obviously

obviousness noun /ˈɒbviəsnəs/  [uncountable] ​the fact of being easy to see or understand. E.g. the obviousness of his injuries. 

 

 

 

22. gradually  

 

 

 

23. arduously

arduously adverb /ˈɑːdʒuəsli/  ​in a way that involves a lot of effort and energy, especially over a period of time. E.g. They searched arduously for clues.

 

 

 

24. costly

 

 

 

25. heroic 

 

 

 

26. mouthful 

 

 

 

27. happily 

 

 

 

28. Unsurprisingly 

 

 

 

29. enthusiastically 

 

 

 

30. Curiously 

 

 

 

31. courageous 

/kəˈreɪdʒəs/ showing courage. brave.

• a very courageous decision
• I hope people will be courageous enough to speak out against this injustice.

 

 

 

 

32. within  

 

 

 

33. viral

virulent adjective /ˈvɪrələnt/ 

1.  ​(of a disease or poison) extremely dangerous or harmful and quick to have an effect. E.g. a virulent form of influenza. A particularly virulent flu germ. 

2. showing strong negative and bitter feelings

• virulent criticism
• virulent nationalism

Entire text:

It’s a cold day in December. A relatively young Dutch man called Zwier goes out with a group of friends to test his brand new DJI Phantom drone. He begins by placing it in the middle of a fairly quiet road. As if by magic, it takes off vertically and Zwier flies it smoothly above the local suburban houses, the leafy trees, the almost deserted roads and Holland’s ubiquitous canals.

After about 15 minutes, however, Zwier has a somewhat unexpected problem: the battery seems to start to die and the state-of-the-art drone begins to make an automatic landing. But to everybody’s surprise, instead of landing on the practically empty road, the drone slowly starts to come down above a water-filled ditch. The minor problem is that Zwier didn’t set the GPS correctly!

The ditch is wide and deep and the drone is going to land right in the middle of it. Zwier has absolutely no choice but to quickly run to the ditch and without hesitation jump in, fully clothed at that. Obviously, the ice-cold water gradually comes up to his waist.

Zwier arduously wades to the centre of the ditch as quickly as he can, desperate to catch the rather costly drone before it lands in the water. The water gets deeper and deeper as he goes: first, up to his chest, then up to his neck and next up to his chin.

The drone is just centimetres from the surface. However, just in the nick of time, and with all his effort, Zwier reaches out his arms and makes a heroic one-handed catch. He spits out a mouthful of water and happily smiles. Unsurprisingly, his friends cheer and applaud him enthusiastically. Curiously, Zwier’s courageous catch was caught on camera – the camera attached to the drone that he saved! He then decides to publish the video on YouTube and within weeks, it goes viral and it is viewed over 4 million times.