Unit 5 The writer's journey

Lar
Sa Pilgrimages 3 L
t

Reading their Africa 2 Read the article again and find words with these 1
meanings.
1 Read the article about the Pilgrimages project and
a randomly (para 1)
answer the questions.
b take hold of firmly (para 1) 2
1 What is the aim of the Pilgrimages project?
c easily noticed (para 2)
d troubled (para 3)
2 What inspired the project?
e a picture (para 3) 3
f unoriginal (para 4)
3 How are the books different from the usual
g announce an order (para 4)
travel books we read?
4

4 What are the writers trying to avoid?

4 R
OJ

Pilgrimages 1

'For one month, nearly a billion eyes will follow Among the other thirteen is Yvonne Owuor of
the wayward movement of one small ball, Kenya who has written about Kinshasa,the capital
bouncing about haphazardly on a lawn - of Congo. The city is a great m ix of different African 2
controlled by the feet of 22 men speaking a cultures and languages with a turbulent history of
language billions understand very well.' These are colonisation and struggle for independence. Like 3
the opening words on the Pilgrimages website, a other Pilgrimages writers, Owuor is cautious about
project set up by the Chinua Achebe Centre for painting her portrait of Kinshasa with toa broad
African Writers and Artists, to seize the opportunity a brush, fearful that what will emerge is a one-
presented by the football World Cup in South Africa dimensional, stereotyped view of Africa. 4
in 2010 to educate the rest of the world about
This promises to be a refreshing series of travei
Africa. The way the association did this was to
books: not ones that throw out clichéd images and
ask thirteen African writers to write about their
stereotyped views of other worlds. As Owuor says, 5
experiences of thirteen cities spread across Africa.
when writers decree that a given place is like this or
Each author had two years, and help from a local
like that, then the reality disappears from view.
guide, to produce a book of approximately 30,000
words on each city. ..
y\ 6
The result is travei writing of a very different kind.
Rather than experiencing a place through the eyes
of an outsider, Pilgrimages aims to reveal Africa
.,.-
, -'-.': '-;'.
<:://.... .•.. KHAINOUM 7
as seen by Africans themselves. The advantage for ...... \
eTOMBOUCTQU' ::'-:'" ". Nimco Mahamud Hassen
• ~ Uzodinma lWéala/ t\.~~...
each writer is that although they are visiting cities lOUBA· .': -. ".
Binyavanga wain~ina-. .•••.•• ~.!::~. ......... ...•
previously not well-known to them, many things , '. fi' ••. --::...... HARGEISA ••••••.

are already familiar to them. This means that they AS DJA~ ~O'" • ...:::?~;~:::\;;<~:
Doree
IBaingana
Akenji Ndumu AI~!rTh<i~ban~\(oy.'· ••... \\ • KAMPALA'Victor lavalle
can concentrate on observing the details and while , •• ' \ :' :'..... \.... • NAlROSI
8
doing so not be as conspicuous as a non-African ./ \ : .'-KIN5HA5A \ : Nicole Tumer
••~ •• ~4. \ ~ Yvonne O~uor \ ••••
visitor would. Ugandan author Doreen Baingana, •..•• : LU DA :'::'
••••• : BiII Kahora : ;:
whose subject is the Somalian city of Hargeisa, SALVADOR \ i, /i
says:'Goats in a city, for example, do not surprise Abdourahman Waberi \ i.: :/
me in the way they would if I were from the UK.' \
-,
"".
:
.'.
...
.\ JQflANNESBURG
"
· .• ·DURBAN Funrni Iyanda
Chris Abani

000 CAP..E-JOWN Kojo laing

 Language focus substitution
3 Lookat the words in bold in the article and answer
the questions.
1 What words do these substitutions refer to?
a association (para 1)
b author (para 1)
2 What clauses do these substitutions refer to?
a This (para 2)
b doing so (para 2)
3 What nouns do these substitutions refer to?
a This (line 1, para 4)
b ones (para 4)
4 What words have been omitted after these
words?
a would (para 2)
b other thirteen (para 3)
4 Replacethe underlined words with other words or
omit the underlined words to avoid repetition.
1 I was going to buy a new umbrella, but then I
found my old umbrella.
2 I didn't want to go, but he persuaded me to go.
3 I want to phone her to find out what's going
on, but if I phone her she might think I'm being
pushy.
4 I downloaded all the Bob Marley songs, but I
didn't bother with the other songs.
:l
5 The temperature will drop to zero degrees
tonight. The temperature dropping to zero
degrees means there will be a frost.
6 It's a brilliant company. You couldn't find a
better company to work for
7 Neither the Michelin tyres nor the Pirelli tyres
are suitable. The Michelin tyres are too hard
and the Pirelli tyres are too soft.
8 It's not a cheap solution, but I understand why
you might think it is a cheap solution.
5 Pronunciaton intonation in short responses
a li 2.1 Look at these exchanges. In the responses,
the intonation rises on a particular word and then
falls to the end of the sentence. Listen and mark
with an arrow where the intonation falls from.
1 A: Would you like to come to dinner one
evening?
B: Yes,I'd love to.
2 A: Do you need to borrow a pen?
B: No, I've got one, thanks.
3 A: Are you coming?
B: No, I'm afraid not.
4 A: I didn't get the assistant manger job.
B: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
5 A: Are you going away this summer?
B: Ihope so.
6 A: Do you like detective stories?
B: Oh, yes. I love a good thriller.
7 A: What are you doing here so early?
B: Catching up on emails.
b 'i 2.2 Listen to A's part of the exchanges.
Respond using the correct intonation.
Vocabulary describing people
and places
6 Read this short account of arriving in a place.
Then complete the account using the definitions in
brackets to help you. The first letter of the missing
words has been given for you.
It is a remote village and I had been told
that the locais were a little 1 w......
(suspicious) of outsiders. But we were met
by an extremely 2 a (friendly)
woman who greeted us warmly and offered
to take us to our house. We followed her
up a 3 t (rough road) out of
the village. It was a steep 4 a
(climb) and by the time we reached the
house we were both quite out of breath. But
the scenery was beautiful - a little wooden
cottage backing onto woods and a small
stream nearby. It felt like the 5 s
(time and place) for a fairy tale. She
opened the front door to reveal a small
6 C.
m
(warm and comfortable) roam
inside, a fire already burning in the hearth.
Sb The graphic novel
Listening a serious art form?
1 li 2.3 Look at these statements about books in
comic formoDo you agree (A) or disagree (D) with
the statements? Then listen to an interview with an
author. Which views does he agree with?
1 Comic books help us to understand
information more elearly.
2 Comic books are simply a different medium for
information to traditional books.
3 Writers use cartoons to produce books such as
biographies that are more fun.
4 Children are more likely to read a book like this
than a regular biography.
5 The term graphic novel better describes these
books than comic books.
2 li 2.3 Listen again. Complete these sentences and
make contrasts.
1 There's been a great increase in the number of
books in comic form in recent years - both in
fiction and . 3 My day job working at the shop is pretty
2 Do you see that as a positive trend, or is it a
kind of ? because I'm trying to develop my career as a
3 That's how people see comic books, but it's a
common..... . .
4 They're not a... . , just a
medium.
5 The artwork is not cosmetic; it's very
........
to the story.
6 There's an that they're all
works of literature, and elearly they're not.
graphic novels
3 Match the definitions (a-f) with the words that
you used to make the contrasts in Exercise 2.
a well-matched
b writing about real events and facts
c suggestion
d simplification for people who are not elever
e type or elass
f wrong idea
Idioms rhyming expressions
4 Look at the rhyming expressions in these sentences
and choose the most likely meaning (a or b).
1 I think Sarah and [esse will make a dream
team. He knows the project really well and
she's a fantastic communicator.
a a great combination b an unlikely pair
2 They are going to broadcast the debate at
prime time next Tuesday.
a peak TV viewing hours b very late at night
humdrum, but it suits me at the moment
musician.
a tiring b routine and boring
4 I think it's unfair to call him a fat catoHe can't
help it if he's successful.
a a wealthy business person b a lazy person
 Unit 5 lhe writer's journey

5 Complete the rhyming expressions in these 7 Use the words given to nominalise phrases in
sentences. these sentences.
1 'No, I'm not too disappointed to lose. I've had 1 I think that's mainly because we live in a more
my fair of luck in this tournament visual age.
and today, unfortunately, it ran out.' I think we live in a
2 'I don't bear my opponent any ill ... more visual age. (reason)
He fought a good campaign and he won.' 2 It tries to get inside the mind of the world' s
3 'There's a fine between being most famous revolutionary.
direct and being rude and that comment was It . get inside the mind
rude.' of the worlds most famous revolutionary.
4 'That's a very wishy- answer. Can (attempt)
you just say what you really think?' 3 Anyone who prefers visual content is much
5 "The street will be a strictly no- .... more likely to pick up this book than a
area until the police have finished their traditional history.
investigations.' Anyone visual
nces 6 'OK. We've agreed the basic principles, but content is much more likely to pick up this
we really need to get down to the nitty- book than a traditional history. (preference)
...............
of how this is going to work.' 4 I don't think most authors would claim that
they are either.
Language focus nominalisation I don't think that ...
most authors either. (claim)
6 Look at the examples of nominalisation in
these sentences fram the interview. Rewrite the 8 Complete these sentences using the correct verb
nominalised phrases, using a verb or an adjective. form and make nominalised phrases.
ht 1 I have no intention ....
1 There's been a great increase in the number of
books in recent years. him.
The number of books in comic form 2 It's an attempt (trick) us.
a
..........
in recent years. 3 There's a fashion . (wear)
(verb) sunglasses on your head.
2 And why would an author make that choice? 4 I understand her desire ...
an't (do) well.
And why would an author ...
... ? (verb) 5 I don't understand her reason
on ................
(want) to leave.
3 You get a good understanding of what Cuba
and South Arnerica were like during that era. 6 I have a personal interest
You . what Cuba and (get) them to adopt the idea.
South America were like during this era. (verb)
4 The use of pictures means there's a greater 9 Dictation comics in education
attraction for younger readers. •• 2.4 Listen to someone talking about using
The use of pictures means it's ..... comics in education. Complete the paragraph .
.....................................
for younger readers. (adjective)
The idea ...
5 There's an implication that they're all works of
literature.
It . . they are all works There is ...
of literature. (verb)

The result ...

Now .

Educators ...
Se Heart of Darkness
listening a voyage into the
unknown
1 ti 2.5 Youare going to listen to an extract from
the book Heart ofDarkness by [oseph Conrad. The
setting is the Congo araund 1880.The extract
describes the beginning of the journey that Marlow,
a ship's captain, makes to this area. Listen and
answer the questions.
1 What did Marlow dream about as a boy?
2 What had happened to the principal place of
his dreams?
3 How did his dream become a reality?
2 fi 2.5 Listen again and complete these details of
the description.
1 What did you find on maps of the world at that
time?
2 In contrast, what had the map of this place
(Congo) become filled with?
3 What does he compare the river on the map to?
4 What was the strategic importance of the river?
5 What job did Marlow get?
6 What was his impression of the African coast as
the boat sailed along it?
3 Look at these sentences from the extract and
answer the questions about the descriptive words
in bold.
1 I would look for hours at South America, or
Africa, or Australia, and lose myself in all the
glories of exploration.
Do you think lose myself in something has a
positive or a negative connotation?
2 But there was one [place] yet - the biggest, the
most blank - that I had a hankering after.
Have people who hanker after something
experienced it yet or not?
3 A mighty big river, that you could see on the
map, resembling an immense snake uncoiled.
What is a snake usually doing when it is coiled?
4 I went on along Fleet Street, but could not
shake off the idea.
Which of these things would you not try to
shake off?
a a cold b a new skill c a bad reputation
5 Watching a coast as it slips by the ship is like
thinking about an enigma.
Do you think an enigma is:
a a mystery? b a new idea?
6 ... and always mute with an air of whispering.
If blind means 'cannot see: and deaf means
'cannot hear', what does mute mean?
Word focus cast
4 Choose the correct option and complete these
phrases with casto
1 Can you cast your wits / mind / brain back to
when you first saw her?
2 The report casts hesitation / questions / doubt on
the viability of the praject.
3 The announcement of her resignation cast a
shadow / shade / cloud over the whole meeting.
4 People will have forgotten about the incident
by the time they come to cast their decision /
vote / poli.
5 He cast a look / a glance / an eye over my
praposal and then said he would let me know.
6 They cast the net / web / line far and wide in
their search for a new leader.
 Unit 5 The writer's journey

Sd A historical novel
Real life reading aloud 4 Pronunciation enunciation
~ds
1 Speaking skill engaging your audience a ~ 2.8 Look at this extract which contains one
very long sentence. Mark on the extract where
Complete these tips for reading aloud to a group you think the pauses could come. Then listen and
he of people. The first letter of the missing words has compare your answers.
been given for you.
The broodening woters flowed through O mob
o Give some b about the author of wooded islonds; vou lost your woy on thot
river os Vou would in O desert, trying to find the
or the stonj.
chonnel, till Vou thought yourself cut off for ever
:he H E your words clearlu.
from everything vou hod ever known.
D P from time to time to allow uour
audience time to digest information.
D Vary the p and v at b li 2.9 Listen to the first sentence twice, the first
which you read. time read by the reader and the second time
spoken by someone in conversation. What is the
~ Read with ex and enthusiasm.
d. main difference you notice?
ed?
2 I§, 2.6 Listen to a reading from the book Heart C Practise reading the passage yourself, enunciating
of Darkness by [oseph Conrad and answer the your words clearly and pausing in the appropriate
questions. places.
1 What is the setting for the book?
5 Listen and respond talking about books
2 What does the reader say about the author? 'i 2.10 Think about your favourite novel. A
friend asks you some questions. Respond with
3 What point does the reader hope to make by your own words. Then compare what you say
reading this particular passage? with the model answer that follows.
1 What'syour
favourite nove!? That's a difficu!t question,
ng. 3 fi 2.7 Complete the reader's introduction. Then but one of my favourites
listen and check your answers. is Heart of Darkness by
Joseph Conrad.
ld like to reod vou on 1 .. . from Heort
of Dorkness by Joseph Conrod one of the
greot 2 ...._ of English literoture.The
book is 3 in the Congo in the 19th
century, where Belgion troders ore using sloves
to collect ivory.It <1 the story of on
English coptoin who is employed to bring ivory
to
down the river to the moin seo portoConrod
5 the story from the point of view of
ton the English coptoin. The story is bosed on the
writer's own direct experience os o steomboot
coptoin in the Congo.This possoge
g. 6 how olien this new world is which
t he hos entered.
/

'JW.
Se The Siege of Krishnapur
Writing a book review 2 Which of these techniques (a-e) has the writer
used to begin this review?
1 Read this book review of The Siege of Krishnapur by
a giving an opinion about the book directly
J.c. Farrell and mark the parts of the review that
do the following. b talking about the writer's background
c describing the opening of the story
1 describe the theme of the book
d giving a short summary of the whole story
2 give the readers opinion of the book
e discussing the topic or theme of the book
3 describe the setting and the plot
4 describe the style of writing 3 Writing skill descriptive words

Complete the definitions of words describing

books and writing with these words.

convincing fetched going poorly

provoking uneventful uninspiring
wrenching

1 A book that makes you think is a thought-

...........................................................................
book.
2 A book that is difficult to read is said to be
heavy- .
3 A story in which nothing much happens is

4 A plot which is very difficult to believe is far-

It is 1857 and the British Empire in India is
facing severe unrest from the indigenous
population. For the ruling British class in the 5 A fictional character who you believe could
northern town of Krishnapur, life is calm and really exist is .
polite until the sepoys at a nearby military 6 An ending which is extremely sad is heart-
fort rise in mutiny and the British are forced
to retreat into the British Residency. Food and 7 A book which is a bit dull and flat is
other supplies become short, disease sets in
and the inhabitants' resources are tested to
8 The opposite of well-written is
the limit.
. written.
This is the first part of J.G. Farrell's empire 4 Think of a novel you have read and write two
trilogy, an examination of the British Empire short alterna tive opening paragraphs. For the first,
in its decline. The Siege of Krishnapur
give a short summary of the whole story. For the
serves as a metaphor for this decline as each second, discuss the topic or theme of the book.
character is forced to examine their own view
of the world. 1

Although the situation is desperate, Farrell

describes it with great elegance and humour,
conveying the ridiculousness of the British
position. Some would argue that in not
describing the hardship and injustice suffered
2
by the locallndian population, Farrell has
done them a great injustice. But I do not
think that was his aim. What he has done is
to write both a gripping story and a thought-
provoking study of colonial life.
 Unit 5 The writer's journey

Wordbuilding -ing adjectives 3 Look at the photo and follow the steps in Exercise
2. You will find a larger version of the photo on the
1 Look at these -ing adjeetives formed from verbs. Unit 5 Opener of your Student's Book (page 57).
Mateh the adjeetives (1-10) with the most suitable
nouns (a-j).
Check!
1 a baking a horizon
4 Complete these sentenees about eharaeters and
2 a raging b breeze
events with the eorreet form of the words given.
3 a blinding e light All the answers are in Student's Book Unit 5.
4 a winding d restaurant
1 In his visit to Paris, the travel writer in
S a towering e sun the Opener had a bad experienee with an
6 a refreshing f sky ..........................
museum eurator. (offieial)
7 a suffoeating g heat 2 In Sa, the writer Dervla Murphy deseribes
8 a vanishing h starm eoming down . paths with
her daughter on in a
9 a darkening cliff
remote region of Pakistan. (roek, horse)
10 an inviting road
3 5b deseribes the rise in popularity of
the. • book and the
Learning skills vocabulary
m

extension (2)
2 You ean use pietures to extend your voeabulary.
Follow these steps.
1 Find a pieture that interests you and look at
the objeets in it. The pieture eould als o include
people's expressions, feelings ar actions that
are happening.
r- 2 See how many items you ean name in English
and then write the other words in your own
language.
3 Look up the English equivalents of these
words in a bilingual dietionary. Cheek the
example sentenees to see that the meaning is
the same and eheek the pronuneiation.
4 Now label five new items in the picture with
words you have just learned.
S Look at the pieture 30 minutes later and test
yourself. Can you remember the new words?
................................
novel. (eomedy, graph)
4 In Se, the writer visits the house of a
...............................................................................
in Patagonia. (poem)
S Patagonia is a region with a very low
population . (dense)
6 Sd deals with the subject of reading
.................................................................................
to an audienee. (loud)
7 In Se, the writer deseribes the Bridge of
San Luis Rei) as a .
...................................................................................
book. (think, provoke)
8 In 5f, the writer deseribes a
. experienee tha t he had
while walking in Spain. (transform)

. st,
e