C2 Conversation
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C2 Conversation Fall Semester 2013 Seanan (This book is for classroom purposes only and may not be sold) Index Topic 1 Culture p.3 Topic 2 Travel p.9 Topic 3 Current Events World p.17 Topic 4 Europe p.24 Topic 5 Food p.31 Topic 6 Countries p.38 2 Topic 1 Culture 1. Vocabulary (The MP3 is available online) 1. Squat *Squat 6. Coarse *Coarse 2. Snug *Snug 7. Spade *Spade 3. Rasping *Rasp ing 8. Turf *Turf 4. Rump *Rump 9. Mould *Mould 5. Drills *Drills 10. Squelch *Squelch (Skwellch) 2. Definitions and Samples Word Form Definition Example Usage Tips Parts of Speech 1 Squat adj Marked by The water bear is in shape, *Squat n disproportionate rather squat. *Squat v shortness or thickness 2 Snug adj Comfortably warm The children were snug in A common *Snug v and well-protected; bed during the blizzard. idiomatic expression *Snug gle (up) v cosy –“As snug as a bug in a rug.” 3 Rasping adj To make a rough, The metal boxes made a Rasp n harsh sound rasping sound as they were Rasp v dragged across the floor. 4 Rump n The part of the body I slipped and fell on my Similar to buttocks you sit on rump. 5 Drills n A shallow furrow or When I was a kid we were *Drill n trench into which seed told not to walk along the *Drill v is sown drills in the farm in case we trampled on the vegetables growing underfoot. 3 Word Form Definition Example Usage Tips Parts of Speech 6 Coarse adj Having a rough The fabric varies in texture *Coarse adj quality from coarse to fine. 7 Spade n A digging You’ll need a spade to get *Spade v implement adapted that out of the ground. It’s for being pushed pretty deep down. into the ground with the foot 8 Turf n A piece of peat dried The winter is coming. We *Turf n for fuel (Peat is need to get the turf in *Turf v partially carbonized before it gets too cold. vegetable tissue formed by partial decomposition in water of various plants) 9 Mould n A superficial often A. Can you throw out the Mold = American *Mould v woolly growth cheese? Spelling *Mould n produced especially B. Why? *Moul dy adj on damp or decaying A. It’s gone mouldy. organic matter or on B. Ugh, okay. living organisms by a fungus 10 Squelch n A sound of or as if My Converse shoes *Squelch v of semiliquid matter always squelch in the rain. under suction <the They are not waterproof. squelch of mud> 3. Vocabulary Practice A. Please create ONE sentence for each word. Say the sentence to your partner. No writing. Please try your best and make an understandable sentence. Thanks. Total time is 4 minutes (2 minutes each) Student A. Coarse Spade Turf Mould Squelch Student B. Squat Snug Rasping Rump Drills 4 4. Listening & Reading (The MP3 is available online) Listen to and read the poem. Digging by Seamus Heaney (YouTube Link) Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests; snug as a gun. Under my window, a clean rasping sound When the spade sinks into gravelly ground: My father, digging. I look down Till his straining rump among the flowerbeds Bends low, comes up twenty years away Stooping in rhythm through potato drills Where he was digging. The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft Against the inside knee was levered firmly. He rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deep To scatter new potatoes that we picked, Loving their cool hardness in our hands. By God, the old man could handlea spade. Just like his old man. My grandfather cut more turf in a day Than any other man on Toner’s bog. Once I carried him milk in a bottle Corked sloppily with paper. He straightened up To drink it, then fell to right away Nicking and slicing neatly, heaving sods Over his shoulder, going down and down For the good turf. Digging. The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slap Of soggy peat, the curt cuts of an edge Through living roots awaken in my head. But I’ve no spade to follow men like them. Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests. I’ll dig with it. 5 5. Listening & Reading Practice Please answer the following comprehension questions with your partner. a. What is this poem about? b. What is the generational difference between the writer and his father? c. This poem looks at aspects of Irish Culture (or way of life) when the poet was growing up. Do you know a poem from your country similar to “Digging”? If yes, please talk about it briefly with your partner. 6. Conversation Strategies Summarizing In other words, _____. In summary _____. You mean _____. To sum up _____. It sounds like _____. In conclusion _____. What you’re saying is (that) _____. 7. Conversation Strategy Practice Take turns with your partner. One partner secretly chooses a topic and describes it. The other partner listens with her/his eyes closed and then summarizes, using a summarizer. Tell about… a problem in your country. your favorite movie star. a time you did something bad. a time you were tired. a time you were afraid. your favorite singer. 6 8. Idioms These Idioms are very common and they are connected to Culture. Idiom Meaning Situation Example Dog-eat-dog world A very competitive and This idiom can be used I heard that Steve Jobs sometimes unfair world when people resort to stole the mouse idea from almost any means to Xerox. It’s a dog-eat-dog achieve their goals. world out there. Inside joke A joke that is understood I couldn’t understand why or meant to be understood they were laughing at me. only by certain people It must have been an who are in the know about inside joke. the details See eye to eye To agree with Used negatively mostly, We don’t see eye to eye at like in a relationship, or all on anything. What she work. thinks is right, I think is wrong. It’s not a great place to be in. Not make head or tail of Cannot understand at all This idiom is always used I can’t make heads or with can or could. The tails of this grammar. I nouns head and tail are really need help! often made plural. Be Greek to Not to be understood by The adjective all and the Thanks for trying to someone verb sound can also be explain the topic, but it’s used. all Greek to me. I tried to explain Einstein’s theory of relativity to my friend, but it just sounded Greek to him. 7 9. Idiom Practice Find the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the opposite of each idiom in the left-hand column. Write the letter in the blank. Be careful, some are similar. 1. Dog-eat-dog world a. At odds with 2. Inside joke b. Obscure 3. See eye to eye c. Harmonious 4. Not make head or tail of d. Well-known 5. Be Greek to e. Dumbfounded 8 Topic 2 Travel 1. Vocabulary (The MP3 is available online) 1. Intrepid In *trepid 6. Die hard *Die hard 2. Smitten *Smit ten 7. Proponent Pro *ponent 3. Hazard *Hazard 8. Exemplified Ex *emplified 4. Skepticism *Skep ticism 9. Grit *Grit 5. Bounds *Bounds 10. Plainspoken *Plain spo ken 2. Definitions and Samples Word Form Definition Example Usage Tips Parts of Speech 1 Intrepid adj Characterized by Adam was an intrepid Synonyms would be In *trepidness n resolute fearlessness, explorer who probed parts of bold, courageous, In *trepidity n fortitude, and the rain forest never fearless, brave, In *trepidly adv endurance <an previously attempted. valiant, undaunted, intrepid explorer> lionhearted 2 Smitten v Be strongly attracted She was smitten with the boy Synonyms would be Smite v to someone or attracted to, something: infatuated, taken (by), captivate 3 Hazard n A source of danger The tumbledown old barn Similar to danger, *Hazard v (hazard was considered a fire imminence, menace, a guess) hazard. peril, pitfall Is commonly used in the sport golf…a bunker is a hazard. 4 Skepticism n An attitude of She regarded the researcher's Similar to doubt, *Skep tic n doubting the truth of claims with skepticism. uncertainty, *Skep tic al adj something (such as a distrust, suspicion claim or statement) 5 Bounds n A limiting line (like a Lady Gaga knows no Similar to limits *Bound n, v, adj boundary) Used bounds. She will wear usually in plural form anything to get attention. 9 Word Form Definition Example Usage Tips Parts of Speech 6 Die hard id Strongly or fanatically Old habits die hard. Similar to old- *Die-hard n determined or devoted <die– fashioned, old- *Die hard ism n hard fans>; especially: strongly school, *Die *hard adj resisting change <a die–hard orthodox, conservative> traditional, unprogressive 7 Proponent n A person who argues for or The chef Jamie Oliver Similar to supports something is a vocal proponent advocate, for the serving of backer, healthy food in school supporter, cafeterias. champion 8 Exemplified v To be a very good example of The city's economic Similar to Ex *emplaryadj (something) : to show growth is exemplified by demonstrate, (something) very clearly the many new buildings illustrate that are currently under construction. 9 Grit n Mental toughness and courage Through resourcefulness Similar to *Grit n and grit, the pioneers backbone, guts, *Grit v survived the winter.