Greek Suffixes 2

Level: C1

hyper- over, beyond: hyperbole, hypercritical

hypo- under: hypothesis, hypocrite

meta- (met) implying, change: metaphor, metonymy

pan- all: panacea, panorama, pantheism

para- beside, by the side of: parallel, paradox, parasite

peri- round: period, perimeter, periscope

philo- (phil) love: philosophy, philanthropy

pro- before: prophesy, programme

syn- (sym, syl, sy) with, together: synonym, sympathy, syllabus, system

Invitation to the Country

Level: B1

To: Rosemary

Subject: Re: Invitation

Dear Rosemary,

 

I was delighted to get your letter this morning. I really ought to have written to you – it was my turn, I know – but I have been terribly busy. The children seem to take up all my time. I am thinking of sending Ann to a nursery school. She’ll be four next month. Baby has just started to walk and doesn’t give me a moment’s peace. But you know what it is like! How are all your children? I’m sure they love living in the country.

I’m afraid we can’t come over to see you next Sunday, as you suggest. Tom’s mother is coming to spend the day with us. What about the Sunday after that – the twenty-second? We are free that day and should love to come. We’re longing to see your new house.

Let me know, then, if the Sunday after next suits you. May we come for lunch? We’d like to leave fairly early in the evening to avoid the heavy traffic on the roads. 

Love from us all,

Edna

To: Edna

Subject: Re: Re: Invitation

Dear Edna,

Yes, we’d love you to come the Sunday after next. And please do come for lunch. I’ll try to think of something really special to cook. Ted says you can help him in the garden. He wasn’t so pleased when I said that the children would help, too! I’m looking forward to seeing the baby.  Can he really walk already? Time certainly flies!

We’ve had a lot of work to do in the house, but it has been worth it. It is good to be living in the country once more. I never enjoyed town life, as you know. You ought to look for a house in the country. But I suppose Tom wouldn’t like the long journey to work every day.

We shall expect you about midday. Look after yourself and don’t work too hard.

Love to you both,

Rosemary

Glossary

avoid- to stay away from someone or something, or not use them

be worth it- used to say that you get something from an action

come over- to visit someone at their house

delighted- very pleased and happy

expect- to believe that someone or something is going to arrive

fairly- more than a little

long- to want something very much, especially when it seems unlikely to happen soon

look after- to take care of someone

look for- to try to find

look forward to- to be excited and pleased about something that is going to happen

nursery school- a school for children who are between three and five years old

once more- again

ought to- should

pleased- happy or satisfied

suit- to be acceptable, suitable, or convenient for a particular person in a particular situation

suppose- to think that something is true; guess

take up- to fill a particular amount of time or space

terribly- very; extremely

the country- land that is outside towns and cities

think of- to consider the possibility of doing something

time flies- time seems to pass very quickly

turn- the time when it is your chance, duty, or right to do something

Collocations

be delighted to do something

ought to have done something

it was my turn

terribly busy

take up all my time

send someone to a nursery school

give someone a moment’s peace

I’m afraid

should love to do something

be longing to do something

fairly early

heavy traffic

come for lunch

help someone in the garden

look forward to doing something

don’t work too hard

Shoplifting

Level: B1

People are not so honest as they once were. The temptation to steal is greater than ever before – especially in large shops. A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her.

The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible. Then the woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. The girl ‘gave’ her mother a free dress once a week!

Glossary

arrest- if the police arrest someone, the person is taken to a police station because the police think they have done something illegal

article- a thing, especially one of a group of things

assistant- someone whose job is to help customers in a shop

detective- a police officer whose job is to discover information about crimes and catch criminals

especially- used to emphasize that something is more important or happens more with one particular thing than with others

find out- to get information, after trying to discover it or by chance

hand- to give something to someone else with your hand

honest- someone who is honest always tells the truth and does not cheat or steal

once- at some time in the past, but not now

parcel- an object that has been wrapped in paper or put in a special envelope, especially so that it can be sent by post

steal- to take something that belongs to someone else

temptation- a strong desire to have or do something even though you know you should not

well-dressed- wearing attractive fashionable clothes

wrap (up)- to put paper or cloth over something to cover it

Collocations

the temptation to do something

greater than ever before

fewer than usual

after a little time

hand something to someone

wrap something up

as quickly as possible

without paying

find out that

once a week

A Modern-Looking Goddess

Level: B2

Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Kea. An American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini. The city at one time must have been prosperous, for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. Houses – often three storeys high – were built of stone. They had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls. The city was equipped with a drainage system, for a great many clay pipes were found beneath the narrow streets.

The temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century BCE until Roman times. In the most sacred room of temple, clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. Each of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted. The body of one statue was found among remains dating from the fifteenth century BCE. It’s missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century BCE. This head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved. It was very old and precious even then. When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. She stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hips. She was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground. Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.

Glossary

amazed- very surprised; astonished

BCE- before current era; the years before the birth of Jesus

despite- used to say that something happens or is true even though something else might have prevented it

discovery-  a fact or thing that someone finds out about, when it was not known about before

drainage- the process or system by which water or waste liquid flows away

equipped with- provided with the things that are needed for a particular kind of activity or work

explore- to travel around an area in order to find out about it

fragment- a small piece of something that has broken off or that comes from something larger

graceful- moving in a smooth and attractive way, or having an attractive shape or form

identity- someone’s name and who they are

indeed- used to emphasize a statement or answer

precious- valuable and important

preserve- to save someone or something from being harmed or destroyed

promontory- a long narrow piece of land which sticks out into the sea

prosperous- rich and successful

reconstruct- to build something again after it has been destroyed or damaged

remains- the parts of something that are left after the rest has been destroyed or has disappeared

represent- to be a sign or mark that means something; to form or be something

rest- to support an object or part of body by putting it on or against something, or to be supported in this way

sacred- relating to a god or religion; very important or greatly respected

sweep- to move things from a surface with a brushing movement

temple- a building where people go to worship

turn out- to happen in a particular way, or to have a particular result, especially one that you did not expect

worship- the activity of praying or singing in a religious building in order to show respect and love for a god

Collocations

make a discovery

explore a temple

on the promontory of

enjoy a high level of civilization

three storeys high

built of stone

beautifully decorated

drainage system

equipped with a system

a great many

a place of worship

happen to be

carefully preserved

reconstruct fragments

be amazed to find

turn out to be

modern-looking

stand three feet high

your hands rest on your hips

a full-length skirt

her skirt sweeps the ground

despite her great age

discover her identity

Bright Young People

Level: C2

How does the writer like to treat young people? People are always talking about ‘the problem of youth’. If there is one – which I take leave to doubt – then it is older people who create it, not the young themselves. Let us get down to fundamentals and agree that the young are after all human beings – people just like their elders. There is only one difference between an old man and a young one: the young man has a glorious future before him and the old one has a splendid future behind him: and maybe that is where the rub is. When I was a teenager, I felt that I was just young and uncertain – that I was a new boy in a huge school, and I would have been very pleased to be regarded as something so interesting as a problem. For one thing, being a problem gives you a certain identity, and that is one of the things the young are busily engaged in seeking.

I find young people exciting. They have an air of freedom, and they do not have a dreary commitment to mean ambitions or love of comfort. They are not anxious social climbers, and they have no devotion to material things. All this seems to me to link them with life, and the origins of things. It’s as if they were, in some sense, cosmic beings in violent and lovely contrast with us suburban creatures. All that is in my mind when I meet a young person. He may be conceited, ill-mannered, presumptuous or fatuous, but I do not turn for protection to dreary cliches about respect of elders –  as if mere age were a reason for respect. I accept that we are equals, and I will argue with him, as an equal, if I think he is wrong.

From Out of the Air in The Listener by Fielden Hughes

Glossary

after all- used to say that something must be remembered or considered, because it helps to explain what you have just said

air- if someone or something has an air of confidence, mystery, etc., they seem confident, mysterious, etc.

ambition- a strong desire to achieve something

cliche- an idea or phrase that has been used so much that is not effective or does not have any meaning any longer

commitment- a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way

conceited- if you are conceited, you think that you are very clever, skilful, beautiful, etc.

devotion- the loyalty that you show towards a person, job, etc.

dreary- dull and making you feel sad and bored

engaged in- busy doing

fatuous- very silly and stupid; idiotic

fundamentals- the most important ideas, rules, etc. that something is based on

glorious- very beautiful or impressive; having or deserving fame, praise, and honour

ill-mannered- not polite and behaving badly in social situations

mere- used to emphasize how small or unimportant something or someone is

presumptuous- doing something that you have no right to do and that seems rude

seek- to try to achieve or get something

social climber- someone who tries to get accepted int a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class

splendid- beautiful and impressive; magnificent

take leave- as for permission

the rub- the problem that is the reason why a situation is so difficult

Collocations

take leave to doubt

get down to fundamentals

difference between A and B

a glorious future

a splendid future

where the rub is

be pleased to be regarded as

be given a certain identity

be busily engaged in

find someone exciting

have an air of freedom

have a commitment to

a dreary commitment to

mean ambitions

love of comfort

anxious social climbers

have no devotion to

link A with B

in some sense

in (violent/lovely) contrast with

suburban creatures

turn to someone or something for protection

dreary cliches about

TV's Irreparable Harm

Level: C2

‘Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television?’ How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn’t been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never found it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilised pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies, we used to entertain our friends and be entertained by them, we used to go outside for our amusements to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and sporting events. We even used to read books and listen to music and broadcast talks occasionally. All that belongs to the past. Now all our free time is regulated by the ‘goggle box’. We rush home or gulp down our meals to be in time for this or that programme. We have even given up sitting at table and having a leisurely evening meal, exchanging the news of the day. A sandwich and a glass of beer will do anything, providing it doesn’t interfere with the programme. The monster demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a programme, he is quickly silenced.

Whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly. Food is left uneaten, homework undone and sleep is lost. The telly is a universal pacifier. It is now standard practice for mother to keep the children quiet by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set. It doesn’t matter that the children will watch rubbishy commercials or spectacles of sadism and violence – so long as they are quiet.

There is a limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world. Every day, television consumes vast quantities of creative work. That is why most of the programmes are so bad: it is impossible to keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as well. When millions watch the same programmes, the whole world becomes a village, and society is reduced to the conditions which obtain in pre-literate communities. We become utterly dependent on the two most primitive media of communication: pictures and the spoken word.

Television encourages passive enjoyment. We become content with second-hand experiences.  It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We get so lazy we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness, glued to our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. Television may be a splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountains, far away from civilisation. In quiet, natural surroundings, we quickly discover how little we miss the hypnotic tyranny of King Telly.

Glossary

addicted- liking something so much that you do not want to stop doing it or having it

admit- to allow someone to enter

civilised- pleasant and comfortable

consume- to use

content- happy

cut off- to separate

demand- n. the need or desire that people have for particular goods and services; v. to ask for something very firmly

entertain- to invite people to your home for a meal, party, etc.

glued to- looking at something with all your attention

goggle box- (figurative) television

goggle- to look at something with your eyes wide open in surprise of shock

gulp down- to swallow large quantities of food or drink quickly

hypnotic- making you feel tired and unable to pay attention to anything else

interfere with- to prevent something from succeeding or from happening in the way that it was planned

irrelevant-  not useful or not related to a particular situation, and therefore not important

keep pace with- to change or increase as fast as something else

little by little- gradually; by degrees

maintain- to make something continue in the same way or at the same standard as before

obtain- 1. to get something that you want; 2. if a situation, system, or rule obtains, it continues to exist

occupy-  if something occupies your time, you are busy doing it

one-eyed monster- (figurative) television

pacifier- something that makes people calm

primitive- very simple and not modern

providing- if

regulate- to control an activity or process, especially by rules

rubbishy- silly or of a very low quality

sadism- behaviour in which someone gets pleasure from hurting other people or making them suffer

spare time- free time; leisure time

spectacle- an unusual thing or situation that you see or notice

splendid- beautiful and impressive

telly- (informal) television

tyranny- cruel and unfair control over other people

universal- true or suitable in any situation

will do anything- be enough or acceptable

Collocations

hear statements

admit someone into a place

occupy your spare time

enjoy civilised pleasures

have hobbies

entertain friends

go out for your amusements

something belongs to the past

your free time is regulated by

rush home

gulp down your meal

be in time for something

sit at a table

have a leisurely meal

exchange the news of the day

demand (absolute) silence/attention

obtain (absolute) silence/attention

addicted to something

it is now standard practice to do something

rubbishy commercials

spectacles of sadism and violence

maintain high standards

be reduced to something

conditions obtain

utterly dependent on

encourage passive enjoyment

become content with

second-hand experiences

cut someone off from something

prevent someone from doing something

totally irrelevant

Mountain Pioneers

Level: C1

What was the main objective of early mountain climbers? Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, and the more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded. In the pioneering days, however, this was not the case at all. The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top, because the summit was the prize they sought, especially if it had never been attained before. It is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner with what would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. They had a single aim, a solitary goal – the top!

It is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular, Alpine villages tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization by the high mountains. Such inns as there were generally dirty and flea-ridden; the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old, all washed down with coarse wine. Often a valley boasted no inn at all, and climbers found shelter wherever they could – sometimes with the local priest (who was usually as poor as his parishioners), sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. Invariably, the background was the same: dirt and poverty, and very uncomfortable. For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, the change to the Alps must have very hard indeed.

From Matterhorn Man by Walter Unsworth

Glossary

accompanied by- served with

accustomed to- used to; familiar with

alpinist- a mountain-climber, especially in the Alps

attain- to succeed in achieving something after trying for a long time

boast- to have something that is very good

coarse- rough

court- to behave in a way that makes danger, death, excitement, etc. more likely

cut off- separated

equip- to provide a person with the things that are needed for a particular kind of activity or work

except for- used to introduce the only person, thing, action, fact, or situation about which a statement is not true

flea-ridden- full of fleas; infested with fleas

go out of your way- to do something with more effort than is usual or expected

impoverished- poor; very bad in quality

inn- a small hotel or pub, especially an old one in the country

invariably- always; without exception; all the time

linen- cloth made from the flax plant

objective- goal

parishioner- someone who lives in a parish, especially someone who regularly goes to a Christen church there

perilous- very dangerous

pioneer- one of the first people who travel to a new country or area and begin living there, farming, etc.

pioneering- introducing new and better methods or ideas for the first time

regard- to think about someone or something in a particular way

route- a way from one place to another

seek- to try to achieve or get something

settlement- a group of houses and buildings where people live, especially in a place where few people have lived before

shelter- protection from danger or from wind, rain, hot sun, etc.

shudder- to think that something is very bad or unpleasant

solitary- single; just one

tend- if something tends to happen, it happens often and is likely to happen again

wash something down- to drink something with or after food or with medicine to help you swallow it

Collocations

the main objective of something

give someone good sport

regard something highly

in the pioneering days

seek a prize

attain a prize

it is true that

face difficulties/dangers

be equipped with something

shudder at the thought (of something)

court excitement

a solitary goal

impoverish settlements

cut off from civilization

boast no inn

find shelter

be accustomed to something/doing something

sleep between linen sheets