GETTING READY

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1 Audio Transcripts: Chinese Architectural Design In China, buildings used to be built with heavy platforms and thick roofs. A primary example of this is the Forbidden City. You’ll immediately notice that the roofs are covered in yellow tiles, as that was the imperial color. This isn’t the palace’s only design feature that is both symbolic and decorative. The number of statues on top of the buildings represents the significance of each structure. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the emperors held the most important ceremonies, has ten! GETTING READY

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GETTING READY. GETTING READY. GETTING READY. VOCABULARY DRILL. EXPRESSION PRACTICE. EXPRESSION PRACTICE. EXPRESSION PRACTICE. READING─PRE-READING TASK. Look at the pictures and captions. What do you think the reading will be about?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of GETTING READY

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Audio Transcripts:

Chinese Architectural Design

In China, buildings used to be built with heavy platforms and thick

roofs. A primary example of this is the Forbidden City. You’ll immediately

notice that the roofs are covered in yellow tiles, as that was the imperial

color. This isn’t the palace’s only design feature that is both symbolic and

decorative. The number of statues on top of the buildings represents the

significance of each structure. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the

emperors held the most important ceremonies, has ten!

GETTING READY

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Audio Transcripts:

Ancient Architecture

Architectural talent dates back to ancient times. Due to the Romans’

clever use of concrete and marble, many of their structures were

staggering in both size and beauty. Take the Arch of Titus’s for

instance. This monument honors Emperor Titus’ military victories and is

detailed with carvings and sculptures. It has inspired other triumphal

arches built since the 16th century, including the famous Arc de Triomphe

in Paris, France.

GETTING READY

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Audio Transcripts:

European Structures

During the Renaissance, buildings were characterized by their

symmetrical arrangement. This may sound boring, but touring a site like

St. Peter’s Basilica might change your mind. It has the largest dome in

the world, measuring 42 meters around and reaching 138 meters into the

sky. It’s also the only piece of work designed by Michelangelo that he

actually signed, so you know it has to be great!

GETTING READY

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VOCABULARY DRILL

Audio Transcripts:

Frank: Our proposal for the new building downtown is due soon.

Norman: Let’s get ideas from cities with impressive architectural landscapes, like Dubai. The city’s architecture is extravagant.

Frank: That’s true. They have the most buildings that stand taller than 200 meters in the world!

Norman: Take Burj Khalifa, for example. At 828 meters, it’s unprecedented in size, and it houses the Armani Hotel. The hotel’s lavish rooms make guests feel spoiled. And have you heard about The Dubai Fountain?

Frank: Of course. It’s illuminated by more than 6,600 lights, and the water soars 150 meters into the air!

Norman: That’s nothing compared to Burj Al Arab though. It sits on an artificial island 280 meters away from the beach, and the island is connected to the mainland by a private bridge.

Frank: I know. It took three years to reclaim the land from the sea.

Norman: While most hotels are rectangular shapes, it’s designed in the form of a sail.

Frank: Yeah. Its contemporary design is easy to spot.

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Audio Transcripts:

Jill: Rosie! You seem down in the dumps today. What’s up?

Rosie: If Justin and I were still together, today would have been our anniversary.

Jill: You guys only dated for a month. You shouldn’t be feeling blue. You should make yourself feel cheerful instead.

Rosie: How?

Jill: To start, do something about your appearance. You’ve been wearing sloppy lounge clothes constantly since the breakup!

Rosie: I’m too sick at heart to bother looking stunning again.

Jill: Whatever. How about starting a fitness routine? Getting your heart rate up will lift your mood.

Rosie: I don’t like anything physical. If I’m already down in the mouth, why would I make myself more miserable?

Jill: Fine. Then buy yourself flowers. The bright colors and lovely scents could work.

Rosie: Well, carnations are in season, and they are my favorite.

Jill: Listen to lively music too. Nothing will raise those low spirits faster than a catchy pop song!

Rosie: Sounds good. I’m obsessed with that genre of music anyway.

Jill: You also need to have fun. You haven’t wanted to come out lately!

Rosie: You’re right. I promise to show up next time.

EXPRESSION PRACTICE

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EXPRESSION PRACTICE

Audio Transcripts:

Jamie: Hi, roomie!

Alicia: Hey, Jamie. What a disastrous day.

Jamie: What happened?

Alicia: I needed to study for an exam, but I had to work the afternoon shift.

Jamie: Sounds like you had your hands full.

Alicia: Yeah. I’ve had it with everything.

Jamie: Well, I have something to make you breathe easy for a while—the new Happy Houseware catalog!

Alicia: I love browsing through those.

Jamie: Me too. Plus, getting some new furniture and accessories to make our apartment cozier will help us relax after a long day. What do you think of this black leather couch?

Alicia: The dark color might make us feel weighed down.

Jamie: True. How about buying these pillows to complement our old couch? Surrounded by such a bright color, we’ll be without a care in the world.

Alicia: If we really want to feel at ease, we should get dimmer lighting in here. Those white floor lamps seem perfect for that.

Jamie: And we need this maple-stained kitchen table. Then we don’t have to eat on the couch.

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EXPRESSION PRACTICE

Audio Transcripts:

Doctor: How are you doing with the pain lately, Brian?

Brian : It has diminished during the past week, Doctor.

Doctor: Then I’m going to give you the OK on easing off your pain medicine. There are still a few things, however, that you must refrain from doing.

Brian : OK, but I’d like to get back to running track as soon as possible. My team needs me!

Doctor: You fractured your leg, kid. I can’t give the thumbs up for running quite yet. I can give the green light on walking without your crutches though.

Brian : That’s an improvement. What about jogging?

Doctor: No, not for a few weeks.

Brian : Can you sign off on lifting weights, as long as I only use my arms?

Doctor: Sure. I can also give my stamp of approval on driving again since you broke your left leg. Just make sure the car is spacious enough to prevent your leg from being crammed.

Brian : When will I be able to resume my part-time job? I really need money.

Doctor: All right. But only because it’s a desk job!

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Look at the pictures and captions. What do you think the reading will be about?

a. How the designs of office buildings have evolved over the years

b. Using bizarre building materials in modern architecture

c. Examples of remarkable structures that use interesting designs

d. How modern offices meet international standards

READING─PRE-READING TASK

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READING

From the unusual to the practical, modern architecture

has countless styles. All across the globe, what many

architects are doing is pushing the envelope when it

comes to creating buildings that fulfill the needs of

leading enterprises.

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Vodafone Headquarters

When Vodafone announced a contest to design its headquarters in Portugal,

the cell phone giant probably didn’t expect to receive the plans from the

architectural firm Barbosa & Guimarães. It was Vodafone’s slogan, “Life in Motion,”

that these architects used as their inspiration. The building appears to be moving!

Both the exterior and the interior of the building are full of geometric patterns. The

designers were only able to achieve this look because of concrete—it can be

shaped into any imaginable form. The completed structure is so awe-inspiring that

it has won numerous awards.

READING

Photo: Flickr / LeonL

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READING

The Basket Building

Some architecture can best be described as playful. These types of

structures often fall into the category of novelty designs, in which buildings

resemble the merchandise that its company sells. The Longaberger

Company’s Home Office in Newark, Ohio, is one such example. This

seven-story headquarters is a dead ringer for the company’s biggest seller:

the Longaberger Medium Market Basket. The design was the invention of

its founder, Dave Longaberger. As he was known to be a joker, many

people thought he was kidding when he announced his plans, but his funny

suggestion increased publicity for the business.

Photo: Flickr / ellenm1

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READING

The More London Development

As environmental protection has become part of global consciousness, the

world’s foremost architects are trying to come up with the most prestigious

green building. Once construction of 7 More London was finished, Foster +

Partners had successfully created the most eco-friendly building in London. It

is the first structure in the capital city to receive an OUTSTANDING rating

from the country’s green building ranking organization. The More London

development consists of several buildings and is home to London’s City Hall,

as well as various cafés, shops, and an open-air area full of sculptures and

water fountains. Foster + Partners is responsible for the look of the entire

complex, and the company is well-known for using glass and steel to design

amazing architecture all over the world.

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READING

If you’re an architecture enthusiast,

there are plenty of notable buildings that

are sure to thrill you. Each year, the field of

architecture moves in interesting directions

thanks to architects’ ingenuity.

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READING

Discussion

Can you name a few of the nations that are known for their

architectural inventiveness? What about your country?

Which landmark in your city has the most celebrated design?

Do you know if there is an interesting story behind its style?

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

A. Understand from the ContextFill in the blanks with the correct forms of the words provided.

uniqueness important exposure pioneer addicted identical

1. The company was determined to push the envelope in its industry. It ___________ a cutting-edge method of production.

2. When tablet computers were first released, many considered them a novelty. Now, however, their ___________ is no longer surprising.

3. Joe was a dead ringer for a famous news anchor. In fact, they looked ___________, so he was often mistaken for the celebrity.

4. Organizers put a lot of effort into the event’s publicity. Thanks to the ___________, the attendance was greater than expected.

5. The professor was one of the foremost experts in the field. He was a(n) ___________ member of several research teams.

6. Alfonso is a big baseball enthusiast. Sometimes his wife thinks he is too ___________ to the game.

pioneered

uniqueness

identical

exposure

important

addicted

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

B. Match Match the sentence parts.

1. The idea behind Vodafone’s slogan motivated ______

2. When an architect wants more flexibility in his or her design, ______

3. Surprisingly, it was originally the founder’s idea ______

4. According to the most recent rankings, ______

5. Since environmental issues are generating concern worldwide, ______

a. for the headquarters to resemble the company’s merchandise.

b. 7 More London causes less carbon emissions than any other office building.

c. concrete is the perfect material to use because it can be shaped easily.

d. green buildings have been gaining popularity in recent years.

e. the architects who came up with the innovative design plans.

e

c

a

b

d

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

C. Comprehension CheckAnswer the questions.

1. From whom did Vodafone obtain the design for its headquarters?

2. What is impressive about the appearance of the Vodafone headquarters?

3. Originally, why was the idea of the Basket Building not taken seriously?

4. What can be seen in the area around 7 More London?

The plans were chosen from the architectural firm Barbosa & Guimarães in a contest.

It looks like it’s moving, and the exterior is decorated with geometric patterns.

The founder was notorious for his enjoyment of fooling people.

The space boasts several office buildings, City Hall, and leisure spots, like cafés, shops, and water fountains.