3.2 HOME FROM HOME: -Y ADJECTIVES

Why do you think houses are designed and built like this? What are the advantages?

Houses are built in accordance with the habitat and the surroundings.

tree houses

Tree houses are a refuge from wild animals, mosquitoes and earthbound evil spirits.

Igloos

Igloos are cosy inside and the packed ice and snow act as an insulator.

Caves

Caves are cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and give superb protection (they won't blow down in the wind), and they are well made for decoration, e.g. pantings.

Yurts

Yurts are built so that nomads can move as the seasons and the weather changes.

a refuge from wild animals

A refuge is a place where you can hide from something. He describes tree houses as a refuge from wild animals.

spirits are earthbound

Supernatural beings (e.g. angels, demons) live on the earth and cannot fly. He says Indonesians believe in these, so tree houses provide protection.

wooden stilts

Long poles to support a structure built above land level. He describes houses on stilts.

acts as an insulator

does not transmit energy. He says the snow and ice of an igloo is an insulator (blocks out cold weather)

so-called primitive dwellings

very basic places to live. The interviewer asks him how these compare to modern housing.

adorned them with figurines

decorated them with small figures (usually clay, metal or wood).

nomads in Central Asia

tribes who have no permanent home, but are constantly travelling. They use yurts.

What does have an awakening mean?

If you have an awakening, it means you suddenly realise or recognise something important.

What does take your breath away mean? What does it mean when something is breathtaking?

If something takes your breath away, you feel amazed because this thing is so remarkable or incredible beautiful. Breathtaking means remarkable, amazing or incredible beautiful.

What does this mean?

These houses are built in accordance with the habitat means the houses are built in a certain way because of the land/environment that surrounds them.

In hotter climates, people are forced to take refuge in shady dwellings.

a lecture. This factual information, expressed in formal language, and it isn't selling anything.

The gloomy room suited her dejected mood. She stared at the dreary, grey carpet and waited.

a piece of fiction. The extract uses the past tense to describe part of a story and contains thoughts and actions as well as descriptions.

Roomy cottage, spacious, good views, airy kitchen with large windows, sleeps eight.

an ad: it contains notes rather full sentences and adjectives that focus on positive aspects.

Native peoples would use animal skins to insulate the house from chilly weather in winter.

a lecture: this is factual information, expressed in formal language, and it isn't selling anything.

He saw the poky interior -tiny, cramped- was adorned only by a cabinet repainted in gaudy colours: bright red, purple and yellow.

a piece of fiction: this uses many adjectives to create an atmosphere and is told in the past tense, which suggests it is a story.

shady

neutral - depends on weather you are in a hot or cold country

gloomy; dejected; dreary; grey

negative; negative; negative; neutral -depends on whether it's describing the colour or the mood.

roomy; spacious; good; airy; large

positive; positive; positive; positive; positive

native; chilly

neutral; negative

poky; tiny; cramped; gaudy; red, purple, yellow

negative; negative; negative; negative; neutral

Photo A

It's a scenic town with awe-inspiring mountain views.

Photo B

It's a vast, overpopulated metropolis.

Photo C

It's a quaint, secluded village far from any big cities.

Photo D

It's a sprawling, ramshackle slum.

vast

extremely large

awe-inspiring

extremely impressive in a way that makes you feel great respect

scenic

surrounded by views of beautiful countryside

sprawling

spreading over a wide area in an untidy or unattractive way

quaint

unusual and attractive, especially in an old-fashioned way

ramshackle

in bad condition and in need of repair

secluded

very private and quiet

overpopulated

there are too many people in a place

The Pear Tree is a (g?) dark bar. It's quite (p?) with uncomfortable wooden chairs, but it has live music every night.

The Pear Tree is a gloomy dark bar. It's quite poky with uncomfortable wooden chairs, but it has live music every night.

Jackie Brown's is a large café with a (r?) interior. Set in a picturesque part of the city, it is very (a?), with huge windows that look out onto a big park.

Jackie Brown's is a large café with a roomy interior. Set in a picturesque part of the city, it is very airy, with huge windows that look out onto a big park.

Bangles II is a bright, loud hangout. It has a (g?). multicoloured decor and a DJ who plays hip hop. It gets (c?) in winter.

Bangles II is a bright, loud hangout. It has a gaudy, multicoloured decor and a DJ who plays hip hop. It gets chilly in winter.