1 Reading
a Read the travel blog. Are the sentences true or false?
1 The bus was cheaper than other kinds of transport.
2 The journey to Vegas was not particularly interesting.
3 It takes some time for Vegas to make an impression on you.
4 The hotel wasn’t one of the best in Vegas.
5 The magic show made a big impression on the writer.
6 Vegas is the last stage of their journey.
Nothing beats Las Vegas
I wrote ‘the madness of Vegas’ in my last entry, but that wasn’t strong enough to describe what we found in this crazy town. We came from Lake Mead by bus, the most economical way of getting there. That was an experience in itself, as there were some amazing characters on board.
When you first come to Vegas, the sight of all those lights, massive hotels and leisure complexes is absolutely awe-inspiring. We were staying in quite an ordinary hotel by Vegas standards, but it was huge. I even got lost in the lobby!
There’s so much to do in Vegas: the entertainment is absolutely fabulous. We went to an aquarium, a Star Trek museum and a magic show, which was just mind-blowing – I think I’m starting to believe in magic now after seeing all those unbelievable tricks they do.
That was Vegas and it was really the experience of a lifetime. Our next stop is going to be somewhere a lot quieter – that won’t be difficult after Vegas.
b Read the blog again and find five adjectives which mean very good or very surprising.
1 ……amazing……
2 …………………….
3 …………………….
4 …………………….
5 …………………….
Answer
a True: 1, 4, 5; False: 2, 3, 6
b 2 awe-inspiring 3 fabulous 4 mind-blowing 5 unbelievable
2 Writing Skills – Using descriptive language
Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.
1 through / absolutely / the journey on / quiet trails / the dark forest was / unforgettable.
……The journey on quiet trails through the dark forest was absolutely unforgettable. ……
2 unbelievable, with / the scenery was / deep snow / absolutely / high mountains in.
……………………………………………….
3 absolutely / you’ll find it / easy to / get to / cheap and / mind-blowing, and it’s.
……………………………………………….
4 original / wooden houses / old town is / fabulous, / the / absolutely / especially the.
……………………………………………….
5 this world / absolutely / recognisable because it’s / the Taj Mahal / is instantly / out of.
……………………………………………….
6 in their / we spent / cosy cottage / awesome day with some / an absolutely / friendly villagers
……………………………………………….
Answer
2 The scenery was absolutely unbelievable, with high mountains in deep snow.
3 You’ll find it absolutely mind-blowing, and it’s cheap and easy to get to.
4 The old town is absolutely fabulous, especially the original wooden houses.
5 The Taj Mahal is instantly recognisable because it’s absolutely out of this world.
6 We spent an absolutely awesome day with some friendly villagers in their cosy cottage.
3 Writing
Write a travel blog about a place you’ve been to. Use the notes to help you.
– where you went (what kind of place is it? how did you get there? where did you stay?)
– what you did (sightseeing, entertainment, meeting people, food)
– what you saw (interesting features)
– what it was live (the good and bad points, would you recommend it?)
Answer
Suggested answer
My day is Grugapark, in Essen in Germany, was absolutely fabulous and I’m so glad I took time out to go. Amazingly, a lot of people haven’t even heard of Grugapark, which is a real shame because it’s out of this world.
Grugapark is not just an ordinary park in the middle of a town. It’s hard to describe in words how awesome Grugapark is. It’s an absolutely superb example of how the countryside can come to the city and really make you feel miles away from the stress and ugliness of urban life. I spent all day there and I wasn’t bored for a minute.
I thought the botanical gardens were unbelievable. It’s a shame I couldn’t come back at night, because the way that the gardens are lit up with lots of coloured lights is absolutely awesome. I also ran into a lot of animals around the park – the visitors’ centre says there are over 500 different animals in Grugapark. You’re not allowed to feed them though!
If you liked this blog, follow the link www.grugapark.de and get more information about Grugapark. I’ll be back tomorrow with the next stage of my tour through Germany.