Views #305 | Intermediate 4

England

Eli talks about her country.
image
ELLLO Courses

Todd: So, Eli, can you talk a little about England and maybe about it's climate and it's weather, it's leaders, what people eat?

Eli: Well, I'm not going to talk about leaders right now because that's a bit of a sore point but England weather, hmm, that is a bit of a sore point to. It's not the greatest weather in the world, especially compared to Japan where I am now, which the weather I just love. England is always cold, almost always cold even through the summer it's quite cold I hear. This summer it's been sort of jacket weather all summer with only a few days of sunshine and it rains a lot, so it's pretty miserable as far as weather's concerned.

Todd: Now, you're from Bristol right. What's your hometown like?

Eli: Bristol's a great town. I used to live in London which is the capital of England and it's very gray and big and unfriendly but when I moved to Bristol it was just great. It is a city but it's a very small city so you can always bump into your friends, um, always meet people. It's got big green areas. It's got a place called the downs which is a big park, and it's the architecture of the city is very old. It's very near Bath, which is a very famous old Roman town, where the Roman baths were, so all the sort of architecture of the city
the houses, all of it's very pretty.

Todd: OK. What are the Downs like? You said the downs. Is that a park?

Eli: The downs. It's, it's a big area of green basically. It's not a park as in lots of trees and trees and sort of shrubbery and stuff. It's just a big wide spread of greenery where you can play football. I mean there's
football matches sort of every week. You can go fly your kites. You can take your kids there. And that joins on to the Avon-gorge, which is where the Bristol suspension bridge is, which is very famous as being I think the first ever suspension bridge built, and from standing on the bridge and looking out into the gorge, I mean you'd think you're in the middle of the mountains, not in the middle of the city. It's a really pretty area.

Todd: Sounds like a nice place.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

sore point

That's a bit of a sore point.

The phrase 'sore point' is used to describe a topic that might be uncomfortable or sensitive to discuss.

Notice the following:

  1. The lack of money was a sore point for him.
  2. I don't think I want to date him any more, but that is a sore point.

miserable

It's pretty miserable as far as weather's concerned.

'Miserable' means sad or depressing. It is not nice or comfortable.

Notice the following:

  1. When my dog died I felt very miserable.
  2. When the sun doesn't shine it makes me feel miserable.

gray

It's very gray and big and unfriendly.

'Gray' is a color that is often used to describe uninspiring and dull things. It is the combination of black and white. Rain clouds are usually gray.

Notice the following:

  1. He was a very boring man and looked a little gray most of the time.
  2. Cities are so gray. I prefer the countryside.

bump into

It's a very small city so you can always bump into your friends.

When you 'bump into' someone it means that you see somebody that you know unexpectedly.

Notice the following:

  1. I bumped into Mary last week. She was looking well.
  2. I think I will go on Friday, I might bump into you there.

shrubbery

It's not a park as in lots of trees and sort of shrubbery.

'Shrubbery' is a collection of bushes and plants in a concentrated area.

Notice the following:

  1. I am redesigning my garden, I would like more shrubbery.
  2. Prune your plants to make sure that the shrubbery does not become overgrown.

Vocabulary Quiz

sore point • miserable • gray
bump • shrubbery
  1. I have no energy on days. I need sun to be happy.
  2. It is strange to into someone I know when I am this far away from home.
  3. His shortness has always been a for him.
  4. We put along the edge of the property for more privacy.
  5. He was really for about three months after they broke up.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

Free Courses from ELLLO

One Minute English Videos

Free Courses from ELLLO