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!
